DePaul University's School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems (CTI), which launched a pioneering Master's Degree in E-Commerce Technology last fall, will offer an Bachelor of Science Degree in E-Commerce Technology program beginning in the fall of 2000.

     "Through our cutting edge e-commerce master's degree, CTI has gained a great deal of experience in teaching the skills students need to enter this emerging field," said Susy Chan, director of CTI's e-commerce programs. "The new bachelor's degree draws on CTI's strength in e-commerce education and the school's innovative programs in human-computer interaction, telecommunications, distributed systems and information systems. We plan to offer a very comprehensive undergraduate degree that will produce students who are well-prepared for the job market."

     Chan said the new program is attractive to graduating high school students who have grown up using the Internet and are interested in careers in the e-commerce industry where well-educated, technologically savvy young people are in great demand.

     The 48-course program will prepare students for web development careers while providing broad-based liberal arts education that includes courses in communication, psychology and graphic arts. The technology courses will teach Web development and design, e-commerce business models and project management. Team projects and internships are important aspects of the program.

     "The content will be flexible to adapt to rapidly changing technology trends and industry needs," said CTI Assistant Professor Linda Knight, associate director of the program. "Area leaders in the e-commerce industry provide ongoing advice for the direction of the program and will teach some of its courses."

     While scores of graduate business schools have launched e-business concentrations and a few computer schools have introduced e-commerce graduate degrees this academic year, undergraduate programs in this field are unusual, according to Helmut Epp, dean of CTI.

     "CTI's undergraduate program in e-commerce technology will be unique to the Chicago area and perhaps the nation," he said. "We were among the first to launch an e-commerce master's degree and the response was immediate and significant, with student enrollment growing from 50 to 200 since the fall. We expect this new program to be equally successful. It represents another example of the pioneering spirit that keeps CTI on the cutting edge."

     Expanded from a department to a school five years ago, CTI enrolls approximately 1,400 undergraduates and 1,700 graduate students, the largest graduate enrollment for a school of its kind in the nation. It is the fastest growing school among DePaul's eight schools and colleges, with annual enrollment gains of about 25 percent. The school produces 42 percent of the state's information technology master's degree graduates.

     CTI maintains a variety of technology labs, including an E-Commerce Technology Institute, directed by Chan, that conducts research with the e-commerce industry.

     Students interested in applying for CTI programs should call the school at 312/362-8714 or visit the Web site: www.cs.depaul.edu.