1.  INTRODUCTION
The Diploma course in Information Technology (DIT) is intended to provide students with a wide range of technical and technological skills required by industry at the diploma level. This combinational of theoretical and practical skills will help the learners apply the current information technology tools in both public and private sectors of our economy.

2.  PHILOSOPHY OF THE PROGRAMME
This program seeks to produce graduates who are practical-oriented to deal with the current challenges in the modern technological world.  

3.  RATIONALE OF THE PROGRAMME
3.1 Needs assessment/Situation analysis
The curriculum is developed taking into account the following society needs:
•    Employers: the need for professionals that can conceive, design, implement innovative IT problem solutions and applications.
•    Government: The need for Kenya to harness computing and IT for increased productivity and effectiveness in all sectors of the economy for national prosperity. The need for widespread socio-economic awareness in Kenya of the purpose and capabilities of information systems. The need for Kenya to participate effectively in and reap maximum benefits from the global information economy.
•    Students: The need to address the increasing demand for quality knowledge in information technology that prepares the learner to fit into the job market and be capable of life-long learning.
•    Academia/Professionals: the need for graduates who can innovate and generate new knowledge through research.
•    International Community: the need for graduates who can offer solutions in the global market
•    Society: the need for skilled professionals who will effectively participate in the development of information technology knowledge and systems that benefit the society at large and promote the social, economic and technological advancement.

4. JUSTIFICATION OF THE NEED OF THE PROGRAMME
Information technology encompasses every day aspect of our lives. Automation using computer-based systems is been witnessed in various sectors of the economy leading to an increased demand for information technology experts.  This programme aims at producing experts in areas of computer software engineers, website development, network engineers, systems administrators, database administrators, information systems managers, systems analysts, and network systems professionals who can offer solutions in various sectors of the economy. The programme is additionally aimed at creating graduates who are job creators not necessarily job seekers.  

5. GOAL OF THE PROGRAMME
The overall goal of this programme is to meet the ever increasing global demands for information technology experts who are versatile, innovative and dynamic enough to cope with the pace of computing evolution. In general, the programme seeks to provide training in the development, use and support of computer-based systems and their importance in various sectors including health, governments, non-profit organizations, financial sector, production and manufacturing sectors among others.

6. EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAMME
By the end of the programme the graduates should be able to:
i.    Use standard computer software and hardware to address organizational needs
ii.    Design computer-based systems
iii.    Venture into entrepreneurship in areas of information technology
iv.    Pursue further training and research in the field of IT

7. MODE OF DELIVERY OF THE PROGRAMME
This shall include Open Learning, Distance Learning and Face to Face Learning.

8.  ACADEMIC REGULATIONS FOR THE PROGRAMME
8.1 Admission Requirements
To be eligible for admission into the Diploma in IT, a candidate must satisfy one of the following minimum requirements:
1.1  An aggregate grade of C- (MINUS) in KCSE and a minimum grade of C- (MINUS) in Mathematics and English or Division II in KCE with credit passes in Mathematics and English or an equivalent qualification recognized by the University of Embu Senate.
1.2  A Credit pass in IT Certificate or an equivalent qualification from an Institution recognized by the University of Embu Senate.

8.2  Regulations on Credit Transfer in a programme
A candidate may be exempted from some course units from approved institutions by relevant Government and/or University organ(s), subject to the following conditions.
i.    Request for exemption should be made in writing, on admission, addressed to the Dean of School and must be accompanied by officially endorsed supporting documents including the institutions syllabuses for the relevant courses
ii.    No candidate shall be exempted from more than forty nine percent of the total number of units required for a program
iii.    A candidate may be required to sit and pass applicable University examinations in the relevant course units, provided they have paid the appropriate examination fees
iv.    The courses for which exemption are sought shall be limited to first year of study
v.    Minimum grade for unit(s) sought exemption shall be C or its equivalent
vi.    Payment of appropriate exemption fees

8.3  Course Requirements
i.    A student is required to attend at least two thirds of the class attendance in order to be allowed to sit for the end of semester examination in a given unit of the programme
ii.    The lecturer shall ensure the programme course(s) are delivered in a manner that learning takes place

8.4  Student Assessment Policy/Criteria
i.    All courses taken shall be examined during the semester in which they are offered.  Such examination shall consist of continuous assessments and practicals, where applicable, and end of semester examinations.
ii.    End of semester examinations will comprise 60 percent of the total course marks whereas continuous assessment and practicals, where applicable, will account for 40 percent.
iii.    End of semester examinations will take two hours.
iv.    A candidate may, on the recommendation of the School Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be admitted to Special Examinations, in the course(s) for which the candidate failed to sit Ordinary Examinations at the prescribed time. Special Examinations shall be graded as Ordinary Examinations.

8.5  Description of Project
The programme involves the student undertaking one project. The Project shall be equivalent to two course units and shall be taken for a period of two consecutive semesters. A project in this context shall mean computer systems development work undertaken by a candidate in accordance to the Departmental guidelines on Undergraduate Projects. The project shall be graded independently out of a maximum of 100 marks and the pass mark shall be 40%. A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the first submission of the project may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to redo the same or do another project during a subsequent academic year. A candidate who fails on the fourth attempt shall, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be discontinued from the programme.

8.6  Industrial Attachment
The Student will undertake Industrial Attachment for a period of 12 weeks in Semester five in accordance to the School’s guidelines on Industrial Attachment.
    The Industrial Attachment shall be equivalent to 2 course units.
    The pass mark for Industrial Attachment shall be 40%.  
    A candidate who fails to satisfy the examiners in the Industrial Attachment may, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be allowed to repeat the Industrial Attachment not more than once.
    A candidate who fails in a repeated Industrial Attachment shall, on the recommendation of the Board of Examiners and approval by Senate, be discontinued from the programme.

8.7  Grading System
Each course unit shall be graded independently out of a maximum of 100 marks and shall be graded according to the following grading system.
    A    70% - 100%
    B    60% - 69%
    C     50% - 59%
    D    40% - 49%
    E    below 40% (Fail)
Students shall be awarded a Diploma upon successfully passing all the units. The pass mark for each unit shall be 40%. Where a student fails to obtain the required pass mark, he/she will be expected to repeat the unit when next offered until he/she can pass the unit.
The final classification based on the average for all the units shall be as follows:

Average	Grade
70% - 100%	Distinction
50% - 69%	Credit
40% - 49%	Pass
Below 40%	Fail

 

9.   DURATION AND PATTERN OF THE COURSE
2.1   The course shall extend over a minimum period of four semesters plus
three (3) months of practical industrial attachment.
2.2   The course shall be done through course work, examinations and project.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Semester I
Course Code	Course Title	L	P	TOTAL
SIT 051	Introduction to Computers	30	30	60
SIT 052	Business Communication Skills	30	30	60
SIT 053	Programming Concepts	30	30	60
SIT 054	Introduction to Computer Applications	30	30	60
SIT 055	Computer Networks 1	30	30	60
SIT 056	Basic Mathematics	60	-	60
Total				360

 

Semester II
Course Code	Course Title	L	P	TOTAL
SIT  061	System Analysis and Design	30	30	60
SIT  062	Internet Technology	30	30	60
SIT  063	Operating Systems	30	30	60
SIT  064	Mathematics and Decision Making Techniques	60	-	60
SIT  065	Event Driven Programming	30	30	60
SIT  066	Database management Systems	30	30	60
Total				360

 

Semester III
Course Code	Course Title	L	P	TOTAL
SIT  071	Computer Networks II	30	30	60
SIT  072	Fundamentals of Accounting	30	30	60
SIT  073	PC Support and Maintenance	30	30	60
SIT  074	Web Design and Publishing	30	30	60
SIT  075	Project (2 Units)	-	120	120
SIT  076	Object Oriented Programming	30	30	60
Total				360

 

Semester IV
Course Code	Course Title	L	P	TOTAL
SIT  075	Project (2 Units)	-	120	120
SIT  081	Software Engineering	30	30	60
SIT  082	Principles of E-commerce	30	30	60
SIT  083	Mobile Programming	30	30	60
SIT  084	Entrepreneurship	60	-	60
SIT  085	Web Hosting and Maintenance	30	30	60
Total				360

 

Semester V
Course Code	Course Title	Credit hours
SIT  091	Industrial attachment	120
Total		120