Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)’s Information Technology and Web Science (ITWS) program, the first of its kind in the United States, became part of the university’s Lally School of Management on August 16, 2025. The move reflects RPI’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary education at the intersection of technology, business, and society, and positions ITWS for continued growth and impact. 

“The technical depth of ITWS, its pioneering history, and its superb interdisciplinary approach make it an ideal fit for Lally’s mission of developing technology-enabled leaders,” said Liad Wagman, Ph.D., Dean of the Lally School of Management. “This move strengthens the program’s academic standing and professional reach, while opening new pathways for students to lead in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced data analytics.” 

The transition supports RPI’s goal of integrating technology-focused instruction with business education, building on Lally’s top-ranked programs in business analytics, management, and quantitative finance. ITWS will become a standalone academic area within Lally, with some similarities to a traditional academic department. The program’s degree offerings will remain unchanged. 

“The incorporation of ITWS into the Lally School of Management is a natural evolution for both academic units,” said Kathy Fontaine, Ph.D., ITWS Senior Lecturer and director of its graduate program. “This renewed partnership reflects how seriously we view responsible IT and data handling in business and management." 

ITWS students will gain access to Lally's world-class resources, including industry-leading faculty, dedicated advising and professional development staff, cutting-edge databases, Lally’s new Bloomberg Lab, additional funding from the Lally endowment, and career networking events.   

The ITWS curriculum has long been known for its strong technical foundation in cybersecurity, data science, and artificial intelligence. The move to Lally will further connect the program to expertise in analytics, finance, and management, creating new opportunities for students to work across disciplines.  

“This program explores the revolutionary changes happening where technology meets other disciplines” said Greg Hughes, B.S. ‘67, Ph.D., co-founder of the ITWS program. “Rather than studying those disciplines in isolation, the program amplifies their combined potential.”  

Since its founding as the nation’s first information technology program, ITWS has been recognized as a leader in preparing graduates to excel at the intersection of technology, science, and leadership. This elevation of the program into an academic area within RPI’s Lally School of Management builds on its legacy and positions it to expand its influence in the rapidly evolving global landscape. 

“ITWS has always been about learning technological skills with the perspective of real-world applications,” said Arielle Revis, a rising ITWS junior. “With the move to Lally, students can ground their technical knowledge with the business principles and strategies taught by Lally's faculty. This unique blend of technology and business education creates well-rounded, powerhouse students who will not only build the future, but also lead it.”