College of Computing and Technology

Fortune S. Mhlanga, Professor and Dean

Turn your passion for computing and technology into a great future! The mission of the College of Computing and Technology (CCT) is to advance scholarship in key domains of computing and technology to our students by serving the computing and technology community as well as society at large, connecting to key industries, influencers, and thought leaders in the computing and technology arena, and innovating through up-to-date curricula and impactful research that will enhance the computing and technology community in Nashville and beyond. The college offers innovative and uniquely multi-disciplinary programs that prepare graduates for promising careers in computing and technology. The CCT prepares students for a future in a market where there are dozens of careers to choose from and graduates receive among the highest salaries. The college is intent on bringing to its students collaborative partnerships with industry, business, government, schools and nonprofit organizations that provide invaluable, real-world learning experiences. This is an exciting time to be in the CCT. Discover how we can prepare you to build the next generation of computing and technology tools, and to be among the architects that actually lead the future.

Distinctives of the College of Computing and Technology

The CCT has so much to offer:

Flexibility of degree programs to support a variety of career options: One of the greatest strengths of the CCT lies in its interesting variety of courses. In the first place, students may choose from one of seven degree programs. Within each degree program, students choose a concentration area from a variety of options, including computer networking, computer systems, computer theory, database security, game development, information technology entrepreneurship, mobile computing, network security and system administration.
Internships and part-time employment: Regardless of the degree program students are required to do an internship, for at least one semester, with a company in the industry. The CCT also assists its students seeking appropriate part-time employment with industry around Nashville.
Undergraduate research opportunities: The CCT offers students “the best of both worlds”-research and attentive teaching. The college accords students, including incoming freshmen and transfers, with the opportunity to participate in paid undergraduate research on a competitive basis. This includes summer research and the rare opportunity for undergraduate students to attend and present their work at student conferences.
Teaching assistantship opportunities: The CCT offers paid teaching assistantships to its junior and senior students on a competitive basis.
Beyond the classroom: The CCT offers numerous opportunities to be involved with activities, outside of the classroom setting, to further enhance students’ educational experiences. Faculty members in the school serve as advisers for student organizations such as ACM (Association for Computer Machinery) mainly for computer science students, AITP (Association of Information Technology Professionals) mainly for information technology applications and Web application development students, ISSA (Information Systems Security Association) mainly for information security students, and UPE (Upsilon Pi Epsilon) the international honor society for all students in the computing and technology disciplines.
Study abroad: Many students take advantage of the numerous study abroad options offered by Lipscomb University. Since we strongly believe that studying abroad can be an enriching, if not life-changing experience, CCT works with students to integrate courses taken abroad into their program of study.
Eventual opportunity to shine for the Lord: Finally, the CCT allows Lipscomb to more fully achieve its mission of educating students for Christian service throughout the world. It is difficult to think of any discipline that opens more doors, has the potential of touching more people, or facilitates more communication and interaction among individuals than computing and informatics. From the boardroom to the assembly line, to the game room or to the mission field, individuals with technology skills are in high demand, are constantly sought out, and have unique opportunities to work, serve, speak and shine for the Lord in ways that others simply cannot.

150-hour Five-Year Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Degree Programs

Undergraduate computing students in certain programs may optionally complete a combined bachelor’s/master’s degree program in five years. Students must complete a minimum of 120 undergraduate hours and the 30 hours required for the master’s degree at Lipscomb, for a minimum total of 150 hours, in order to receive both degrees. Following is a summary of the program requirements and other details. First, the student enrolls at Lipscomb and pursues a major toward a bachelor’s degree and begins working toward completion of their degree. Then, a series of actions are taken to both declare and then complete the 150-hour combined master’s program.

Fall semester, junior year:

• The student declares his/her intention to pursue the 150-hour program.

• The student requests an advising meeting to update his/her degree plan to ensure that the required program change (see below) can be accommodated and scheduled.

Spring semester, junior year:

• The student takes the GRE and has the scores sent to Lipscomb.

• The student requests at least two recommendations from Lipscomb faculty, which are forwarded to the director of graduate programs in the College of Computing and Technology.

• The student provides all other information as required for application to the graduate program at Lipscomb.

Senior year (provided the student is admitted to the master’s program):

• Lipscomb substitutes the requirements of at least 6 hours (courses substituted are specific to the program) in its bachelor’s degree program.

• The student enrolls in a minimum of two three-hour graduate courses (5000-level or above; maximum of two per semester; prerequisites apply).

The student is awarded a bachelor’s degree provided that the student completes at least 120 hours of undergraduate work (including any undergraduate transfer courses) and satisfies all other degree requirements plus a minimum of 6 hours of graduate work. The 6 hours of graduate work taken during the senior year count towards the completion of the master’s degree. Upon completion of the remaining graduate course work, the student simultaneously receives the bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Grades received in the two graduate courses taken during the senior year will not be used in computing the student’s final GPA for the bachelor’s but will be used to compute the GPA for the master’s degree.