+ Associate of Applied Business in Computer Science Technology

Martin S. Anderson, M.B.A., program director

The associate of applied business in computer science technology prepares students for employment as computer support specialists or computer networking specialists. Employment opportunities for these fields are expected to grow. The curriculum for each of these majors is designed around the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed for employment.

Computer Support Specialist — click for 2009-2010 course requirements
Computer support specialists provide technical assistance to computer users. They provide overall corporate support in the selection and implementation of new software as well as work at the individual level answering questions and solving problems. They must be knowledgeable of hardware, operating systems, application software, and peripheral devices. Employment opportunities exist in industries that design and provide services for computer systems, administrative units of companies, school systems, and software publishers. The U.S. Department of Labor data indicates a 30% growth in total employment for this occupation.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates from this program are expected to achieve the following:

• The ability to install and configure microcomputer hardware and operating systems, and customize the operating system interface;
• An understanding of the operations of microcomputer hardware, firmware, and operating systems, along with the interrelationships among them;
• The ability to install, configure, and maintain computer networking hardware, network operating systems, and network services, including accounts and configuring resources security;
• The ability to install, configure, and maintain Internet server software and services, including Web and FTP hosting services;
• An ability to provide Web page support by creating dynamic and interactive Web pages and programming scripts;
• An understanding of programming principles and logic, and its application to the development of computer programs to perform specified tasks;
• An ability to design, implement, and support the use of electronic spreadsheet applications in support of end users;
• An ability to provide support for operating systems, both to the corporate entity and end-users alike.

Computer Networking Specialist — click for 2009-2010 course requirements
Computer networking specialists install, configure, and support the corporation's computer network. Graduates must be knowledgeable of local area networks (LAN), wide area networks (WAN), and the Internet system. Other key skills taught in the program include the ability to maintain hardware and software to keep a network available and operating securely and efficiently.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates from this program are expected to achieve the following:

• The ability to install and configure microcomputer hardware and operating systems, and customize the operating system interface;
• An understanding of the operations of microcomputer hardware, firmware, and operating systems, along with the interrelationships among them;
• The ability to install, configure, and maintain computer networking hardware, network operating systems and network services, and configuring resources security;
• The ability to install, configure, and maintain Internet server software and services, including Web and FTP hosting services;
• An ability to provide Web page support by creating dynamic and interactive Web pages and programming scripts;
• An understanding of programming principles and logic, and its application to the development of computer programs to perform specified tasks;
• An ability to accomplish network wiring and cabling tasks, including making cables and punch-down connections.