Skip to main content

IT Program Realignment and AI FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

IT Infrastructure & Operations (New Unified IT Entry Pathway)

Ivy Tech is introducing two new credentials: the IT Infrastructure and Operations Certificate (CT), which requires 18 credits, and the IT Infrastructure and Operations Technical Certificate (TC), which requires 32 credits.

The new credentials are fully stackable. The 18-credit Certificate (CT) stacks directly into the 32-credit Technical Certificate (TC). In turn, both of these credentials seamlessly stack into multiple Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees, including:

  • Information Technology Support, AAS
  • Cyber Security/Information Assurance, AAS
  • Cloud Technologies, AAS
  • Network Infrastructure, AAS

Historically, different IT programs (such as Cybersecurity, Cloud Technologies, and IT Support) maintained separate certificates, resulting in significant curricular overlap, redundant foundational content, and fragmented student pathways. The new IT Infrastructure and Operations credentials consolidate these shared core courses into a single, unified entry point. This streamlined structure eliminates duplication, simplifies scheduling, and allows students to explore multiple IT disciplines before committing to a specialized track.

To support the launch of the new unified credentials, the following specific certificates are being suspended, but have a 2-year Teach Out period:

  • Cyber Security/Information Assurance, Technical Certificate
  • Cybersecurity Incident Analyst, Certificate
  • Information Technology Support, Technical Certificate
  • Information Technology Help Desk, Certificate
  • Cloud Technologies, Technical Certificate
  • Students currently enrolled in the Cybersecurity Incident Analyst Certificate or the Information Technology Help Desk Certificate can transition to the IT Infrastructure & Operations Certificate.
  • Students currently enrolled in the Cloud Technologies Technical Certificate, Cyber Security/Information Assurance Technical Certificate, or Information Technology Support Technical Certificate can transition to the IT Infrastructure & Operations Technical Certificate.
  • Students currently enrolled in the Informatics Certificate or Salesforce Administrator Certificate can transition to the Information Systems & Analytics Certificate.

Graduates can begin in technical support and operations roles such as IT Support Specialist, Data Center Technician, Network Support Specialist, or Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst.

The ideal candidates are naturally curious problem-solvers who thrive in team-oriented environments and stay calm under pressure. They should possess strong attention to detail, a passion for continuous learning, and the ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical colleagues.

Yes, both the IT Infrastructure and Operations Certificate and Technical Certificate are available 100% online via Distance Education, in addition to being offered at numerous campuses statewide.

Information Systems & Analytics Certificate (New Shared Entry Pathway)

The specific Informatics Certificate is being suspended. In its place, the college has created a new, unified Information Systems and Analytics Certificate. This new certificate serves as a shared entry point for students pursuing Informatics, Data Analytics, and Software Development. It allows for streamlined course offerings and provides a foundation that seamlessly stacks into the Informatics Technical Certificate (TC) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees

The new certificate was developed jointly by the Informatics, Data Analytics, and Software Development committees to consolidate introductory computing coursework into a single, shared credential. It is designed to serve as a unified entry point for students pursuing studies in Informatics, Data Analytics, or Software Development, allowing for streamlined course offerings and improved pathway alignment across these programs.

Students will build a unified foundation in computing, software development, data analytics, cloud technologies, and artificial intelligence through practical problem-solving and the use of industry-standard tools.

Because it is a shared foundational credential, it stacks seamlessly into the Technical Certificates (TC) and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees for several programs, including:

  • Applied Artificial Intelligence
  • Informatics
  • Data Analytics
  • Software Development

The coursework in this new certificate culminates in industry-recognized credentials and prepares students for certifications, including AWS Cloud Practitioner, AWS AI Practitioner, CompTIA Cloud+, and Microsoft Azure Fundamentals.

The competencies gained align with Indiana’s demand for entry-level roles, including Software Developers/Programmers, QA Analysts/Testers, Web Developers, Data Analysts/BI Analysts, Database Admin/SQL roles, and Cloud Support/Data Center Technicians.

The certificate requires a minimum of 20 credit hours. It is available 100% online via distance education, as well as at various campuses statewide.

Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAIT) Pathway

Ivy Tech is launching a new Applied Artificial Intelligence (AAIT) pathway, which includes three stackable credentials:

  • Applied Artificial Intelligence, Professional Certificate (CT): A 21-credit program.
  • Applied Artificial Intelligence, Technical Certificate (TC): A 32-credit program.
  • Applied Artificial Intelligence, Associate of Applied Science (AAS): A 60-credit degree.

The Professional Certificate (CT) is designed exclusively for employer-sponsored cohorts to provide short-term, targeted reskilling and upskilling aligned with partner technology stacks.

Graduates with an AAIT Technical Certificate or AAS can pursue emerging entry-level technical roles such as AI Technician, Machine Learning Assistant, Data Operations Technician, Business Intelligence Technician, and Automation Support Specialist. The median entry-level salary in Indiana is estimated to range from $65,000 to $95,000 per year, depending on the specific role and previous experience

Students will gain hands-on experience with specific tools depending on the course. In the Software Development program, SDEV 146 - Coding with AI is a new 1-credit course focused on using AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot to generate, debug, and refactor code. Across the broader AAIT curriculum, students will utilize cloud-based AI platforms, specifically preparing for the Amazon Web Services (AWS) AI Practitioner certification (AAIT 261).

The core sequence takes students from basic literacy to advanced application:

  • AAIT 110 - AI Essentials: Covers the AI lifecycle, prompt engineering, and the ethical and societal impacts of AI.
  • AAIT 212 - Machine Learning: Covers classification, regression, clustering, reinforcement learning, and bias mitigation.
  • AAIT 216 - Natural Language Processing: Focuses on Large Language Models (LLMs), transformer-based architectures, and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG).
  • AAIT 218 - Computer Vision: Explores image classification, object detection, and convolutional neural networks (CNNs).
  • AAIT 270 - Applied AI Projects: A capstone course where students work in teams to design, train, and deploy an end-to-end AI system.

Yes. Ivy Tech is integrating AI into several existing IT programs:

  • Informatics AAS: Adding a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Track.
  • Informatics TC: Adding AAIT 110 - AI Essentials and AAIT 261 - AWS AI Practitioner Certification as elective options.
  • Data Analytics AAS and TC: Adding AAIT 110 and AAIT 261 to the elective list.
  • Software Development AAS and TC: Adding AAIT 110 and AAIT 261 as electives.

Program-Specific Transition FAQs (Suspensions / Replacements / Pathway Impacts)

The Cloud Technologies Technical Certificate is being suspended as part of a strategic initiative to launch a new, unified credential: the IT Infrastructure and Operations Technical Certificate. Historically, several IT programs maintained their own separate certificates, which led to significant overlap and redundant foundational courses. The new certificate consolidates these shared core courses into a single, streamlined pathway, making it easier for students to explore multiple IT disciplines before committing to a specific track like Cloud Technologies.

Students should now enroll in the new IT Infrastructure and Operations Certificate or IT Infrastructure and Operations Technical Certificate. These credentials serve as a unified entry point and are designed to seamlessly stack directly into the Cloud Technologies Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.

Yes. The Program Learning Outcomes for the AAS degree are being updated to align with higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Furthermore, the degree pathway itself is being updated so that the new IT Infrastructure & Operations Certificate and Technical Certificate will stack into the Cloud Technologies AAS, replacing the suspended Cloud Technologies Technical Certificate.

Both of these certificates are being suspended. They are being replaced by the newly created IT Infrastructure and Operations Certificate and IT Infrastructure and Operations Technical Certificate. This change was made to consolidate overlapping foundational courses into a single, unified entry pathway that leads into multiple IT Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees, including Cyber Security, Network Infrastructure, IT Support, and Cloud Technologies.

These two credentials are being suspended. They are being replaced by the newly created IT Infrastructure and Operations Certificate (CT) and IT Infrastructure and Operations Technical Certificate (TC).

The college is launching a new IT Infrastructure and Operations Certificate (CT) and Technical Certificate (TC). These new stackable credentials serve as a unified entry point for multiple IT Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees, including Network Infrastructure. By consolidating shared foundational coursework, you can explore various IT disciplines (like networking, cybersecurity, and cloud technologies) before fully committing to the Network Infrastructure specialization, all without duplicating courses or losing credits.

Program-Specific AI Integration & Curriculum Updates (Existing Programs

To integrate AI into the curriculum, two new applied AI courses, AAIT 110 (AI Essentials) and AAIT 261 (AWS AI Practitioner Certification, are being added to the elective lists for both the Data Analytics Associate of Applied Science (AAS) and the Technical Certificate (TC). This ensures students can leverage emerging technologies and are prepared for the AWS AI Practitioner industry certification.

Yes. To meet workforce demands, the Informatics AAS degree now includes a new Artificial Intelligence Track. In addition, a new foundational course, AAIT 110 (Artificial Intelligence Essentials), has been added to the Informatics TC as an elective to help students build digital fluency in AI literacy.

Yes. The Informatics TC and AAS degrees have expanded their certification options within the technical core and selective lists. Students now have access to new industry-recognized credential options, including AAIT 261 (AWS AI Practitioner), SVAD 151, SVAD 152, and SVAD 153.

In addition to the new SDEV 146 - Coding with AI course, the program has added two new AI-focused electives to the AS, AAS, and Technical Certificate credentials: AAIT 110 (Artificial Intelligence Essentials) and AAIT 261 (AWS AI Practitioner Certification). This allows students to formally integrate highly relevant AI and machine learning skills into their software development education.