Santa Fe College will soon offer a new technology degree.
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools recently approved a proposal that would allow Santa Fe to offer a new four-year bachelor’s degree in information systems technology, said Jorge Ibañez, director of information technology education at Santa Fe.
"When there is determined that there is a specific need in the area, we develop a program," he said.
According to a Florida Department of Education application, the degree will build on the existing associate degrees in networking services technology and programming and analysis.
While the application states the degree will be available in Spring, the proposal for the new program still needs to be accredited by SACS, Ibañez said.
"We hope that we will hear (from SACS) by the end of the semester," Ibañez said.
The program was developed after reaching out to the community and working with UF to address needs within the area of information technology.
"We never compete with UF. We compliment each other," Ibañez said.
The degree will offer several courses, including computer operating systems, web design, mobile devices and computer networks.
For Austin Branch, 21, the new degree is a welcome addition.
"I was kind of disappointed because I saw they only offered an AS degree," the Santa Fe computer science sophomore said. "I kind of wish they had more of IT or computer or programming classes."
