Technical Support

Certificate of Proficiency

A one-year certificate can enable students to gain core IT skills offering employable skills in PC installation, computer help desks, and other entry-level positions. This certificate will also serve as the core for all CIS programs at OC.

Additionally, if a student has to withdraw in their second year, they will already have a certificate to assist them with employment options. Many employers may assist students who do get a job after earning their certificate with completing their ATA at OC through their company's training programs.

Moreover, the Technical Support certificate will give students who may have only an industry certification (such as MSCE or Cisco certification) a set of courses to broaden their IT knowledge base and enhance their “soft skills” area through general education (which are transferable) classes as well as teamwork training building in many CIS classes. This would target high school students and “paper tigers” certificate holders in need of more than just their paper.

Not all courses listed are offered every quarter. Please see an appropriate faculty advisor or Division Dean for course sequence and schedule details. A faculty advisor must approve the program for degree/certificate completion.

Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, successful students will have demonstrated the ability to apply their skills and knowledge in the following ways:

1.   Communicate the role of IT and its support for the organization.

2.   Demonstrate basic computer skills in areas such as: applications, operating systems, and programming.

3.   Provide basic computer user support with a help desk, software maintenance, and hardware maintenance.

4.   Discuss and support networking technologies such as LAN/WANs and Internet protocols.

5.   Demonstrate employment skills in organizational communication, presentation, and collaboration.

6.   Clarify how to gather and track key sources of information.

7.   Communicate technical information to a variety of audiences in a clear and precise way, and be open to constructive criticism.

8.   Learning new technical skills quickly and willingly take on new challenges.

ADVISOR            OFFICE               PHONE

Bergman, Don         Technical 205           360-475-7377

Bilodeau, Pam        Technical 214           360-475-7371

Hanson, Dondi        Technical 211           360-475-7376

Westlund, Mark       Technical 203           360-475-7357

REQUIRED COURSES                               CREDITS

CMPTR   110   Information Systems Concepts_________________ 5 

CMPTR   111   Introduction to Operating Systems*___________ 4 

CMPTR   115   Introduction to the Internet_________________ 3 

CMPTR   120   Programming Concepts*________________________ 5 

CMPTR   122   Applications for IT Professionals____________ 4 

CMPTR   154   Introduction to MS Access*___________________ 4 

CMPTR   172   PC Hardware Basics___________________________ 5 

CMPTR   182   Networking Concepts__________________________ 5 

CMPTR   185   IT User Support Fundamentals_________________ 4 

CMPTR   296   CIS Practicum*_______________________________ 1

ENGL    101   Composition*_________________________________ 5 

MATH    119   Precalculus I: Algebra*________________ 5 

or    

CMPTR   123   System Architecture and Logic*_________ 5____ 5

OLRM    220   Human Relations in the Workplace_____________ 3 

TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED ____________________________ 53

* See course description for prerequisite.

Source: 2007-2008 Olympic College Catalog