COMPUTER SYSTEMS SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Mission of the Computer Systems Specialist Program:

The computer systems specialist program is designed to prepare students for the information technology job market. The program will prepare students to enter the workforce with the knowledge, skills, and experience required to compete for jobs in computer technology.

The program fits the mission of the college by preparing students with the technical skills required to enter the work force. It also provides core course work, general education, and pre-professional courses for transfer.

The program options are career-oriented, but many of the courses within the options transfer as credit toward a baccalaureate degree at four-year colleges or universities.

Program Goals:

The goals of the program are to provide students with the skills and knowledge to enter a growing marketplace, to maintain and update computer software and/or hardware, and to provide new job opportunities or avenues for career advancement.

The program has several unique features. It is designed to provide students with the opportunity to customize their curriculum to match job requirements, interests, and skills. With the two program options (Programming and Systems Technician), students may elect to obtain Professional Certification or Certificates of Mastery. Professional Certification is awarded upon successful completion of a national/ industrial certification exam. Certificates of Mastery are used to determine competencies when national exams are not available. The Certificates of Mastery are given to students who have shown mastery level work based on recommended standards of business and industry. Professional Certification or Certificates of Mastery are available in Cisco Network Communications, COBOL, C++, VISUAL BASIC, Novell, Microsoft, and UNIX.

Student Goals:

Students may elect to pursue the Associate in Applied Science Degree with or without obtaining Professional Certification or Certificates of Mastery, or they may elect to work for only Professional Certification or Certificate(s) of Mastery. Since the program is customized, students may include courses from either of the two options as part of their program. Students may also elect to earn a Certificate of Completion within the Systems Technician option.

Long Range Goals:

The long range plans for the program are to maintain contact with business/industry to keep courses current, to offer the program to distant sites, and to increase the number of options for Professional Certification.