MaSSSoftech

When Dusty Davidson and Kevin Zink first opened BrightMix, a company that develops Internet-based software applications, they worked out of Zink's basement.

Within three months, Davidson and Zink moved into their own Omaha office space. Today, just two years after startup, they employ three other computer whizzes and oversee a paid summer internship program.

Davidson, who graduated from Iowa State with a computer science degree in 2003, said he never imagined when he got out of school that he'd be his own boss. He worked at an unsatisfying corporate job before he ever got the bright idea to create BrightMix.

But Davidson said he might have been able to get where he is today even more quickly had he been enrolled in a program like the one the University of Nebraska at Omaha will begin offering this fall.

UNO is touting the new Bachelor of Science in IT Innovation degree as one of the first of its kind in the country because it lets students blend the study of information technology with any existing undergraduate program on campus.

The program, created by Jerry Wagner, is designed to set students up with a foundation in information technology while forcing them to think about how they might use their degree after graduation. But when it comes to choosing the exact field of study — be it management, marketing, graphic design or fine arts — it's up to each student to fill in the blank.

“It's still untested, of course,” said Wagner, a senior research fellow with the College of Information Science and Technology. “But we think this is something a lot of students might have an interest in pursuing.”

Wagner said the degree, just approved formally this summer, has been in the works for more than three years. It started when the school found that more students were interested in combining some facet of IT with computer science, graphic design or art.

In the process of exploring that demand, Wagner said, the idea evolved to create a degree that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.

Because the new bachelor's degree will become an official offering in 2009-10, Wagner said, there aren't yet any students signed up. But he expects that undergrads — most likely freshmen and sophomores who aren't already deep into a major — will begin switching into the program once they learn more about it.

The IT Innovation program requires fewer credits than a double major.

Students will have to take 52 credit hours of general education courses, 36 hours of IT classes, 33 hours of flexible courses from elsewhere on campus and a two-semester capstone class as a senior.

During the capstone, students will develop an IT product or service, document its technical and market feasibility and create a prototype.

Students pursuing the new degree will have opportunities to attend workshops, conferences and seminars about entrepreneurship, and they also will be assigned a mentor in the local business community.

Phil Ruhlman, chief information officer of Gallup, said he's excited about the program's potential to get students thinking outside the box.

Ruhlman, who consulted with Wagner in creating the degree, said it's clear that the field of IT no longer functions as a niche specialty but instead has become a critical part of all facets of business. And he said there are few limits to how students might use their computer background in the corporate world — be it working for themselves or a larger company.

“Whether it's theater, music, software development, whatever, I think a huge part of the future lies in combining different disciplines,” said Ruhlman, who has a theater degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “I've always thought you gain a lot by combining different areas of study with an eye on creativity and innovation.”

As part of the program's proposal process, Wagner sought input and found endorsements from more than 20 metro area business leaders.

“I do think there's widespread excitement in the business community for this to get started,” Wagner said.

Davidson, who grew up in Council Bluffs, understands why. He called information technology “a phenomenal place to start if you're interested in creating your own business.”

“All you really need is a computer to get up and running, and that's very powerful.”

Contact the writer:

444-1207, chad.purcell@owh.com