This program provides students with the necessary skill and knowledge to plan, install, and provide routine control over and manage exceptional situations in relation to quality communications network services in an information system.

It provides in-depth knowledge on evaluating communications hardware, software and transmission service alternatives against changing business requirements; maintaining links with network suppliers; monitoring network performance; providing support for systems; localizing and rectifying faults in networks and handling non-routine user/customer problems; and providing expertise and practical assistance in delivering service that complies with statutory and other standards, as well as strategic and tactical plans.

Career Opportunities:

Recent studies indicate that strong growth in IT jobs, especially for skilled Computer and Network Operators, are expected over the next few years. Careers that correspond with the skills learned in this program include:

Potential areas of employment

• Hardware Installation Coordinator
• Network Administrator
• Network Support Technician
• Network Operator
• Local Area Network (LAN) Administrator
• Local Area Network (LAN) Technician

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintaining, troubleshooting, and administering the
  use of local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), hardware, software and related computer equipment;
• Monitoring and implementing network activities;
• Designing and configuring networks, recommending purchases of application servers, peripherals, and software;
• Evaluating and installing computer hardware, networking software, and operating system software;
• Providing problem-solving services to network users;
• Performing data backups and disaster recovery operations.

Students are required to take some elective courses from prescribed study areas.

The Help Desk Support Analyst Diploma program provides students with the necessary skill and knowledge to support users of computer systems and software applications. It provides in-depth knowledge on evaluating, configuring, and troubleshooting communications hardware, software, and operating systems.

It also introduces the skills necessary to effectively provide remote customer support, and deal with issues Help Desk Support Analysts may encounter on the job when addressing customer requirements.

This program prepares the student for several industry certifications. These are: CompTIA A+ certification with IT Technician designation, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), and the Help Desk Analyst (HDA) certifications.

Career Opportunities:

Job opportunities exist within the technical support departments of large companies within the insurance, financial, pharmaceutical, Technical Support Call Centres and all telecommunications industries. Careers that correspond with the skills learned in this program include:

• Help Desk Support Analyst
• User Support Technician
• Computer Help Desk Representative
• Help Desk Technician
• Software Technical Support Analyst
• Systems Technical Support Analyst

This program prepares students to deal with the problems they may encounter when supporting Personal Computers in an office environment. It provides in-depth knowledge of both computer hardware and software and prepares students to take the CompTia A+ certification examwith the IT Technician designation, with Network+ and Server certifications.

Students will have practical hands-on experience in trouble shooting computer problems and assembling a computer. Successful students may choose to progress to advanced qualifications such as MCSA or MCSE, which are in high demand.

Students are required to take some elective courses from prescribed study areas.

Career Opportunities:

Skilled Computer Service Technicians are in high demand in today's highly skilled environment. Virtually all organizations with multiple computers require the skills of Computer Service Technicians which can become invaluable members of any technical support team.

Other areas of opportunity inlude, bench technician, PC assembler, PC tester in manufacturing or assembly operations, computer sale, and service

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Providing technical support within small to medium sized office;
• Troubleshooting hardware and software problems;
• Replacing and installing new computer hardware;
• Keeping up-to-date on new trends in personal computing;
• Must be proficient in all aspects of computer software applications and operating systems;
• Must have in-depth knowledge of how computer systems work.

This entry-level program is designed to prepare students for the CompTIA A+ Certification with IT Technician designation.

This credential validates the latest skills needed by today's Computer Support Professionals and is the skills benchmark that provides an entry point into an IT career. It is highly recognized for excellence in computer hardware and operating systems covering skills such as installing, building, upgrading, repairing, configuring, troubleshooting, optimizing, diagnosing, and preventative maintenance, with additional elements of soft skills and security.

Career Opportunities:

• PC Repair Technician
• PC Assembler
• Bench Technician
• Field Service Technician

Preparation stage for some of the following positions;

• Enterprise Technician
• IT Administrator

The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator credential is the premier certification for IT professionals who administer and support the Windows 2003 platform and Microsoft server software.

Career Opportunities:

The MCSA Certification is appropriate for individuals pursuing a career as a:

• Systems Administrator
• Network Administrator
• Information Systems Administrator
• Network Operations Analyst
• Network Technician
• Technical Support Specialist

Duties & Responsibilities:

The opportunities for people who have successfully completed both the training and have written the Industry Certification Exams are unlimited in the IT field as it includes all the primary Microsoft Server based training along with the CompTia background which prepares the individual for Networking in any Microsoft environment. It also allows for an easy mirgration to the 2008 Server systems.

Some of the operation responsibities may be

• Preparing Software Upgrades
• Migration of Data bases and programs
• Software installation, configuration and maintenance

The MCSE credential is the premier certification for professionals who analyze business requirements and design and implement infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows® 2003 platform and Microsoft server software. Implementation responsibilities include installing, configuring, and troubleshooting network systems.

The MCSE credential is one of the most widely recognized technical certifications in the industry. By earning the MCSE credential, individuals are demonstrating that they have the skills necessary to lead organizations in the successful design, implementation, and administration of the most advanced Microsoft Windows platform and Microsoft server products.   Note: The transition to the latest server has an upgrade path that makes it easy to add the 2008 Server to your base of knowledge.

Career Opportunities:

The MCSE Certification is appropriate for individuals pursuing a career as:

• Information System Designer
• System Engineer
• Technical Support Specialist
• System Analyst
• Network Analyst
• Technical Consultant

Specialization Tracks; Areas of Growth Employment:

• MCSE Messaging on Windows 2003 Server
• MCSE Security on Windows 2003 Server

Server Administration

This program is designed to prepare students to write the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Server Administrator certification exams.

The MCITP Server Administrator certification demonstrates knowledge and skills in working with Windows Server 2008. The certification validates ability to handle day-to-day management of the server operating system, file structure, and directory services; handle software distribution and updates; monitor servers; provide tier-2 troubleshooting support; support engineering and change-management projects; build and configure servers; implement auditing policy; perform scheduled vulnerability-assessment scans; and monitor logs for firewalls and intrusion-detection systems.

The MCITP certification builds on a combination of MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) prerequisites that will allow students to develop their technical skills and knowledge and prepare them for the role as a Server Administrator.

Enterprise Administrator

This program is designed to prepare students to write the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Enterprise Administrator certification exams.

The MCITP Enterprise Administrator certification demonstrates knowledge and skills in Windows infrastructure design and readiness to excel in working with Windows Server 2008. The certification validates ability to design Windows Server infrastructures; evaluate and recommend new technology solutions; serve as an escalation point for infrastructure issues; develop client and server best practices for other teams, such as engineering, development, and operations; keep policy current for authentication, identity, and access management; provide guidance in implementing security policies that affect the infrastructure on multiple levels; participate in application reviews on security; and ensure that the applications adhere to standard security guidelines and practices.

The MCITP certification builds on a combination of MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) prerequisites that will allow students to develop their technical skills and knowledge and prepare them for the role as an Enterprise Administrator.

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Expected background for success

A candidate should hold CompTIA A+ or Network+ certification or have adequate experience working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure.

Career Opportunities:

The current leading edge of the Microsoft advance into Cloud Computing hold promise for the future.