(15 semester hours)

The Certificate will prepare students for immediate employment in the networking area of computer services occupations.

Learners who complete the Associate Network Specialist will:

• Identify the different types of hardware and software that are required in networking
• Distinguish between computer processes, services and protocols
• Describe how protocols are used to transmit information across a network
• Identify the flow of information between two communicating computers
• Describe current technologies used in local area networks (LANs)
• Describe current technologies used in wide area networks (WANs)
• Identify when to use a switch, hub, or router
• Identify TCP/IP layers, components and functions and the services these applications provide
• Identify the need for Virtual LANs
• Describe common application servers used for Internet access
• Retrieve Internet information through a wide variety of applications
• Discuss routing methodologies and routing protocols
• Be able to list the common WAN protocols
• Understand the specific functions of the Network Layer in terms of network addressing
• Determine the root cause of a technical problem
• List ways to measure networking traffic
• Evaluate networking equipment to solve a performance problem

For more information, contact Program Coordinator Chris Parden.