The Information Technology, Engineering, and Computer Science (ITECS) Department at SKC offers the following pathways for students:
Information Technology
The management of computers at the infrastructure, operating system, and hardware level.
- Associate of Science in Information Technology
Computer Science
The creation and maintenance of computer programs, apps, and software.
- Certificate of Completion in Computer Programming
- Associate of Science in Computer Science Transfer Track
Pre-Engineering
An introduction to the science and mathematics foundations required to design and manufacture useful products and services.
- Certificate of Completion in Pre-Engineering
Digital Fabrication
Unlock a world of high-tech career opportunities with SKC's Digital Fabrication Workforce Certificate program! Master the intricacies of 3D printing, CNC routing, and laser cutting, and be prepared to fill the growing skills gap in the booming field of Advanced Manufacturing—both on the Reservation and throughout Montana.
- Workforce Certificate in Digital Fabrication
Read more about the Digital Fabrication Workforce Certificate...
But that's just the tip of this iceberg...
Students in these programs have access to high quality instruction, small class sizes, hands-on learning using modern equipment, internship opportunities, and more. Our Information Technology and Computer labs open from 9:00am-5:00pm (M-F), ensuring personal instruction from faculty and access to equipment. The academic pathways provide students with career ready skills and/or solid foundations on which to continue their education.
The ITECS department can connect students to many different unique opportunities on campus including the following:
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) Student Club
- SKC’s Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Lab (AMIL)
- SKC’s High Altitude Rocket Team
- SKC’s MSGC BOREALIS Lab (Coming Soon…)
Special features of the ITCE Department
Student to Instructor Ratio
The ITECS department offers students the opportunity to really get to know their instructors and peers due to small class sizes and an open learning environment. This allows for plenty of support and guidance to students and open communication with instructors as they pursue these challenging programs. This type of support is not found at larger institutions where students are often one of hundreds in a classroom.
Student Teams & Clubs
The ITECS department provides many opportunities for students to get involved with their peers on campus through student clubs and teams. Below are some examples of these:
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) has a student chapter at SKC. Any student is welcome to join and help them pursue campus projects and community service activities. In the past the club has worked on recycling projects, held outreach events at local K-12 schools, and organized campus trash cleanup events. This is a student led club, in which the group decides what to pursue. There are also regional and national AISES conference opportunities for students to attend to present research and attend job fairs.
SKC students can form a team (with a faculty mentor) to participate in the First Nations Launch (FNL). This a high-powered rocket competition and an opportunity for students to design, build, and fly a high-powered rocket to be launched at a competition at the Richard Bong State Recreational Area in Kansasville, WI. The competition requires teams of undergraduate students to conceive, design, fabricate and compete with high-power rockets. FNL is a ‘First Step’ experience designed for students with no prior experience working with high-powered rockets. This team usually exists as part of the SKC AISES club, and may not run every year due to time and schedule constraints.
This team of SKC students and a faculty mentor are participating in the Atmospheric Science Track of the Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP). The team is participating in an innovative NASA-mission-like adventure in data acquisition and analysis through scientific ballooning during the 10/14/2023 annular and 4/8/2024 total solar eclipses. Atmospheric science track teams will make frequent observations by launching hourly radiosondes on helium-filled weather balloons. Student participants will work with atmospheric science experts throughout the project and will publish results in peer-reviewed journals.
Contact the ITECS department chair for more information on student teams and clubs.
Projects & Internships
The ITECS department faculty members can connect students with many different project and internship opportunities. In many of these opportunities students are paid for their work on either an hourly or completion basis.
Projects are usually done with SKC faculty members who are working on research efforts or grant-funded projects. Student work on projects can happen both during the academic year in addition to coursework, or in the summer. Example of past student projects include:
- Design, construction, and implementation of an IoT Weather Station at SKC.
- Design and construction of a sounding rocket experiment as part of RockOn!
- Missing Persons App
- Boys & Girls Club Computer Infrastructure Upgrade
- BisonSat: an SKC designed and constructed Cube Satellite as part of NASA ELaNa
- SKCyber: A student designed and built Cybersecurity CTF (Coming Soon)
Internships can be done with many different organizations both local and remote. These are usually opportunities for students to learn about working in a professional environment and particular role. Students learn about jobs they may be interested in related to their field of study. Internships may lead to future employment for many students. Internships primarily happen during the summer, but can also occur during the academic year. Examples of past student internships include:
- Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes IT Department Internship - IT Infrastructure
- Sandia National Laboratories Internship - Cybersecurity
- Energy Keepers Internship - Server Administration & Upgrades
Contact the ITECS department chair for more information on student teams and clubs.
Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Lab
The Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Lab (AMIL) is an SKC owned and operated makerspace in which students can receive training on various maker-equipment and software. After training, students can use the equipment to support work on projects, internships, and other academic and community related activities. Current training opportunities offered by the AMIL are:
- Introduction to 3D Printing (2 credit course)
- Solidworks (2 credits)
- Introduction to CNC Machining (2 credit course)
Please see the AMIL website for more information about equipment and student projects. Contact the ITECS department chair or AMIL Director for more information.
Program Contacts
Thomas Trickel
thomas_trickel@skc.edu
Transfers and Academic Credit History
The ITECS Department welcomes transfer credits from other institutions for use in its education programs, provided the courses are approved by SKC Enrollment Services/Admissions and the ITECS Department Chair.
Department policy regarding courses that have been taken at other institutions is as follows:
- Courses must be equivalent in credits, allowing for semester / quarter credit conversion (1 semester credit = 1.5 qtr credits). SKC operates on a 10-week quarter system, as opposed to 15 week semesters. A three credit semester course would be equivalent to 5 quarter credits.
- Course content must be appropriately aligned. This may be determined by the Department Chair along with SKC’s Enrollment Services Transfer Specialist. Often, course descriptions from the source institution are used to help make this determination.
- Certain time limits may apply; if courses were completed more than 5 years prior to the requested transfer, an individual Department review may be required. Technology fields of study are rapidly changing, and education programs must reflect this by changing themselves. Therefore, previous Information Technology and Computer Science courses will be reviewed on an individual basis for relevance to the appropriate degree plans. These guidelines apply to previous SKC credits as well.
- For more on course transfers, visit the SKC Transfer Specialist's page.
Drew Grennell
Department Chair - IT, Computer Science, and Engineering Department
drew_grennell@skc.edu
406-275-4064
A Mathias Bldg Rm 125
Continuity of Course Offerings and Good Academic Standing
SKC students who begin a degree or certificate program may continue the program to completion as long as they remain in good academic standing. This means:
- Students are taking credits relevant to their program of study continuously until completion of the program.
- Students who do not complete relevant credits during consecutive academic quarters are not required to be offered completion of the program that they began.
- Some classes may transfer to a different program, but this is not always the case.
- Students who return to a program after missing an academic quarter may be placed on a new catalog and program that reflects current department program offerings.
Please contact the department chair for more information regarding the above policies.
Apply now and enjoy a unique educational experience that blends Western academic knowledge with Native American perspectives and practices. Benefit from smaller class sizes, personalized attention, and opportunities for hands-on learning and research. Join a supportive community that values cultural diversity and academic excellence, and prepare for a successful career and leadership role in your community. Apply today and start your journey towards a brighter future at SKC!