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Program Purpose The purpose of the
Information Technology Specialist program (ITS) is to train students for beginning
to intermediate Information Technology positions. The Information Technology
Specialist (ITS) program provides students the means to get the education,
experience and certification necessary for employment. Information Technology Skills Students who earn the
Information Technology Specialist Certificate or Degree will learn the
following Information Technology skills:
Students will learn
to use and support essential office applications including word processing,
spreadsheets and databases. Students may also learn to use and support
graphics, web design, and desktop publishing applications. Students will be
able to apply microcomputer applications to meet specific user needs.
Students will learn essential operating systems skills including installing, upgrading, and troubleshooting multiple operating systems.
Students will learn
to diagnose and solve hardware problems, install new hardware, and to recommend
and install hardware upgrades.
Students will learn
to use, configure, troubleshoot, and install current network technology.
Students will learn
to research solutions to hardware, software, and networking problems. Students
will develop a method of troubleshooting that can be used to solve practical
problems. Professional Skills Students who earn the Information Technology Specialist Degree or Certificate will learn the following professional skills:
Students will learn
to research technology problems, provide technology support, and to learn new
technology tools. Students will learn to acquire new skills, independently, in
order to keep their skills current.
Students will learn
to help other technology users, develop training and maintenance plans and to
translate their technical knowledge so that others can use it. Students will
also learn to respect and meet the diverse technical support needs of computer
users.
Students will learn
to document their work, write clearly and appropriately in an Information
Technology context, respect user’s data, including backup and security, and to
think through the ethical consequences of Information Technology decisions.
Students will learn
to plan, implement and manage projects. Students will be able to organize,
budget, evaluate, and finish projects that meet IT needs.
Students will be able
to develop IT skills through our certification programs and our professional
development courses. Students who are non-degree seeking will be able to
acquire skills that are current and comprehensive. We are constantly adding and
revising our courses to meet the professional development needs of the
Information Technology field. Program Description
Students will need
minimum computer knowledge in order to be admitted to the Information
Technology Specialist Program. If students do not have minimum skills, they can
take the CIOS 150 Computer Business
Applications course.
Students will follow
the normal UAF admissions process to apply for a degree or certificate.
Students will be assigned an advisor, that will work with the student to
evaluate skills and develop an individual program design. The advisor will also
coordinate the independent project and participate in the certification review
committee.
Student’s current
computer skills will be evaluated. An individual educational plan will be developed
to match student skills and goals. Credit for prior learning will be granted
using current UAF procedures.
Students will select courses
from the CIOS offerings that match the student’s interests and goals. The
program design must be developed with the student’s advisor.
All Information
Technology Specialist students will be required to take a core sequence of
Microcomputer Operating Systems, Hardware and Software Configuration and
Troubleshooting, Networking and Communications, Computer Technical Support, and
an Independent Project. No credit for prior learning, with the exception of
Microcomputer Operating Systems, will be granted for these classes. The
Independent Project class (CIOS 276) should be taken during the final semester
of the degree program.
Students will be
required to complete an individual project. The project could be an internship,
learning a new computer application, or developing a set of new skills not
covered in the courses. The purpose of the independent project is to prepare
students for the challenges of providing computer support.
All students are
required to pass a certification review, which will evaluate a student’s
skills. The review includes a portfolio of projects that will be presented to a
committee. In addition to the portfolio presentation, students will demonstrate
their IT skills by installing or configuring a computer from scratch or
troubleshooting computers that are not working. If a student does not pass the
certification review, students will need to revise and resubmit the work until
it is satisfactory. You must pass the certification review in order to receive
the degree or certificate.
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