Course Credits, Waivers, and Substitutions
The IST department does not currently give credit for internships or work experience. We can only accept credit from accredited institutions.
Courses for the major can be satisfied through the below alternatives:
BS in Information Technology and IT Minor
BS in Information Technology and IT Minor Substitution/Waiver options.
Students in a Bachelor's Accelerated MS programme are eligible for additional substitutions. Please visit the BAM information page for more details.
Students in older catalog years are eligible to take new concentration course options. It is likely the course will not auto-apply in the degree evaluation as satisfying the concentration area. If this is the case, please contact the IST academic advising team at bsit@gmu.edu so a substitution form can be generated to apply the course appropriately.
IT 104 (credit)
IT 106 (credit)
Students with ITP 120 credit can satisfy IT 106 with IT 196. More details here.
IT 106 (substitution)
Starting spring 2023: If a new admit earns a B or higher in ITP 120, they will receive a substitution for IT 106.
IT 106 and IT 206 (substitution)
Students who have completed CS 112 or CS 108+CS 109 and CS 211 with transfer credit, grades of XS or C or higher, can use these courses as a substitution for IT 106 and IT 206.
IT 109 (substitution)
Students who have completed CS 112 with transfer credit, grade of XS or C or higher, may use CS 112 as a substitution for IT 109.
Students who have completed CS 112 or CS 108+109 with transfer credit, grade of XS or C or higher, may use CS 112 as a substitution for IT 109.
Starting Spring 2023: If a new admit earns a B or higher in ITP 150, they will receive a substitution for IT 109
IT 213 (credit)
Students with ITE 170 credit can satisfy IT 213 with IT 193.
More details here.
IT 213 (substitution)
Starting spring 2023: If a new admit earns a B or higher in ITE 170, they will receive a substitution for IT 213.
IT 214 (credit)
Students with ITD 256 credit can satisfy IT 214 with IT 194.
More details here.
IT 214 (substitution)
Starting spring 2023: If a new admit earns a B or higher in ITD 256, they will receive a substitution for IT 214.
IT 304 (alternate)
CS 306 can be used to satisfy IT 304 (auto equivalency).
IT 306 (substitution)
Students who have completed CS 310 (C or higher) can use it as a substitution for IT 306.
IT 341 (waiver)
Students who hold a CCNA Routing and Switching Certification (Must provide proof of certification) –and– pass the IT 341 final exam with a score of 75% or higher can earn a waiver of IT 341. Contact Dr. Khondkar Islam (kislam2@gmu.edu) for exam details.
The IT 341 waiver does not give credit for IT 341, rather, it allows a student to bypass IT 341 as a prerequisite. Students may register for subsequent courses after having earned the waiver and submission of a registration override request form. Students will still need to meet the 120-credit minimum and 45 upper-level credit minimum requirements to graduate.
IT 343 (substitution)
Students who have completed CS 321 can use it as a substitution for IT 343.
IT 373 (substitution)
IT 373 is an approved substitution for IT 415 for students in the 2024-2025 and prior catalogs. Students in the 2024-2025 catalogs may register for IT 373 with a C or higher in IT 206/IT209/CS211 with an override.
IT 432 (substitution)
IT 432 is an approved substitution for the INFS/CYBR core or ITE/DTP/WDEV/WADV/NTEL/CCG/HIT elective for all catalog years.
IT 442 (waiver)
Students who hold a valid AWS certificate (either Cloud Practitioner or Solutions Architect) --and-- pass the IT 442 final exam with a score of 80% or higher can earn a waiver of IT 442. Contact Dr. Pouyan Ahmadi for exam details.
The IT 442 waiver does not give the student credit for IT 442, rather, it allows a student to bypass IT 442 as a prerequisite. Students may register for subsequent courses (IT 451 and/or IT 471) after having earned the waiver and submission of a registration override request form.
To satisfy the CCG concentration with an IT 442 waiver, students would need to take IT 451, IT 461, IT 471, IT 481, and 1 concentration elective from any other concentration area, provided the prereq(s) have been met.
IT 499 "Applied Generative AI Course" (spring 2025) (substitution)
IT 499 "Applied Generative AI Course" (spring 2025) is an approved substitution for the DTP concentration as a core or elective and as a CYBR/INFS/WDM/WDEV/WADV/CCG/NTEL/HIT/ITE concentration elective.
STAT 250 (substitution)
Students who have credit for STAT 344 (C or higher) may use this to substitute STAT 250.
Students who have completed BUS 210+310 (C or higher) may use these two courses as substitutions for STAT 250.
MATH 113 (substitution)
Students who have not completed MATH 108 or 113 but have credit for MATH 114 (transfer, XS, or C or higher) can use it as a substitution for MATH 113.
MBUS 300 (substitution)
Students who have credit for ACCT 203 may use this course as a substitution for MBUS 300. As lower-level credits, students will need to be sure to make up any upper-level deficiencies so they meet the 45-credit upper level requirement for graduation.
MBUS 301 (substitution)
MGMT 303 is an approved substitution for MBUS 301.
IT 214 Prerequisite Substitution (for SEOR students only)
Students must have completed IT 104 or CS 112 or ([SYST 130 or ENG 125T or CDS 130] and [SYST 230 or CS 211]).
ECE 301 (substitution)
Students who have credit for ECE 331 (XS or C or higher) may use it as a substitution for ECE 301.
HAP 360 (substitution)
Starting fall 2025, HAP 360 has been renamed to HI 360, which can be substituted for HAP 360 for students in the 2024-2025 and prior catalogues for the BS INFT. HAP/HI 360 is not applicable for students in the 2025-2026 catalogue.
IT Minor Technical Focus (Upper Level)
MIS 310 is an approved substitution for the Upper Level technical focus course for the IT Minor only. It cannot be used as a prerequisite for courses that require IT 214.
BAS Student Exceptions to Prerequisites
Students in the Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) program may be eligible for prerequisite overrides, substitutions, and waivers for IT courses. These exceptions are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the student’s AAS coursework, MOUs with partner colleges, and other factors. BAS students should contact BAS@gmu.edu for assistance.
MS in Applied Information Technology
Approved substitutions/waivers for the MS in Applied Information Technology (MS AIT).
AIT 502 (substitution)
Starting for students admitted in the 2023-2024 catalog (including provisionally admitted students): AIT 502 will be accepted as a concentration elective for all MS AIT concentrations (as a substitution until the 2024-2025 catalog, when it will automatically populate).
Students admitted in the 2022-2023 catalog year or prior, please email msait@gmu.edu to discuss whether this option can apply to your program requirements.
AIT 660/CYSE 610 (waiver)
Students who are CISSP-certified can be granted a waiver of AIT 660/CYSE 610. Proof of certification must be provided to msait@gmu.edu, for review before a registration override can be granted for students to register for subsequent courses.
AIT 685 (substitution)
AIT 685 will be accepted for all concentrations in the Spring 2025 semester.
AIT 790 (spring 2024)
Spring 2024's AIT 790 is an approved substitution for ITMG concentration elective credits within the MS AIT.
CYSE 610 (substitution)
CYSE 610 is an approved substitution of AIT 660 for CYSE students only.
MS Information Systems (MS INFS)
Approved substitutions for the MS in Information Systems, 2022-2023 to present catalogs.
Students in prior catalog years should consult with the Computer Science department at csgrad@gmu.edu.
AIT 580 (substitution)
Students are encouraged to take INFS 580; however, AIT 580 is an approved substitution for this course.
AIT 611 (substitution)
MS INFS students are encouraged to complete INFS 611; however, if AIT 611 is taken instead, they may use it as a substitution.
AIT 614 (substitution)
AIT 614 is an approved elective for MS INFS students.
AIT 699 (substitution)
AIT 699 (fall 2023 only) has been approved as a substitution for an elective for all MS INFS students (no concentration or with a declared concentration).
CS 530 (substitution)
CS 530, although more advanced than COMP 502, can be used as a substitution of COMP 502.
INFS 501 (substitution)
Students should take COMP 502; however, if INFS 501 is cross-listed with COMP 502, it is an approved substitution for COMP 502 for the MS INFS.
INFS 612 (substitution)
INFS 612 is an approved elective for MS INFS students (2022-2023 to present catalogs)
INFS 740 (substitution)
INFS 740 is an approved elective for MS INFS students.
SWE 619 (substitution)
SWE 619 is an approved elective for MS INFS students.
Students Changing to MS INFS from Another Program
Substitution options will vary. If approved to change your programme to MS INFS, the directors will review your completed courses to determine whether any may be used toward the MS INFS.
Applied Cyber Security Graduate Certificate (CERG-ACBS)
Approved substitutions/waivers.for the Applied Cyber Security Graduate Certificate (CERG-ACBS).
AIT 542 (substitution)
AIT 542 is an approved substitution for the 2023-2024 to prior catalog years for the CERG-ACBS.
AIT 681 (substitution)
AIT 681 is an approved substitution for the 2023-2024 to prior catalog years for the CERG-ACBS.
AIT 682 (substitution)
AIT 682 is an approved substitution for the 2023-2024 to prior catalog years for the CERG-ACBS.