Information Support Services and Networking Courses

The ISSN (Information Support Services and Networking) career area is designed to introduce students to Computer System Support and Networking. Students will be trained in the latest industry help desk concepts, end user Operating System Software support, Server Configuration and Administration, Computer Network Administration and Support, Web Technologies, Cyber Security and Wireless and Mobile Device Support. Students will have the opportunity to obtain certifications in A+, Network+, Linux+, Microsoft Technical Associate, Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) and Security+. Overall health and shop safety topics will be covered upon entry in the shop and reviewed in subsequent years.

The sophomore level curriculum concentrates on computer hardware specifications related to the CompTIA A+ certification. Certification testing in CompTIA A+ will be offered at the end of the junior year. Hands–on training will include building and repairing computers along with OS installs and network maintenance. Windows and Linux OS Installation and Support, Mobile Devices Support, and Windows Networking Support will be covered. Installation, maintenance, and configuration of servers, switches, and firewalls are introduced in the sophomore year allowing the students to gain an understanding of network and workstation operations. Overall health and safety topics related to the field of study will be reviewed as a segue to the OSHA test conducted in Related Theory.

The junior year will teach network administration including server maintenance, switch configuration, and wireless access management with a review of trade safety procedures. The junior student will also be introduced to cyber security principles which will be expanded upon in the final year of the program. This course goes beyond the basics of help desk concepts and prepares the student for network-level certifications. At this point, the junior student will be given the option to take the CompTIA A+ and Network + certifications. Basic programming principles, web administration, introduction to Cisco Networks and Net Academy, Network+, Microsoft MTA Certification Studies, Cyber Security, and Security+ will be covered to better prepare students for the broad range of concepts associated with the ISSN field of study.

The senior year will focus on CISCO, HP, and NETGEAR switch configuration; network management which includes firewall configuration; and a review of safety procedures. The students will be trained to install and maintain a network environment running a host of physical and virtual servers. They will experience Cisco CCST Certification Studies, Cisco Routing and Switching, HP Switch Configuration, Firewall Configurations, and the Internet of Things (Remote Monitoring). Cyber security will be one of the concentrations during the senior year and will allow the students to learn preventative security techniques.