Courses in the
Core Information Technology program

The Core IT program consists of two courses.  The first, in the freshman year, prepares cadets to successfully employ technology for the rest of their time at West Point and beyond. Its most important goal is for cadets to "learn how to learn" about technology.

The second course, in the junior year, is focused on the theory and principles behind battlefield IT, the systems our graduates will see during their first ten years of service.  Information assurance is a thread woven through both of these courses, which are detailed below.

Cadets and others at the USMA should see our internal home page for more information on these courses.

IT105 Introduction to Computing and Information Technology

Here's the USMA Course Catalog listing for .

IT105 is carefully designed to allow for the broad range backgrounds of cadets just starting their studies.  The inexperienced are guided and nurtured.  The experienced are challenged!  While completing IT105, cadets will:

• Explore the internal components of the computer and how they relate to one another.
• Understand the ubiquitous nature of sensors and how they work and build a sensor (such as a thermometer).
• Develop a personal web page.
• Utilize a stepped approach to problem solving and apply it to a variety of problem types.
• Implement solutions to problems using Java programming, emphasizing the concepts of sequence, selection, and iteration.
• Explore the current and future trends in IT.

IT305 Theory and Practice of Military Information Systems

Here's the USMA Course Catalog listing for .

IT305 is a dynamic course providing hands-on experience with a large range of state-of-the-art equipment as well as fundamental principles and concepts.  While completing IT305, cadets will:

• Explore more advanced techniques of web site development.
• Understand the techniques used to change analog information into digital format and the issues to consider in this process.
• Discuss intellectual property rights and how it affects their work as cadets and future Army officers.
• Examine the structure of transmission of information across local and worldwide networks.
• Explore some current IT systems used by today's Army.
• Learn principles of design and querying techniques in Microsoft Access databases.
• Investigate how information can be compromised and the tools and processes used to protect that information.

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