Information Technology Program

Program overview

The Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) degree is a 4 year 128 credit hour program taught in English, designed to produce graduates who are competent in their major disciplines, as well as IT in general; graduates who are ready to be involved in the development of Omani industry. As the name "Colleges of Applied Sciences" suggests, our students are exposed to significant practical work and, where possible, linkages with Omani industry are being developed and exploited.
The BIT is offered in the CAS campuses of Sohar, Ibri, Rustaq, Sur, and Salalah.
The BIT program contains a core of main stream IT courses which expose our graduates to the concepts and topics about which all who work in the IT field should be familiar. Typically, web design and development; software design and implementation; information systems analysis and design; operating systems; networks; database; IT security; professional ethics; and such analytical courses as discrete mathematics and data structures. IT is a fast moving field however, and so space has been left in the program which can be filled with the innovations of the time; ensuring our graduates are aware of the latest IT trends. Presently the four majors of the BIT are Software Development, Data Management, IT Security, and Networks. The majors permit our students to explore their chosen field in greater depth with the addition of highly focused and specialised courses.

Entry Requirements

General Education Diploma, Islamic Institutes Diploma and Royal Guard Technical College Diploma with (Not less than C)in:

• English language.

• Not less than (D) in Pure mathematics or Mathematics.

Program Structure

The IT Program requires students to accumulate 128 credit hours during four years of their study. The total 128 credit hours include: 36 hours college requirements, 53 Department requirements, and 39 Specialization requirements.
First two years, four-semester courses are common among all specialization (Software Development, Information Technology Security, Data Management, and Computer Networks).

Graduate Attributes

Graduates of the BIT program are intellectually developed; have advanced knowledge and practical abilities in a range of IT fields; are able to work in a team or unsupervised; have advanced problem solving skills; can pursue lifelong learning; and have multidisciplinary and multicultural perspectives.

Details of Majors

The majors of the BIT convert our students from those with general IT knowledge and skills, into graduates with in-depth understanding and practical abilities in their chosen field. Students develop greater independence of thought and action through project work, and are exposed to state-of-the-art equipment, concepts, and terminology.

Software development

Software Development Major provides students with the understanding and skills required to work alone or within a team to produce high-quality software systems that meets client’s requirements. From year one till year four in software development major students will learn programming skills, theories and practices involved in collecting client’s requirements, designing software solutions and then delivering the outcomes.

As a part of this major, students complete a Software Development project (Gradation Project) which provides the opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills learned in the different courses. Working in groups with academic supervision, students will carry out the full range of activities including requirements capture, analysis and design, coding, testing and documentation. Future skills focuses on creativity, originality and problem-solving across a broad range of business sectors and students will graduate with this major having these highly-desirable skills.

Data management

Nowadays we are witnessing an exponential increase of the amount of data in all sectors. Usually this data is stored in databases and needs to be stored, analyzed and searched in order to make conclusions about it and therefore make the right decisions.

In our college we are offering a data management major to address the complexities of large-scale centralized and distributed data as it is found in the world today. Graduates will study different techniques to design, analyze and search a large amount of data.

The student who will graduate with a major in data management will be able to:

• Design, implement, and administer databases

• Upgrade existing databases to meet user needs and the organization rules

• Develop desktop, web and mobile based applications

• Analyze and mine (big)data to extract knowledge

Computer networks & IT security

Network & Security major program prepares students with the skills and knowledge to provide businesses and organizations with computer network support, network installation, network administration, network design and integration.

The curriculum focuses on the techniques, policies, operational procedures, and technologies needed to design, implement, administer, secure, and troubleshoot different levels of networks. It is designed to combine the benefits of a traditional college education with the benefits of hands-on training in state-of-the-art computer technology. The computer networks and security curriculum integrates technical skill with communication skills, superior general education knowledge, and breadth of knowledge in the information technology field, particularly in networks and security.

Career opportunities

IT has found its way into almost every aspect of modern life, and so it is no surprise to find IT specialists in an enormous variety of occupations and enterprises. From multi-national conglomerates and government ministries to small businesses, IT specialists support and innovate, bringing information access to where it is needed. In general IT specialists will take responsibility for the selection of hardware and software products to suit the needs of an organization. They will be involved with detailed organisational systems analysis, the integration of products with organizational needs and infrastructure, and may be responsible for installing, customizing, maintaining, and upgrading those applications as the organization grows. Examples of these responsibilities include the design and installation of networks; network administration and security; the design and maintenance of web pages; the development of multimedia resources; the installation of communication components; the selection and management of email systems; securing the working environment; and the planning and management of the technology lifecycle by which an organization s technology is maintained, upgraded, and replaced.

There are entrepreneurial IT consultants, typically self-employed, who focus specifically on the development and maintenance of databases and/or websites for small businesses or schools. Simple stand-alone systems, or more complex systems where on-line sales automatically update an inventory database and interact with accounting software, or where on-line registration automatically updates student loading and timetabling information.

Those looking to work in larger teams might consider the IT sections of medium to large businesses where staff engage fulltime in installing, customising, and maintaining hardware and software, in addition to large-scale database and/or network design and administration. Software houses employ large numbers of developers, working in teams to create function-specific programs for such as mobile phones, or generic programs such as games and virus protection.

The academic field may appeal to other graduates in terms of teaching and/or further study and research. After the appropriate pedagogical course BIT holders could be competent “computer studies” teachers, and for those who attain the necessary GPA, the BIT degree makes CAS graduates eligible for entry into post-graduate programs in many universities at home and abroad

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (BBA) PROGRAM

Program Overview

The Colleges of Applied Sciences (CAS), under the auspices of the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), award Bachelor of Business degree (BBA) in the following “Area of Specializations”, and “Majors”:  

The BBA program is currently offered in Nizwa, Ibri, and Salalah campuses.

Vision and Mission

Vision

The Business Degree Program seeks to be distinctive in providing applied education relevant to the Business Administration discipline through high quality teaching, learning and research experiences and to become a pioneer in offering market-driven specializations in the Sultanate of Oman.

Mission

The mission of the Business Degree Program is to deliver competitive and high quality education related to business administration and its allied disciplines (such as Marketing, Supply Chain Management, Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Accounting, Insurance and Banking and Financial Services) and to educate students and develop their competencies to become business professionals who can contribute positively to the economic and social development of the Sultanate of Oman.

Entry Requirements

General Education Diploma, Islamic Institutes Diploma or Royal Guard Technical College Diploma with the following grades:

 (Not less than C) in:

-English language

 (Not less than C) in:

- Pure or Applied Mathematics or Mathematics

- Social Studies or Business Administration

Program Structure

The four years BBA Program requires students to accumulate 128 credit hours that include: 30 hours College requirements, 26 Degree requirements, and 72 Major requirements (18 credit hours as electives).

Graduates Attributes

The key graduate attributes/skills are:

Academic and Professional Knowledge, Communication Skills, Teamwork and Leadership, Information Technology (IT) Literacy, Global Perspective and Cross-cultural Adaptability, Critical and Analytical Thinking, Social Responsibility and Ethics, Entrepreneurial Aptitude, Life-Long Learning, Research Skills.

Specializations Areas:

1. Business Specialization

Business Administration is the field of management which deals with business activities that includes international and national boundaries. The specialization is a forward-looking area of study that magnifies local issues and how they are intertwined with global challenges in business administration such as globalization and liberalization which are the engines for trade and economic growth.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Business Administration Program fit into different business settings, ranging from large multinational corporations to small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs) operating in the field of manufacturing, banking, oil sector, government, financial institutions.

2. Tourism & Hospitality Specialization

The objective of the tourism management specialization is to enable students to develop rational and practical competencies, skills, and capability to face the challenges and successfully work in domestic as well as international tourism environments. Hospitality Management involves the management of hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, resorts, clubs, events, entertainments activities etc.

Career Opportunities

There is a huge range of career opportunities for the tourism management graduates such as travel agents, tour operators, event planners, entrepreneurs, tourism consultants, tourism planners and developers, in airline operations and cruise operations. The hospitality industry can provide huge career opportunities for Hospitality Management graduates ranging from entry level positions to management level positions such as hotel managers, operation managers, catering managers, restaurant managers, event organizers and planners, guest relation executives and cruise director.

4. Accounting Specialization

The main objective of accounting specialization is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the different accounting and finance fields including Banking and Insurance areas and to provide students with required knowledge and technical skills suitable for todays’ accounting and finance applications.

Career Opportunities

The BIBA Program in Accounting provides a range of career opportunities to the students to work in accounting, banking, finance, insurance and corporate houses, in the government as well as in the private sectors as cost accountants, financial accountants, auditors, financial planners etc. Successful graduates can further pursue professional certificates such as CA, ACCA, CPA, ACPA, CMA, ICWA, CIMA, CFA, CFM.

The guidelines for progression:

 The guidelines for progression within broad “Area of Specialization” and specific “Major” in the Business Degree Program.

1. The student at the time of registration during foundation year may choose their respective broad “Area of Specialization” and specific “Major” within that area of specialization.

2. The first year courses are common for all the Business program students regardless of their specialization. The broad “Area of Specialization” commences from the second year (or third semester) onwards. Therefore; students must select the desired “Area of Specialization” during first year.

3. The student must score required GPA as stipulated in the academic regulations in order to continue his/her studies further within the same “Area of Specialization” and specific “Major”. The student under probation would be required to exit with Diploma as per the academic regulations.

4. The specific “Major” (for example Marketing) within broad “Area of Specialization” (for example Business) commences from the third year. Therefore; the student must select specific “Major” during the second year of study. The students should have studied the following credit hours during the four semester i.e during two years before entering into their respective specializations or Majors in the third year.

Year 1, Semester 1 credit hours  = 15 credit hours

Year 1, Semester 2 credit hours =  16 credit hours

Year 2, Semester 3 credit hours =  15 credit hours

Year 2, Semester 4 credit hours =  15 credit hours

Total credit hours                        = 61 credit hours

5. The “Internship” should be completed at the beginning of the third year or during third year as per the earliest possible opportunity available.

6. The students are required to follow the study plan carefully to avoid any difficulty in the course selection.

7. The courses with prerequisites need to be carefully selected in due consultation with the respective Academic Advisor. The prerequisite course must be passed in order to study the higher course related to the prerequisite.

8. A comprehensive list of mixed electives from the various area of specializations and majors of Business degree program is available to all the Business students in order to broaden their knowledge base.

Degree Plans

    IT Degree Plan

    IT course equivalent codes AY2013 to AY2019

   IT study Plan