Doctor of Information Technology (DIT)

“Walden is a reputable university that has developed a degree program that is competitive and marketable.”

Benjamin Perez, Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) Student

This program prepares students to address information technology-related challenges at the highest level of an organization. Students examine the latest advancements in technology and develop solutions for complex, real-world industry challenges. They also study ways to effectively communicate complex IT strategies to company executives and stakeholders. Coursework focuses on IT strategic analysis, information management, and human-computer interaction. The curriculum blends theory and practice through a variety of learning formats, including leadership simulations, seminar courses, a doctoral study, and face-to-face residencies.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) program will be prepared to:

Critically evaluate current research and best practices in the area of IT methods in organizations.
Analyze best practices and research to determine appropriate design of integrated IT systems.
Recommend IT strategies that support enterprise mission and objectives following tenets of professional, social, and ethical responsibility.
Demonstrate the ability to communicate technical and business concepts to a range of audiences.
Demonstrate the ability to formulate project management, compliance, and sourcing of IT within an organization.
Conduct original research that contributes to professional and actionable knowledge in an applied environment.

Earn an MS in Information Technology Degree

Earn an MS in Information Technology degree along the way to the Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) degree.

Students enter the DIT program with one of three kinds of background degrees—master’s degree in technology, master’s degree outside of technology with work experience, or bachelor’s degree in technology. The latter two of these three groups could benefit from gaining an MS in Information Technology degree in addition to a DIT degree. By embedding the MS in Information Technology degree with a specialization in Strategic Leadership into the DIT, students are able to complete both degree requirements at the same time. They earn a master’s along the way.

The courses applied toward the MS in Information Technology, Strategic Leadership in Information Technology specialization help build and strengthen important leadership attributes that are important in the information technology industry.

Built into the Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) are 30 credits, which can be applied to an MS in Information Technology degree, with a Strategic Leadership in Information Technology specialization. To be eligible for the MS degree while completing the DIT program, students must complete all requirements of the master’s degree program. The master’s degree must be conferred prior to the conferral of the doctoral degree.

Any student who currently holds an MS of Information Technology or similar degree will not earn a second master’s degree. See also the Walden University Student Handbook http://catalog.waldenu.edu//content.php?navoid=34877&catoid=122

Track 1 (for those students entering with a Master’s degree)

Degree Requirements

64 total semester credits
Foundation course (3 sem. cr.)
Core courses (21 sem. cr.)
Leadership Simulator courses (9 sem. cr.)
Research sequence (10 sem. cr.)
Seminar courses (6 sem. cr.)
Doctoral Study completion (15 sem. cr.)
Two face-to-face residencies

Curriculum

Foundation Course (3 sem. cr.)

ITEC 8000 - Foundation and Communications for Information Technology

Core Courses (21 sem. cr.)

Research Sequence (10 sem. cr.)

Leadership Simulator Courses (9 sem. cr.)

Seminar Courses (6 sem. cr.)

Choose two of the following seminar courses:

Doctoral Study Completion (15 sem. cr.)

ITEC 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring
ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion (15 sem. cr.—3 cr. taken each term for a minimum of 5 terms)

Residency Requirements

Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course.
Complete Residency 2 face-to-face during your research methodology courses.
Optional: Complete a DIT Doctoral Study Intensive retreat face-to-face during ITEC 9000. Contact Academic Advising to register.

Course Sequence

Semester	Course	Credits
1	ITEC 8000 - Foundation and Communications for Information Technology	3 sem. cr.
1	ITEC 8010 - Fundamentals of Information Systems♦	3 sem. cr.
	Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course.
2	ITEC 8040 - Systems Analysis and Design♦	3 sem. cr.
2	ITEC 8030 - Principles of Programming♦	3 sem. cr.
3	ITEC 8120 - Operating System and Network Architecture♦	3 sem. cr.
3	ITEC 8140 - Data Modeling and Database Design♦	3 sem. cr.
4	ITEC 8160 - Enterprise Systems Architecture♦	3 sem. cr.
4	ITEC 8170 - Fundamentals of Information Assurance♦	3 sem. cr.
5	ITEC 8427 - Applied Research Methods—Qualitative and Quantitative♦	3 sem. cr.
	Complete Residency 2 face-to-face during your Research Methodology courses.
	ITEC 8437 - Quantitative Decision Making for Strategic Analysis♦	3 sem. cr.
6	ITEC 8447 - Qualitative and Case Study Research for Strategic Analysis♦	4 sem. cr.
6	ITEC 8201 - IT Leadership Simulator: Integrating Diverse Systems and Leading Technology	3 sem. cr.
7	ITEC 8202 - IT Leadership Simulator: Developing Proactive and Reactive Security Plans /DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
7	ITEC 8203 - IT Leadership Simulator: Leading IT in a Dynamic Environment /DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
8	ITEC 850X/DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
8	ITEC 850X/DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
9	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
	Optional: Complete a DIT Doctoral Study Intensive retreat face-to-face during ITEC 9000. Contact Academic Advising to register.
	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
10	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
10	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
11	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.

Track 2 (for those students entering with a Bachelor’s degree)

Degree Requirements

76 total semester credits
Foundation course (3 sem. cr.)
Core courses (33 sem. cr.)
Leadership Simulator courses (9 sem. cr.)
Research sequence (10 sem. cr.)
Seminar courses (6 sem. cr.)
Doctoral Study completion (15 sem. cr.)
Two face-to-face residencies

Curriculum

Foundation Course (3 sem. cr.)

ITEC 8000 - Foundation and Communications for Information Technology

Core Courses (33 sem. cr.)

Research Sequence (10 sem. cr.)

Leadership Simulator Courses (9 sem. cr.)

Seminar Courses (6 sem. cr.)

Choose two of the following seminar courses:

Doctoral Study Completion (15 sem. cr.)

ITEC 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring
ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion (15 sem. cr.—3 cr. taken each term for a minimum of 5 terms)

Residency Requirements

Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course.
Complete Residency 2 face-to-face during your research methodology courses.
Optional: Complete a DIT Doctoral Study Intensive retreat face-to-face during ITEC 9000. Contact Academic Advising to register.

Course Sequence

Semester	Course	Credits
1	ITEC 8000 - Foundation and Communications for Information Technology	3 sem. cr.
1	ITEC 8010 - Fundamentals of Information Systems♦	3 sem. cr.
	Complete Residency 1 face-to-face as soon as you begin your program; should be completed within 90 days of completing your Foundations course.
2	ITEC 8115 - Computer Networking and Operating Systems♦	3 sem. cr.
2	ITEC 8040 - Systems Analysis and Design♦	3 sem. cr.
3	ITEC 8030 - Principles of Programming♦	3 sem. cr.
3	ITEC 8120 - Operating System and Network Architecture♦	3 sem. cr.
4	ITEC 8130 - Advanced Software Development	3 sem. cr.
4	ITEC 8140 - Data Modeling and Database Design♦	3 sem. cr.
5	ITEC 8150 - Principles of Software Engineering	3 sem. cr.
5	ITEC 8160 - Enterprise Systems Architecture♦	3 sem. cr.
6	ITEC 8170 - Fundamentals of Information Assurance♦	3 sem. cr.
6	ITEC 8721 - Organizational and Social Dimensions of Information Systems♦	3 sem. cr.
7	ITEC 8427 - Applied Research Methods—Qualitative and Quantitative♦	3 sem. cr.
	Complete Residency 2 face-to-face during your research methodology courses.
	ITEC 8437 - Quantitative Decision Making for Strategic Analysis♦	3 sem. cr.
8	ITEC 8447 - Qualitative and Case Study Research for Strategic Analysis♦	4 sem. cr.
8	ITEC 8201 - IT Leadership Simulator: Integrating Diverse Systems and Leading Technology	3 sem. cr.
9	ITEC 8202 - IT Leadership Simulator: Developing Proactive and Reactive Security Plans /DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
9	ITEC 8203 - IT Leadership Simulator: Leading IT in a Dynamic Environment /DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
10	ITEC 850X/DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
10	ITEC 850X/DDBA 8100 - Doctoral Study Mentoring	3 sem. cr.
11	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
	Optional: Complete a DIT Doctoral Study Intensive retreat face-to-face during ITEC 9000. Contact Academic Advising to register.
	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
12	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
12	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.
13	ITEC 9000 - Doctoral Study Completion	3 sem. cr.

Doctoral Writing Assessment

Students who start their doctoral program at Walden University in 2016 will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment on a rolling basis. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level. For more information, click here.

Program Data

Walden is committed to providing the information you need to make an informed decision about where you pursue your education. Click here to find detailed information for the Doctor of Information Technology (DIT) program relating to the types of occupations this program may lead to, completion rate, program costs, and median loan debt of students who have graduated from this program.