Computer Technology - A.A.B. Download to print

The Associate of Applied Business in Computer Technology provides students with a core curriculum of programming, operating systems and networks, website development and workgroup productivity technologies. Students may choose from concentrations in specific areas, including applications development, internet/multimedia and network technologies. These concentrations allow students to focus their studies and begin to prepare for various professional certifications. There is also a general concentration that prepares students for positions in small- and medium-sized organizations that require computer staff to perform a wide variety of technical duties. In addition, the concentrations may articulate fully or in part with concentrations in the Bachelor of Technical and Applied Studies degree and the certificate in Computer Forensics and Information Security.

Computer support specialists held about 565,700 jobs in 2008. Although they worked in a wide range of industries, about 18 percent were employed in the computer systems design and related services industry. Substantial numbers of these workers were also employed in administrative and support services companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, government agencies, educational institutions, software publishers, telecommunications organizations and healthcare organizations.

Employers of computer support specialists range from startup companies to established industry leaders. With the continued development of the Internet, telephone, e-mail, and other communications, industries not typically associated with computers-such as construction-need computer support specialists. Small and large firms across all industries are either expanding or developing computer systems, creating an immediate need for computer support specialists.

The occupation of computer support specialists is projected to be the second fastest growing occupation over the decade. Employment is expected to increase much faster than average as technology becomes driven by rapid gains in computer and data processing services, which is projected to be the fastest growing industry in the U.S. economy.

Demand for computer support specialists also is expected to increase because of the rapid pace of improved technology. As computers and software become more complex, support specialists will be needed to provide technical assistance to customers and other users. Consulting opportunities will continue to grow as businesses increasingly need help managing, upgrading and customizing more complex computer systems. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)
 

All seven of Kent State’s regional campuses are accessible to students who hold a high school diploma or GED. Admission decisions are based on cumulative grade point average, ACT and/or SAT scores, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Check with the Regional Campus Admissions Offices to determine application requirements, as they may differ among campuses.

For more information about admission criteria for transfer, transitioning and former students, please visit the admissions website.

Minimum 63-64 credit hours, dependent upon concentration chosen. Minimum 2.000 overall and major GPA.

 

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Define basic IT terms and explain fundamental IT concepts.
2. Describe basic program control mechanisms: sequence, branching, encapsulation, polymorphism.
3. Research current career requirements that are vital for a degree-earned applicant, including creating well-written documents, data bases and spreadsheets; communicating through computer networks and electronic mail; and planning, designing and producing HTML/web documents to be posted on the Internet
4. Use a variety of search strategies to retrieve information and use networks to access information (online databases, libraries and electronic bulletin boards)
5. Demonstrate a set of end user skills that will enable them to control their desktop computing environment for maximized productivity.
6. Demonstrate the ability to write, test and debug application programs using current programming languages.
7. Apply troubleshooting procedures to correctly identify the defective component, when presented with a personal computer that has a defective component.
8. Use computer technology and software for purposes of defining problems, gathering information, analyzing data and information and interpreting and generalizing results.
9. Demonstrate the ability to install necessary hardware and software, in order to effectively create and use a computer network. When necessary, this will include locating and downloading required patches and service packs.
10. Produce written technical reports.
11. Give oral presentations on technical subjects, and demonstrate competence using appropriate software for the creation and use of support materials (e.g., slides, documents, websites, sound, video).
12. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical computing.
13. Transfer computer skills learned from one activity to a different activity.
14. Know how to access and use online documentation, tutorials and other resources.