Overview
Get hands-on, action-based training in information technology systems, support and management while you develop a broad knowledge of IT, cloud services, information security and emerging technologies to drive business value.
Become an Information Technology professional and play a critical role in today’s tech-driven economy, helping end-users work effectively with complex hardware, software and networks using various tools and applications. Taught by experienced instructors using an industry-supported curriculum and leveraging the most recent technology, you will develop the knowledge, skills and aptitude to support an organization’s IT infrastructure as well as strong business, service, and consulting skills.
Demand for a range of IT professionals will continue as the growth of the IT sector creates more opportunities. Position yourself for a rewarding career supporting critical business operations in the dynamic and ever-evolving tech sector, and have a vital role in any organization.
Is this the right fit for me?
Students who experience success in this program and profession:
- have higher secondary and/or post-secondary grades
- possess effective interpersonal and communication skills, including in technical writing
- are committed to the significant self-study required alongside the classroom learning
- are detail-oriented and employ critical thinking in practice
- possess basic computer literacies, including the ability to use word processing and communication software (working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite is an asset)
- are team players with a service mindset, and able to remain calm in the face of pressure
- are self-motivated, embrace lifelong learning, and genuinely passionate about the IT sector
Credential
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be awarded a SAIT Information Technology Services diploma.
Get important updates about our business and tech programs
Tuition and fees
Domestic 2022/23
- Year 1: $10,469
- Year 2: $10,469
International 2022/23
- Year 1: $24,134
- Year 2: $24,134
Final costs are dependent on the number of course credits a student takes per semester.
Requirements
You will be offered admission to this program through direct entry if you meet the admission requirements and space is available.
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Admission requirements
Program requirements
Completion of the following courses or equivalents:
- at least 50% in Math 30-1 or at least 60% in Math 30-2
- at least 55% in English Language Arts 30-1 or at least 60% in English Language Arts 30-2.
All applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency prior to admission, including students educated in Canada.
SAIT accepts high school course equivalents for admission. If you don't meet the requirements, consider Academic Upgrading.
SAIT evaluates international documents for admissions. After you've applied, consider our international document assessment service if your education is from outside of Canada. SAIT may also accept courses completed at certain international post-secondary institutions.
When should you apply?
Visit our Apply page to see when applications open and close for upcoming semesters.
To see which semesters this program has intakes for, look at the Available Intakes information at the top of this page.
Direct entry: four-step process
Step 1: Read the program information to see the qualities needed for student success.
Step 2: Ensure that you meet all of the admission requirements listed above.
Step 3: Apply to the program and submit your transcripts.
Admission will be extended on a first-qualified, first-offered basis until the program is full.
Step 4: Continue to monitor your application status through mySAIT.ca.
You must submit final transcripts/grades to show you have completed the courses and met the minimum admission requirements by the transcript deadline or your seat will be rescinded.
This program meets the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit program for international students as long as the student is enrolled in the on-campus delivery mode or completes more than 50% of the courses on campus (for the blended option). International students attending all classes online will NOT be eligible for a Post-Graduate Work Permit. International students are responsible for maintaining their eligibility throughout their studies.
Communication during admission
Email is the primary source of communication during the selection process. Ensure your personal email account is managed appropriately to receive our emails, files and communications. We recommend you add the sadt.advising@sait.ca domain to your safe senders' list or you risk missing critical email messages.
When do classes start?
Classes for this program adhere to the following year start and end dates based on the semester the student begins their program.
| Classes begin | Year start date | Year-end date |
|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | Sept. 6, 2022 | April 28, 2023 |
| Winter 2023 | Jan. 9, 2023 | Aug. 18, 2023 |
| Spring 2023 | May 8, 2023 | Dec. 15, 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | Sept. 5, 2023 | April 26, 2024 |
Courses
Program Outline
Looking for course descriptions and requisites? Visit the course catalogue
Open Studies courses available
Some courses in this program are available through Open Studies.
Open Studies is a great way to explore a certain subject before diving into the full program. See what courses are offered by finding this program on the Open Studies courses tab.
First Year
Semester 1
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CMPH-209 | Introduction to Hardware | 3.0 |
| COMM-238 | Technical Communications I | 3.0 |
| CPNT-219 | Introduction to Networks | 3.0 |
| CPRG-216 | Object-Oriented Programming I | 3.0 |
| MATH-237 | Mathematics for Technologists | 3.0 |
| Semester 1 Total | 15.0 | |
Semester 2
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CPNT-224 | Switching and Routing Essentials | 3.0 |
| CPRG-217 | Scripting | 3.0 |
| CPSY-204 | Server Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| CPSY-206 | Virtualization Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| PHIL-241 | Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
| CPWK-255 | Cooperative Work Term (optional) | 0.0 |
| Semester 2 Total | 15.0 | |
| First Year Total | 30.0 | |
Second Year
Semester 3
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CPNT-300 | Enterprise Networking, Security and Automation | 3.0 |
| CPSY-302 | Advanced Servers | 3.0 |
| CPSY-350 | Intermediate Virtualization | 3.0 |
| INTP-301 | Emerging Technologies | 3.0 |
| ITSC-300 | IT Security Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| Semester 3 Total | 15.0 | |
Semester 4
| Course Code | Course Name | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| CPNT-302 | Wireless Networking Fundamentals | 3.0 |
| CPSY-304 | Cloud Computing | 3.0 |
| CPSY-352 | IT Service Management | 3.0 |
| ITSC-350 | Intermediate IT Security | 3.0 |
| PROJ-309 | Capstone Project | 3.0 |
| Semester 4 total | 15.0 | |
| Second Year Total | 30.0 | |
| Program Total | 60.0 | |
Progression
Students must attain a PGPA and/or a CGPA of 2.0 or better in each semester and pass the necessary prerequisite courses to progress through the program. To qualify for graduation, students must pass all courses, attain a CGPA of 2.0 or better and complete course requirements within the prescribed timelines.
Review our grading and progression procedure >
Transfer options
The opportunity to advance your education by transferring in, within or on from SAIT is available.
Learn more about program and institution partnership agreements.
Costs 2022/23
Domestic tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $300
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $9,000 | $916 | $553 | $10,469 |
| 2 | 2 | $9,000 | $916 | $553 | $10,469 |
International tuition and fees
Cost per credit: $755.50
| Year | Number of semesters | Tuition fees | SAIT fees | Saitsa fees* | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | $22,665 | $916 | $553 | $24,134 |
| 2 | 2 | $22,665 | $916 | $553 | $24,134 |
*Maximum fee. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits a student takes per semester and whether they opt-out of health and dental benefits.
SAIT fees
- Campus athletic and recreation fee: $196
- Universal transit pass (Upass): $320
- Student support fee: $200
- Student technology fee: $200
Saitsa fees
Student Association fee
- Maximum: $291
This is the maximum amount the student will pay. Actual fees may be less and are based on the number of credits the students take per semester.
Health and dental fees
- Health plan: $127
- Dental plan: $135
Students with existing health and/or dental plans can opt-out. Please refer to Saitsa's website for information.
Books and supplies*
Books and supplies are approximately $1,000 per full-time year.
For an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing a computer that meets the program's hardware and software requirements, see our computers and laptops page.
Learn more about tuition and financial aid.
*Tuition, fees, books and supply costs are subject to change.
Next steps for incoming students
Have you been accepted to this program? Here's what you'll need for your first day of classes.
Orientation
Program orientation for students beginning in Winter 2023 will take place online on Thursday, Jan. 5. Look for ORNT 118 in your schedule in mySAIT for the time and exact location.*
You can also prepare by attending Big SAIT Welcome, online information sessions, international or Indigenous orientation, and completing the preparation courses below.
*If your orientation takes place on the first day of classes, you will not see a separate ORNT 118 in your schedule. Students registering in classes via open registration will need to enroll themselves in ORNT 118.
How to register for classes
Course registration opens on March 1 through March 15 for Spring 2023.
You’ll receive an email from us indicating what registration process you’ll use to enroll in your classes.
Learn more about how to register and the different registration methods used at SAIT.
Computers and laptops
This is a bring your own device program with a power-user hardware and software requirement. See the specific requirements on our computers and laptops page.
The recommended hardware and software requirements are:
- Processor: i7
- RAM: 16GB RAM or greater
- Storage: 512 GB SSD or greater
- Video card: onboard integrated
- Screen size: 15" or greater
- Screen resolution: 1920 x 1080 or greater
- OS: Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with antivirus/malware protection
Preparation courses
To support your success, short courses are available to you to help prepare you for the academic year:
PERS 050: Student Rights and Responsibilities
This course is designed to introduce you to student rights and responsibilities at SAIT. You will learn about SAIT's rich and diverse community, become familiar with guidelines and procedures that create a safe, respectful learning experience for you, and gain practical tips for how you can engage in the SAIT community in a positive and responsible way. PRES-050 must be completed within 30 days from the start of the semester.
PREP 100: The SAIT Experience
Get tips and insider information on time management, exam preparation, effective notetaking and more through this free, online short course for new students. Plus, learn about discussion boards, online communication and submitting assignments online. Course completion is recommended by the end of your first semester.
Both courses can be accessed through Brightspace (D2L) before the first day of classes.
Students taking a full-time course load, or more than nine (9) credits per semester, will be automatically enrolled in these courses.
They are optional for students taking a part-time course load (9 or fewer credits per semester). Part-time students can register by emailing academic.coaching@sait.ca.
Required textbooks
The required textbooks will be discussed within the first few weeks of classes.
Contact
Phone: 403.284.8543
sadt.advising@sait.ca
Academic chair
Haider Al-Saidi, Associate Dean
haider.al-saidi@sait.ca
Next steps for all students
Here's what else you'll need to do to get ready!
Next steps for accepted students
Important dates and deadlines
Find important dates applicable to all students, including your transcript and tuition payment deadlines on our Important Dates page.
