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St. Charles Community College
4601 Mid Rivers Mall Drive
Cottleville, MO 63376 | 636-922-8000
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Computer Networking Degrees and Certifications


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Contact:
Mike Fuszner
mfuszner@stchas.edu
636-922-8322

General Information

Programs

The job market is strong for IT workers, according to the Department of Labor. Employment opportunities are expected to increase much faster than the average. See the Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook:
http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm

Certifications


Microsoft Certifications

For the most up-to-date information regarding Microsoft certifications please visit Microsoft’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/. Search for MCP, MCSE, or MCSA to view details about each certification.

MCP: Microsoft Certified Professional
MCSA: Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

CPC 125: Windows XP Professional will help to prepare you for an MCP certification. Just one exam is required.

CPC 202: Windows Servers and CPC225: Windows Exchange Server will help to prepare you for MCSA certification. This is just one path you may take towards certification. Multiple exams are required.

Cisco Certifications

http://cisco.com/go/ccent  (CCENT: Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician)
http://cisco.com/go/ccna   (CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate)
http://cisco.com/go/ccnp   (CCNP: Cisco Certified Network Professional)
http://cisco.com/go/ccie    (CCIE: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)
http://cisco.com/go/ccda   (CCDA: Cisco Certified Design Associate)
http://cisco.com/go/ccdp   (CCDP: Cisco Certified Design Professional)
http://cisco.com/go/ccsp   (CCSP: Cisco Certified Security Professional)
http://cisco.com/go/ccip    (CCIP: Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional)
http://cisco.com/go/ccvp    (CCVP: Cisco Certified Voice Professional)

A+ Certification

For the most up-to-date information regarding A+ certification, visit the CompTIA Web site at http://www.comptia.org/. Look for CompTIA certifications.

Certification Testing Sites

For information about taking certification exams, please visit the following Web sites:

Note: Cisco certification exams may only be taken at an authorized VUE testing site.

Degrees and Certificates

Many students in our networking program already have degrees. They come to SCC to increase their IT job skills and to prepare for industry certification exams. Other students may wish to earn a degree or certificate from the college. The classes you take as part of the networking program may count toward the requirements of certain degrees and certificates. There is no difference between a class taken to earn credit toward a degree and a class taken to prepare for industry certification exams – they are the same class. There may be students in the same class who are trying to earn a degree, along with other students who are preparing for industry certification exams or just trying to increase their expertise in the networking field.

Below is a list of the degree and certificate requirements for students working toward a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree or a Certificate of Achievement from St. Charles Community College. These are degrees or certificates from the college. Industry certification exams are separate and must be taken at an authorized testing site as determined by Microsoft, Cisco, or CompTIA. Industry certification exams typically cost around $125-$150 each, depending on whether you pass or fail. If you fail the exam and need to retake it, it will cost you an additional $125-$150. These industry certification exams are not included in your tuition at the college and are taken independent of your classes at St. Charles Community College. However, discounts for Cisco certification exams can sometimes be earned as part of the Cisco Networking Academy.

Our current degree and certificate requirements are shown below. Students have the option of meeting the requirements that were in place when they began the program OR meeting the requirements currently in place.

Associate of Applied Science Degree - Networking

Students must complete 24 credit hours of general education classes in addition to the classes identified in this chart. See the General Education Classes chart below.
Course Title
Credits
CPT 103

Microcomputer Applications (may be waived)

3
CPT 106 PC Operating Systems (may be waived)
3
Microsoft Classes (MCP, MCSA)
CPC 125 Windows XP Professional
3
CPC 202 Windows Server
5
CPC 225 Microsoft Exchange Server
3
Computer Repair Class (A+)
CPT 107 A+ (Computer Repair & Maintenance)
5
Cisco Networking Academy Classes (CCNA)
CPC 170 CCNA1
5
CPC 171 CCNA2
5
CPC 172 CCNA3
5
CPC 173 CCNA4
5
Additional Required Classes
CPT 105 Computer Ethics
3
CPT 130 UNIX
3
Total Required Credit Hours
66-72

Certificate of Achievement - Networking

Students must complete 12 credit hours of general education classes in addition to the classes identified in this chart. See the General Education Classes chart below.
Course Title
Credits
CPT 103

Microcomputer Applications (may be waived)

3
CPT 106 PC Operating Systems (may be waived)
3
Microsoft Classes (MCP, MCSA)
CPC 125 Windows XP Professional
3
CPC 202 Windows Server
5
Computer Repair Class (A+)
CPT 107 A+ (Computer Repair & Maintenance)
5
Cisco Networking Academy Classes (CCNA)
CPC 170 CCNA1
5
Total Required Credit Hours
30-36

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

The courses in the chart below meet the college's general education requirements for the Associate of Applied Science degree. General education studies at St. Charles Community College guide students into a deeper understanding of themselves and of their responsibilities as citizens and provide the knowledge and skills on which to build a richer appreciation of their world. Some career programs will dictate which general education courses to take.

SCC INSTITUTIONAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete a minimum of 64 credit hours, including 24 credit hours of general education courses adhering to the minimums listed below.
  • Complete specific program requirements as listed under each program.
  • Complete a minimum of 15 credit hours at SCC.
  • Earn a 2.00 cumulative grade point average.
  • Complete program-specific 1 credit hour capstone course.
Discipline Courses
Credits
Comments
Communication ENG 101
ENG 102, 115, or 125
SPE 101
9
Students must complete 9 credit hours by choosing any three courses listed.
Social Science HIS 101, 102, 115, 270
POL 101, 102
3
Students must complete one course.
Mathematics MAT 121
3
Students must complete MAT 121 for the Networking degree or certificate.
Humanities

Any ART
BUS 105 or CPT 105
DAN 196, 197, 198, 199
Any LIT
Any MUS
Any PHL
Any THE
Any Foreign Language

3
Must complete one course.
Natural Science Any BIO
Any CHM
Any PHY
3
Students must complete one course.
Elective CPT 115
3
Students must complete CPT 115 as their elective.