The University of South Carolina's bachelor's degree program in integrated information technology (iIT) has been accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET, the recognized accreditor of college and university programs in applied science, computing, engineering, and engineering technology. ABET accreditation demonstrates a program's commitment to providing its students with a quality education.

There are over 3,100 accredited programs in engineering and technology worldwide. Currently in the U.S., there are less than 30 four-year bachelor programs in information technology that are accredited which is why iIT Department Chair Dr. Elizabeth Regan says this will put USC's program among the best in the country.

"ABET is important to us in benchmarking our IT program against the world," says Regan. "It's important to our students and their future employers. It means more opportunities for our students and it ensures employers that our graduates have a solid educational foundation. In addition, it opens doors to new scholarships, loans and grants."
Accreditation is a voluntary, peer-review process that requires programs to undergo comprehensive, periodic evaluations. The evaluations, conducted by teams of volunteer professionals working in industry, government, academe, and private practice within the ABET disciplines, focus on program curricula, faculty, facilities, institutional support and other important areas.

One of the key elements of ABET accreditation is the requirement that programs continuously improve the quality of education provided. As part of this continuous improvement requirement, programs set specific, measurable goals for their students and graduates, assess their success at reaching those goals, and improve their programs based on the results of their assessment.

In addition to providing colleges and universities a structured mechanism to assess, evaluate, and improve their programs, accreditation also helps students and their parents choose quality college programs, enables employers and graduate schools to recruit graduates they know are well-prepared, and assists registration, licensure, and certification boards in screening applicants.

ABET is a not-for-profit organization, owned and operated by its more than 30 professional and technical member societies. An internationally respected organization with some 2,200 volunteers, ABET has set the higher-educational standards in its fields for more than 80 years. More information about ABET, its member societies, and the evaluation criteria used to accredit programs can be found at www.abet.org.

The Department of Integrated Information Technology (iIT) is one of four flagship academic programs offered in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management (HRSM). Students acquire a combination of technical and organizational competencies essential for tailoring technology solutions that meet diverse business needs. The program focuses on management, development, and support of enterprise systems, networks, databases, and Internet-based systems and related competencies such as information security, corporate training and project management. They learn to design, implement, and manage technical infrastructures and to integrate information technologies with organizational processes to achieve business goals. All students complete an internship, which in turn aids them in securing diverse positions in all types of enterprises.