Computer and Information Technology

As a computer and information technology student at Trine, you will have access to cutting-edge technology and equipment in the extended reality, AIM computer and game design labs that includes:

• Seven AI/gaming computers built by former Trine students that have water-cooled 4090 graphics cards and AMD Ryzen 9 7950X 4.5 GHz processors with Corsair DDR5 DIMM RAM
• Five computational fluid dynamic computers built to process CFD calculations which have ThreadRipper CPUs with 256GB high-speed RAM
• Twenty high-speed gaming computers with HTC Vive VR Unites, Meta Quest 3 and 2 Units and a Microsoft HoloLens for each computer

During your time as a computer and information technology student at Trine, you will experience:

• A relevant curriculum overseen by an active Professional Advisory Board
• An expanded technology impact through the program's AI/gaming computers which run Folding At Home scenarios when not in use. These scenarios run simulations of proteins from muscle contraction to light sensing and digesting food. The simulation insights are then provided to inform drug discovery and other efforts to combat global health threats.
• A competitive advantage through encouraged learning of programming units in the XR (extended reality) lab
• A chance to join Trine's hacking team, coding team and/or game design team through the Computer Science Society
• A fully paid trip to the GRR Con Hacking Convention in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Trine offers several unique courses for the Bachelor of Science in computer and information technology. You will earn the skills that will enable you to get an IT internship as early as your first undergraduate summer. 

• Computing Infrastructure Basics: Learn the fundamentals of supporting an integrated technical architecture. Explore topics in operating systems, local network, network infrastructure, mobile devices, printers, virtualization and cloud computing. Practice troubleshooting various components of the IT infrastructure and become familiar with critical IT support tasks.
• Certified Ethical Hacking I: Receive an introduction to ethical hacking using methodologies and frameworks from the field. Review the basics of information security including international and national laws. Explore concepts of reconnaissance, footprinting, enumeration of information systems and vulnerability analysis.
• Algorithm Design & Analysis: Understand the theory of programming, reinforced with practical activities. Analyze algorithms for asymptotic required memory and time. Implement stacks, queues, dictionaries, priority queues using arrays and linked lists. Apply recursion, backtracking and dynamic programming. Use classic strategies like greedy search and branch-and-bound. Solve problems using trees and graphs. Explain the theory of computation and complexity classes.
• Virtual Reality Game Production: Receive an introduction into creating virtual reality games through making and loading worlds, user interfaces, accepting user input and building other user experiences. Explore the iterative design process and how to improve a VR game based on user feedback.

Classes in Trine's Bachelor of Science in computer and information technology don't exceed 30 students, with classes generally staying under 10 for juniors and seniors. You can develop close relationships with computer and information technology faculty and receive expert, personalized guidance in reaching your professional goals.

Through this program, you have the opportunity to enhance your knowledge and experience by adding one or more related minors: cybersecurity, data science, esports and game design.

Computer and information technology students from Trine have a high hire rate history.

Trine graduates will be prepared for the following career possibilities:

Students can also pursue graduate degrees in a variety of programs: