INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY is one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy, according to a study published by the Canadian microelectronics industry. Industry experts predict 20,500 trained professionals in the area will be needed by the year 2005. That's more than double the current workforce.

To help meet the demand, York has created a new academic information technology program called ITEC which begins in fall 1999. You don't have to be a tech-head to enrol though. In fact, it's being offered through the Faculty of Arts.

Arts students will now be able to combine computer skills and current technologies to tackle real-world problems and a wide variety of organizational tasks. At the same time, they get a liberal arts education. ITEC courses can be combined with majors in psychology, mathematics, political science, economics and women's studies, among others. Atkinson College is also offering ITEC programs in the areas of social issues, health "informatics," technical and professional writing, and administrative studies. Glendon College will also offer the ITEC program in both French and English.

While York's ITEC program will explore the fundamentals of information management and computing technology, it will also tackle the problem of information management without the traditionally strong emphasis on software development. However, the program promises to provide a solid technical core of mathematics and computer courses to ensure a good understanding of programming, database maintenance and systems analysis.

The program is also designed to provide students with a firm foundation in analytic research and critical writing skills.

Illustration: Jeff Halmos