The Information Systems Technology program at Tidewater Community College offers an Associate in Applied Sciences (AAS) degree. It is expected that those students receiving an AAS degree will, upon graduation, join the workforce. The program is not considered a transfer program although some courses may transfer to four-year institutions. It is up to the receiving institution to determine if they will accept any courses in the program for transfer.

The AAS degree is a sixty-seven semester hour program. Thirty-six credits come from General Education and Business-Related course work. The remaining 31 credits come from the Information Systems Technology area.

Sixteen credits for the AAS degree in Information Systems Technology are:

• ITN 106 Microcomputer Operating Systems*
• ITP 100 Software Design
• ITN 101 Introduction to Network Concepts*
• ITN 107 Personal Computer Hardware and Troubleshooting

The last 15 credits of IST Approved Electives must all come from one of the ten career study areas. This will give the student an area of concentration in which to concentrate their advanced courses. It is important to note that ITE 115 or the equivalent knowledge is considered a prerequisite to the program.

*There are two exceptions to the above list. Those students in the Oracle Database Administrator program should take ITN 171 instead of ITN 106 and Web Development Specialist students should take ITE 130 instead of ITN 101.

A challenge exam will allow a student to take a test to demonstrate they already have the required knowledge of the material covered in a course through work experience or previous coursework. There are challenge exams available for the following courses:

• ITE 115 - Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts
• ITE 130 - Introduction to Internet Services
• ITN 101 - Introduction to Network Concepts
• ITN 106 - Microcomputer Operating Systems (Windows XP)
• ITN 107 - PC Hardware & Troubleshooting
• ITN 171 - UNIX I
• ITP 100 - Software Design (BASIC Programming)
• ITP 100 - Software Design (C Programming)
• ITP 100 - Software Design (C++ Programming)

The ITN 107 exam has both a written and a hands-on portion. New challenge exams are being added. Students who take an exam must pass with a 70 or better and will receive credit for taking the class. No grade is assigned. Please contact the Information Technology and Business Division Office, 822-7373 or ITBusiness@tcc.edu, for dates, times and location.

Many students know exactly the area in which they wish to specialize when they begin their degree program. However, for those students who are not certain, it is recommended that they begin with the four core courses that are required for all concentrations. These four core courses give students a strong foundation in several areas including programming and networking. The only exception to this would be those students who are going into the Database Administration and Web Development programs. The database students need to take ITN 171 instead of ITN 106 and the web development students need to take the ITE 130 instead of ITN 101. By the time a student finishes these four courses they will have a good idea of the area in which they wish to concentrate. Frequently, the faculty members who teach the core courses also teach an advanced course in a career studies program. Talking with faculty who teach in the concentration is one of the best ways to learn more about that area.

Many students choose the Information Systems Technology area because they have heard that they can make a very high salary in an IT/Computer field. There is potential for high salaries in the IT work place. However, students need to be certain that this is an area that they both enjoy and for which they have an aptitude. Graduating with an IST degree alone will not guarantee you a job. Employers will be looking at your grades, commitment and work experience when you are searching for a job. Employers may look at certifications for those applicants who do not have relevant work experience or to differentiate between qualified candidates.

The Associate in Science degree with a concentration in Computer Science is designed for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to pursue a baccalaureate degree. The AS in Computer Science is a more rigorous program mathematically, requiring two semesters of calculus and has a greater emphasis on theory and design. The Associate in Applied Science degree in Information Systems Technology prepares students to be able to join the workforce at the end of their program. Students will be prepared for entry-level positions such as junior programmers, web designers, technical support specialists and network support technicians. The AAS in Information Systems Technology also offers 7 different concentration areas many of them leading to industry certifications in areas such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Cisco Certified Networking Associate and Oracle Database Administrator.

The IST program consists of a number of career studies options that focus on a specific career field in information systems technology. These programs are best suited for individuals who already hold a degree and want to change careers or who seek advancement in their current field.

Before entering a career studies program, students should have a strong foundation in microcomputer applications (ITE 115). Students should also have a strong foundation in computer concepts to include microcomputer operating systems, programming, Internet fundamentals, and computer hardware troubleshooting prior to beginning the program. This foundation can be obtained by completing the core IST courses.

Oracle is a relational database management software package. Installed and supported in over 140 countries, it is the basis for numerous enterprise systems. The skills learned in the core courses will be applicable regardless of specific tools the students may encounter in their employment pursuits. Other database software is introduced as well. Electives will allow students to pursue either the Enterprise Database Administration path, the Enterprise Developer path or a mix of courses from the specialty areas. TCC is an Oracle Academic Initiative (OAI) Partner and an authorized Oracle training site.

A graduate of the program without prior experience can start work as an entry-level Oracle developer, able to create new applications and/or support existing applications, or as a database administrator or database operator, depending on the courses selected. With the proper selection of courses, students are prepared to sit for Oracle Certified Associate certification exams.

The Programmer Trainee concentration offers students a foundation in programming design and experience with multiple programming languages. This background provides an ideal basis for entering the computer information field.

This career studies option prepares the student to become a maintenance programmer trainee, computer operator, tape librarian, or documentation librarian – an excellent background for advancement in the field. The associate’s degree will further prepare a student to become a programmer trainee or support personnel for mainframe applications.

The Web Development concentration offers instruction in Web Development technologies. Graduates from this program will be prepared to accept entry-level positions that will fill the huge demand within organizations for Web development on company Intranets and corporate e-business sites on the Internet. Students are prepared to take the INet+ certification exam as well.

Depending upon the selection of electives, students may choose between two different career paths. Graduates choosing to emphasize the Web design graphics area would be prepared for positions in web design, web graphics design and web site management. Graduates choosing the programming and database electives would be prepared for positions in web application development, Internet, and database programming.

Network security awareness is at an all time high as the nation prepares to protect the critical information infrastructure. The mechanisms by which people receive water, energy, and food are dependent upon information systems and are vulnerable to acts of terror. As a result, most institutions are re-examining their security posture in the interest of protecting commerce, citizens, and the nation's security. Organizations can no longer afford to think that network security is only for the elite. Individuals can no longer have the attitude that they have nothing to steal. Any system with processing power, storage, or data may become a target. Failure to secure computer systems could lead to compromise, making the launching point for a future attack.

The Network Security concentration prepares an individual to develop and implement network security policies, procedures and products. The goal of this program is to train Information Security Officers and Network Security Specialists to deploy secure network infrastructure through firewalls, intrusion detection systems, VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), E-Commerce security and hardened operating systems. The program will also serve to prepare students for the ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Practitioner (CISSP) and CompTIA Security+ certifications.

The Network Administration concentration provides an individual with a broad background in network administration on a number of platforms; to better prepare that individual for entry-level employment in today’s multi-vendor, multi-technology network environment.

In addition to providing a foundation in a broad array of networking technologies, students will be prepared to obtain entry-level certifications and eventually seek advanced certification in any one of a number of networking technologies. Depending upon the selection of electives, students may prepare for network-related certifications from Cisco, Microsoft, CompTia, and Red Hat.

Through a partnership with Cisco Systems and the Virginia Community College System, the Network Infrastructure Specialist concentration provides the student with the training to gain certification as a Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) and as a Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA). These certifications prepare the student to install and/or configure a network; optimize WAN through Internet access solutions that reduce bandwidth and lower WAN costs; and provide remote access by integrating remote dial-up access with remote LAN-to-LAN access, as well as supporting higher levels of performance required for new applications such as Internet commerce and multimedia.

Advanced courses in the program prepare the student to sit for the Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP).

TCC is recognized as a Cisco Regional Academy that provides training and support for Local Academies in our service area.

The Network Engineer (Windows 2003) concentration prepares student to plan, implement, manage, and maintain Microsoft Windows 2003 networks and service computers. The program incorporates networking, computer, and Internet information systems technology into a single program. Graduates are prepared to study for the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification exams.

This career studies option qualifies the student to become a personal computer (PC) maintenance center administrator, a local area network (LAN) engineer, or a LAN training center instructor or administrator. Graduates with the associate’s degree are also prepared to become corporate LAN administrator and LAN training center managers.