Friday, November 20, 2009

Academics

 

Preparation for Industry Certifications

The CET Department offers many courses to help you prepare for industry-recognized certifications, as well as to fulfill requirements for AAS degrees and Certificates of Achievement.

The material in these courses can act only as a guide for the material that will be covered in the certification exams. You will have to review and practice to achieve mastery of the concepts and skills. Passing of these classes does not guarantee that you will pass the certification exams.

As of Fall 2009, fees for 3-credit courses are about $250; for 4-credit courses the fees are about $300. Textbooks are an additional expense. The fees for the certification exams are NOT included in CSN's fees. Certification testing is available at the Cheyenne campus Testing Center. The Testing Center's phone number is (702) 651-4050.

The certifications and the corresponding CSN courses that will help you prepare for the exams are presented further down on this page.  All courses are 3 credits, unless noted otherwise. Use the links in the list below to "jump" to the details of each certification.

  • Cisco

    • CCNA -- Cisco Certified Network Associate 

      The Cisco CCNA network associate certification validates your ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. This certification consists of one exam. Learn more about CCNA certification from Cisco.

      The following four courses at CSN will prepare you to take the CCNA exam (640-802):

      • CSCO 120 -- CCNA Internetworking Fundamentals
      • CSCO 121 -- CCNA Routing Protocols and Concepts (Prerequisite: CSCO 120)
      • CSCO 220 -- CCNA LAN Switching and Wireless Fundamentals (Prerequisite: CSCO 121)
      • CSCO 221 -- CCNA WAN Fundamentals (Prerequisite: CSCO 220)

      These courses are each 4 credits. These courses may also be used to fulfill requirements for several Associate of Applied Science Degrees.

      For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

    • CCNP -- Cisco Certified Network Professional

      CCNP certification validates your ability to install, configure and troubleshoot converged local and wide area networks with 100 to 500 or more nodes.  This certification consists of 4 exams. Learn more about CCNP certification from Cisco.

      The following are CSN courses that will prepare you for each of the exams that make up the certification. Before embarking on this course of study you should have earned a CCNA or have taken all four semesters of the Cisco Networking Academies.

      • CSCO 280 -- CCNP Advanced Routing (Prerequisite: CSCO 221 or CCNA Certification)
        BSCI Exam 642-901 -- Building Scalable Cisco Internetworks
      • CSCO 281 -- CCNP Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks (Prerequisite: CSCO 221 or CCNA Certification)
        ISCW Exam 642-825 -- Implementing Secure Converged Wide Area Networks
      • CSCO 282 -- CCNP Multilayer Switching (Prerequisite: CSCO 221 or CCNA Certification)
        BCMSN Exam 642-812 -- Building Cisco Multilayer Switched Networks
      • CSCO 283 -- CCNP Optimizing Converged Internetworks (Prerequisite: CSCO 221 or CCNA Certification)
        ONT Exam 642-845 -- Optimizing Converged Cisco Networks

      These courses are each 4 credits.

      For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

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  • CompTIA

    • A+

      The A+ certification validates your knowledge of computer hardware and operating systems concepts, as well as computer security, safety and environmental issues and communication and professionalism. There are three certifications:

      • A+ Certified IT Technician 
        (requires passing two exams: A+ Essentials and 220-602)
      • A+ Certified Remote Support Technician 
        (requires passing two exams: A+ Essentials and 220-603)
      • A+ Certified Depot Technician 
        (requires passing two exams: A+ Essentials and 220-604)

      Learn more about the certifications from CompTIA.

      The following classes at CSN will prepare you for all three A+ certifications:

      • CIT 110B -- A+ Hardware and CIT 111B -- A+ Software

        These two courses may be taken concurrently. Both fulfill core requirements for the Associate of Applied Science degree in CIT. For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

      • CSCO 109B -- PC Troubleshooting and Repair

        For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

    • Linux+

      The Linux+ certification validates your ability to explain management of Linux systems from the command line, your knowledge of user administration, your understanding of file permissions, software configurations, and your ability to manage Linux-based clients, server systems and security. Learn more about the certification from CompTIA.

      CSN's course offerings in Linux (CIT 173, CIT 174 and CIT 175) are not directly tied to the objectives of the CompTIA exam. However, the courses can certainly provide a fundamental knowledge of the operating system and of its installation, configuration and administration. For more information contact Randy Harwood at (702) 651-3041 or randy.harwood@csn.edu.

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    • Network+

      The Network+ certification validates your ability to describe the features and functions of networking components and to install, configure and troubleshoot basic networking hardware, protocols and services. You must pass one exam to become Network+ certified. Learn more about the certification from CompTIA.

      The following class will prepare you for the Network+ certification exam:

      • CIT 112B -- Network+

      If you are interested in pursuing MCSE certification, but have no background in networking, CIT 112B will provide you with the prerequisite knowledge for the MCSE courses. This course fulfills a core requirement for the Associate of Applied Science degree in CIT.

      For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

    • Project+

      The Project+ certification validates fundamental project management skills. The exam covers the entire project life cycle from initiation and planning through execution, acceptance, support and closure. Learn more about the certification from CompTIA.

      The following class will prepare you for Project+ certification exam:

      • CIT 113B -- IT Project+ (Prerequisite: IS 101)

      For more information contact Diane Pannell at (702) 651-4464 or diane.pannell@csn.edu.

    • Security+ 

      The Security+ certification validates your knowledge of communication security, infrastructure security, cryptography, operational security, and general security concepts. This certification counts as an MCSE elective. Learn more about the certification from CompTIA.

      The following class will prepare you for Security+ certification exams.

      • CIT 217 -- Security+ (Prerequisite: CIT 112B)

      For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

      If you are interested in learning about computer security, but are not interested in certification, consider enrolling in CIT 160 Introduction to Computer Security. For more information about CIT 160 contact Margaret Taylor at (702)  651-2631 or margaret.taylor@csn.edu.

      Either CIT 160 or CIT 217 may be used to fulfill a core requirement for the Associate of Applied Science degree in CIT.

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  • Microsoft

    • MCAS -- Microsoft Certified Application Specialist

      Certifications are available for the main components of MS Office 2007 (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint), for Outlook 2007 and for Windows Vista. There is one exam for each application. Learn more about specific exams from Microsoft and Certiport.

      The following classes at CSN will help you prepare for the MCAS exams:

      • CIT 198B -- Vista Certification Preparation Exam 77-600
      • CIT 201B -- Word Certification Preparation (Prerequisite: IS 101)
      • CIT 202B -- Excel Certification Preparation (Prerequisite: IS 101)
      • CIT 203B -- Access Certification Preparation (Prerequisite: IS 101)
      • CIT 206B -- MS Outlook Certification Preparation (Prerequisite: IS 101)
      • CIT 208 -- Presentation Skills and Software (includes PowerPoint) (Prerequisite: CIT 201, CIT 202 or CIT 203)

      These classes are usually offered each semester. See the long range schedule for these courses and other courses offered as part of the User Support Emphasis.

      For more information contact Kate Pulling at (702 651-5702) or kate.pulling@csn.edu.

    • MCAP -- Microsoft Certified Application Professional

      These certifications validate your knowledge and skills in using several MS Office 2007 applications to complete projects and to collaborate with others using SharePoint. The areas of certifications are

      • Content Management and Collaboration
      • Creating and Managing Presentations
      • Budget Analysis and Forecasting
      • Organizational Support

      You can find out more about these certifications from Microsoft and Certiport.

      Currently, no classes are being offered at CSN to prepare you for these new certifications. However, they may be offered in Fall 2010.  For more information contact Kate Pulling at (702 651-5702) or kate.pulling@csn.edu.

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    • MCSA -- Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

      The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credential validates your skills to successfully implement, manage, and troubleshoot the ongoing needs of operating environments based on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. The certification requires that you pass 4 exams:

      • Two core exams on networking systems
      • One core exam on client operating systems
      • One elective exam

      Learn more about the certification from Microsoft.

      The following courses will help you prepare for the MCSA certification:

      • CIT 211 -- Microsoft Networking I (Prerequisite: CIT 112B)
        Core exam on client operating systems, depending on section you enroll in (see current class schedule): 
        Exam 70-620 -- TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
        or
        Exam 70-270 -- Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional
      • CIT 212 -- Microsoft Networking II (Prerequisite: CIT 211)  
        Core exam on networking systems: Exam 70-290 -- Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
      • CIT 213 -- Microsoft Networking III (Prerequisite: CIT 211 or CIT 212) 
        Core exam on networking systems: Exam 70-291 -- Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
      • CIT 215 -- Microsoft Networking V (Prerequisite: CIT 211)
        Elective exam: Exam 70-294 -- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
      • CIT 110 -- A+ Hardware, CIT 111 -- A+ Software, and CIT 112 -- Network+
        Elective exam: CompTIA A+ certification AND CompTIA Network+ certification together may be used as an elective for the MCSA certificate.
      • CIT 217 -- Security+
        Elective exam: CompTIA Security+ exam may be used as an elective for the MCSA certificate.

      For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

    • MCSE -- Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer

      The MCSE credential verifies your ability to analyze the business requirements for information systems solutions, and to design and implement infrastructures based on Windows Server 2003. The certification requires that you pass 7 exams:

      • Four core exams on networking systems
      • One core exam on client operating systems
      • One core design exam
      • One elective exam

      Learn more about the certification from Microsoft.

      The following courses will help you prepare for the MCSE certification:

      • CIT 211 -- Microsoft Networking I (Prerequisite: CIT 112B)
        Core exam on client operating systems, depending on section you enroll in (see current class schedule): 
        Exam 70-620 -- TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
        or
        Exam 70-270 -- Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional
      • CIT 212 -- Microsoft Networking II (Prerequisite: CIT 211)  
        Core exam on networking systems: Exam 70-290 -- Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
      • CIT 213 -- Microsoft Networking III (Prerequisite: CIT 211 or CIT 212) 
        Core exam on networking systems: Exam 70-291 -- Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
      • CIT 214 -- Microsoft Networking IV (Prerequisite: CIT 213) 
        Core exam on networking systems: Exam 70-293 -- Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
      • CIT 215 -- Microsoft Networking V (Prerequisite: CIT 211)
        Core exam on networking systems: Exam 70-294 -- Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure
      • CIT 217 -- Security+
        Elective exam: CompTIA Security+ exam may be used as an elective for the MCSE certificate.
      • CIT 218 -- MCSE Special Topics (Prerequisite: CIT 211 or CIT 212)
        Core design exam: Exam 70-298 -- Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network

      For more information contact Tom Lisa at (702) 651-4798 or thomas.lisa@csn.edu.

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 CET Department Webmaster: Kate Pulling
Page Updated: 10/12/2009