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System Administration, Associate in Applied Science

Overview

Narrative

The AAS degree in System Administration will prepare students with the technical knowledge and skills necessary to plan, install, monitor and maintain desktop and server systems as well as support enterprise networks. Extensive hands-on lab time with real and current equipment will prepare you for a successful career as a support technician, help desk analyst, system administrator or systems engineer.

Features

Courses in circuit analysis and electricity provide the fundamental knowledge of electronic concepts. Courses in computer applications and operating systems improve your familiarity with using the computer and operating systems. Building upon that foundation, students learn the hows and whys of equipment selection, installation techniques, testing, and repair and upgrade methods of the latest computer and network technology. Coursework includes computer troubleshooting and repair, networking, wireless, Windows Server and Linux administration. Industry-experienced instructors teach effective troubleshooting and problem solving. Students carry out lab work, using the latest equipment to keep you current and job-ready. In addition to major courses, our general education courses are an investment in your growth. These required courses improve your ability to communicate, relate to other people and cultures, and solve fundamental problems. By enrolling in a combination of day and evening courses, full-time students can complete the degree requirements in 2 years. Because the full-time program is accelerated, it is also intensive. Full-time students are advised to prepare to commit the extra time and effort needed to graduate in 24 months. All course-work is provided during the evening for part-time students. Contact the Admissions Office at 610.861.5500 for further information.

Outcomes

Graduates of the program will:

  • Analyze, diagnose and repair computer and network hardware and software problems 
  • Describe fundamental network design, protocols and communication 
  • Configure and maintain LANs and WLANs
  • Install, configure and maintain proprietary and open-source servers
  • Understand and apply the concepts of IT system administration 

Courses

First Semester

COLS101College Success

1 credits

CISC100Information Technology Fundamentals

4 credits

CISC136PC Support and Troubleshooting

4 credits

ENGL101English I

3 credits

ELEC101DC/AC Circuit Analysis I

4 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Second Semester

CISC105Desktop Operating Systems

4 credits

CISC137Introduction to Networking Hardware

2 credits

CISC254Server I

3 credits

ENGL151REnglish II

3 credits

CMTH102Introduction to Communication

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15

Third Semester

BUSA221GBusiness Communications

3 credits

CISC255Server II

3 credits

MATHMathematics Elective (QL)++

3 credits

Technical Elective +

3/4 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:15-16

Fourth Semester

CISC251Network Administration and Maintenance

3 credits

CISC286Linux Administration

4 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

General Education Elective

3 credits

Elective

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:16

Total Credit Hours: 62-63

  • Completion of BUSA221G satisfies the Writing Intensive program-related requirement.
  • One course should be designated as Diversity and Global Awareness (D).
  • For the General Education Electives, students must take three courses from at least two of the following areas: Arts & Humanities (AH); Social Science: Society and Institutions over Time (SIT) or Social Science: Scientific Study of Human Behavior (SSHB).

+ Technical Elective options: CISC115, CISC128, CISC265, CISC278; ELEC126, ELEC151.

++ Mathematics (QL) Elective includes: MATH103, MATH120, MATH140, MATH145, MATH150, MATH160, MATH165, MATH175, MATH180, MATH181, MATH202, MATH210, MATH211.