Course Syllabus

Please note that the specifics of this Course Syllabus are subject to change. Instructors will notify students of any changes and students will be responsible for abiding by them. Even if you print this syllabus, please check the online version often.

Description

IST 302: Project Management (3 credits) - Exploration and application of the basic concepts, methodologies, and tools of project management in the field of information sciences and technology.

This course is designed to introduce and explore the basic concepts and practices of project management and help students understand how to plan and manage IT projects successfully. Throughout the course, students will be asked to learn and utilize project management concepts, methodologies, and tools.  Students will learn the skills necessary to define project scope, create workable project plans, and manage projects with quality, budget, and schedule in mind.  The course is structured around the key phases of a project lifecycle, including initiating a project, developing project plans, executing and managing a project, and closing out a project.  In addition, students will be taught how to identify and address the change management and transformational issues associated with project management.  Finally, students will have opportunities to practice the concepts and methodologies they learn by working on case studies and examples during the course.

Prerequisites

  • IST 210
  • IST 220

Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  • Understand and apply basic project management theories and practices
  • Understand and apply major phases of the project management life cycle
  • Establish and direct a high-performing project team.
  • Identify and validate project goals and requirements.
  • Define project scope
  • Establish project estimates and schedules
  • Develop Work Breakdown Structures
  • Develop and maintain workable IT project plans
  • Understand and manage project execution activities and processes
  • Understand and perform the role of project manager
  • Terminate a project with an effective close-out strategy
  • Note: Individual lesson objectives come from the corresponding chapters in the course textbook.

Instructor

  • TBD

Materials

  • Schwalbe, K. (2018). Information technology project management (9th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. ISBN 978-1337101356

Assignments & Grading

 

Course Grading Breakdown
Grading Category Percentage of Final Grade
Assignments 60%
Discussions  10%
Group Project 10%
Exams 20%
TOTAL 100%

Course Grading Scale

The following are minimum cutoffs for each grade:

  • 93.00% = A
  • 90.00% = A-
  • 87.00% = B+
  • 83.00% = B
  • 80.00% = B-
  • 77.00% = C+
  • 70.00% = C
  • 60.00% = D
  • less than 60.00% = F

Course Policies and Expectations

  • Logging into Canvas - Students are expected to log in regularly to check for course updates, announcements, emails, discussions, etc.
  • Emailing through Canvas - Students are expected to use Canvas for all course email communication.
  • Attending virtual meetings - Students are expected to use specified virtual meeting tool(s) for collaboration, meetings, presentations, etc., as needed.

Academic Integrity

Penn State and the College of Information Sciences and Technology are committed to maintaining Penn State's policy on Academic Integrity in this and all other courses. We take academic integrity matters seriously and expect you to become a partner to the University/College standards of academic excellence.

For more information, please review these policies and procedures:

While utilizing additional sources outside of this class is encouraged for gaining a better understanding of course concepts, seeking explicit answers for graded assignments from outside sources (e.g. Course Hero, Chegg, tutoring services like tutor.com, etc.) is considered CHEATING and will not be tolerated. Sanctions range from failure of the assignment or course to dismissal from the University. Additionally, sharing course content without permission is a violation of copyright and may result in university sanctions and/or legal ramifications. Contact your instructor with questions related to this topic. 

University Policies

Review current information regarding various Penn State policies (such as copyright, counseling, psychological services, disability and military accommodations, discrimination, harassment, emergencies, trade names, etc.) on the University Policies page.

Penn State takes great pride to foster a diverse and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff. Acts of intolerance, discrimination, or harassment due to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religious belief, sexual orientation, or veteran status are not tolerated and can be reported through Educational Equity via the Report Bias webpage (http://equity.psu.edu/reportbias/).

Resources

Find extensive information and links to many Penn State and IST resources (including the Penn State libraries, video conferencing tools, technology and software, writing and research help, and much more) on the Resources page.

Technical Requirements

Standard World Campus computer technical specifications are assumed for this course. Please test your computer for requirements. In addition, a webcam and a headset with a microphone are REQUIRED for the course. These may be used for virtual meetings, virtual office hours, interactions with classmates and your instructor, and group presentations - which are all conducted with virtual meeting tools. No special software is required.

Schedule

The following schedule outlines the topics covered in this course, along with the associated time frames, readings, activities, and assignments. All due dates reflect Eastern Time (ET). Specifying the time zone ensures that all students have the same deadlines, regardless of where they live.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due