George Mason University · School of Computing
Course Overview
IT 216 introduces students to the principles and practices of systems analysis and design, with an emphasis on how modern organizations plan, build, and improve information systems. Students develop both the analytical mindset and the practical toolkit needed to work effectively on real-world technology projects.
The course places particular focus on Agile project delivery — understanding iterative development, sprint planning, and cross-functional collaboration — alongside foundational concepts in systems engineering that ensure solutions are built for high availability, usability, and operational efficiency.
Key Topics
Scrum, sprints, backlog management, and adaptive planning
Requirements analysis, modeling, and system decomposition
Designing systems that are resilient, fault-tolerant, and scalable
Human-centered design principles and interface prototyping
Instructor Note
I draw on decades of experience delivering technology programs, from enterprise IT systems at a federal credit union to mission-critical infrastructure in the Federal Government, to illustrate how systems analysis decisions play out in real organizations. The skills practiced in this course are in daily use in every modern IT shop.