Two classes will be offered on Mondays during the spring semester: ITEC 3261 Web Applications Development taught by Dr. David Adams, Peyton Anderson Eminent Scholar and Professor of Information Technology, at 1 p.m.. and ITEC 3225 Data Communications and Networks taught by Robert Dixon, Instructor of Information Technology, at 11 a.m.
ABAC President Mike Vollmer said the Macon State program will join several universities who plan to place four-year programs on the campus in the near future.
"We're excited about the possibilities of what can happen at ABAC with programs from not only Macon State, but Valdosta State, Georgia Southwestern, Albany State, and the University of Georgia," Vollmer said.
Georgia Southwestern already offers undergraduate degrees in accounting and management at ABAC. VSU is scheduled to begin offering the complete degree in early childhood education in the fall of 2002. Albany State hopes to restart its MBA program on the ABAC campus in January of 2002, and UGA is scheduled to begin a four-year degree in Agricultural Sciences and EmergingTechnologies in the fall of 2003.
"The job market is going to be wide open for the information technology degree" Vollmer said. "With the degree in hand, graduates can become systems analysts, database administrators, information systems managers, web developers and administrators, multi-media specialists, or networks or systems administrators."
An associate's degree in any field will get students started in this bachelor's degree program. The classes will count toward the four-year degree in information technology.
"The Macon State Information Technology program represents the best new advanced educational opportunity this area has had since the creation of the Georgia Southwestern program," Dr. Jeff Gibbs, Chair of ABAC's Division of Business Administration and Professor of Economics, said. "To have these types of programs offered outside a major urban area is really significant and a plus for south Georgia."
Angie Palmer, ABAC's Director of Evening and Off-Campus Programs, said she is pleased that Macon State is bringing the Information Technology degree to the ABAC campus.
"A program of this caliber will greatly enhance the educational opportunities for students in this region and provide regional access to a more highly trained work force," Palmer said. "A number of students interested in this degree are already in the local work force. By making this program available on the ABAC campus, many students will be able to maintain local employment while pursuing the IT degree and increasing their knowledge and skill level."
For additional information, contact Palmer at (229) 386-7154. Spring semester classes begin Jan. 7 at ABAC.
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