The School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) at The Pennsylvania State University has recently launched a unique Information Technology Consulting Track within the curriculum of the school. This innovative three-course curricular track was the result of numerous strategic consultations and partnerships with a number of corporations.To-date, activities associated with the IT Consulting Track have generated over $3 million in corporate donations of hardware, software, and monies. Accenture has recently signed on as the official corporate sponsor of the IT Consulting Track.This paper explores this model of real-world IT consulting education which relies heavily on fostering and maintaining many close corporate relationships. This model of corporate curricular engagement is unique nationally in that it requires close communication and coordination between professors, corporate services, Office of Development, and career services representatives. The School of Information Sciences and Technology at The Pennsylvania State University is the first school in the nation to formally tackle IT consulting education at the undergraduate level. For Accenture, this program represents the first curricular sponsorship of an academic program that the company has conducted.A discussion of the rationale and composition of the IT Consulting Track is also presented. The faculty involved with the IT Consulting Track have also conducted preliminary action research related to the consulting model. A description of the research and findings round out the paper.
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