Information and Communication Sciences

Program Features

Immersive Learning

Immersive learning is Ball State University’s approach to student-driven projects, lasting outcomes, and community partnerships.
In our program, you can take part in special projects for information and communication companies. You can gain valuable experience and build business relationships in the process. You’ll receive:

• real-life application of the concepts you are learning in the classroom
• feedback from professors, alumni, and industry professionals to reinforce your management and leadership skills
• professional experiences to build your competence and confidence
• satisfaction from helping our communities through service

Social Learning

The Student Social Learning Program is our well-developed strategy to grow our graduate students into more knowledgeable professionals who function well in business social settings at the leadership level. We hold more than a dozen events each year that provide social enrichment and the chance to further develop your networking and interpersonal skills.

Here are some examples:

• job placement seminars
• career workshops
• annual wine tasting and networking dinner
• golf outings
• formal and informal business events
• ski trips
• networking events
• professional conferences

CLOUD COMPUTING

CICS First Amazon Web Services Partner

The Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS) is honored to announce two firsts. CICS is the first institution nationally to have two-faculty members certified as AWS Cloud Practioners, professor Steve Jones and program associate director Kirsten Smith. And, CICS is now the first university in the country partnered with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Academy to deliver its inaugural Cloud Practitioner curriculum (and hands-on labs!).

This curriculum is focused on the requisite knowledge to operate systems in the rapidly expanding Cloud technology environment. The AWS Cloud Practitioner designation is new to AWS’s educational platform, providing content for understanding the fundamentals associated with cloud computing, storage, databases, content delivery (multimedia), scaling networks, security, and other services tied to cloud infrastructure. A critical aspect of the curriculum is designed to help students see the value of using cloud-based services that are highly elastic, scalable, and cost effective for business applications.
Students will be qualified to take the exam certification at the end of the course, providing them with an industry-recognized achievement in the cloud networking industry.