ITEM 106-2705-R0300 ATTACHMENT

COMPUTER SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM PROPOSAL

Goals and Objectives

The Computer Systems Technology program provides the opportunity for individuals needing training in that area or for present industry employees in need of specific skills training to obtain the necessary education. Upon completion of this program, an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Systems Technology will be awarded which will result in career opportunities.

Description of the Profession

The Information Technology (IT) industry is growing at an incredible rate. A recent study by the Information Technology Association of America reveals 346,000 IT jobs are currently vacant in U.S. companies leaving 1 in 10 jobs unfilled. The U.S. Commerce Department's Office of Technology Policy reports between 1996 and 2006, America will require more than 1.3 million new systems analysts, computer scientists, engineers, and programmers. B Microsoft

The position of Computer Systems Technician provides technical assistance and training to system users. Investigates and resolves computer software and hardware problems of users. Answers clients' inquiries in person and via telephone concerning the use of computer hardware and software, including printing, word processing, programming languages, electronic mail, and operating systems.

Technical support staff work in medium- and large-sized corporations that maintain an in-house MIS function or technical support department. They may also work for universities, public and private school systems, hospitals, financial institutions, retail stores, or any other organization that provides technical support to its employees. Others work for computer companies, including hardware and software firms, as well as on-line service providers.

Companies often hire people who have demonstrated computer proficiency in many areas and the potential to learn quickly. The addition of this degree program will assist the student in gaining the computer proficiency needed to compete in this job market.

The computer systems technician of today must also be able to function within a team environment and communicate effectively with coworkers and supervisors. They must also be aware of drug and alcohol issues and OSHA guidelines.

MSU-Billings Computer Systems TechnologyCurriculum

The proposed program, including general education and technical courses, is comprised of 71 credits to be completed in four semesters. Some students may take longer depending upon their preparedness to enter the program and their success in completing program courses. Those completing the program satisfactorily with a grade of 2.00 or better in all courses will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer Systems Technology. The course requirements are subject to change as industry and educational needs demand.

 MSU-Billings Computer Systems Technology Course Descriptions

CTCM 109 Human Relations B 3 credits

Prerequisite: none

Offers a theoretical and practical understanding of communication process in the working environment, self-awareness in that environment, and the individual=s participation in these relationships. The course aims to develop the student=s perception and expression skills to communicate successfully in a variety of work contexts.

CTCM 203 Technical Communication B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCM 102 or successful completion of placement exam and CTDP 105

Introduces the student to the creation and evaluation of several kinds of written and oral technical communication.

CTCS 150 Microcomputer Hardware Maintenance B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTDP 105 or Instructor Approval

Corequisite: CTCS 152

A course designed to provide students with the skills necessary to install and troubleshoot hardware devices. Topics include system setup, RAM, hard and floppy drives, data buses, power supplies, IO cards, and diagnostic tools.

CTCS 152 Microcomputer Hardware Maintenance - Lab B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTDP 105 or Instructor Approval

Corequisite: CTCS 150

A supporting lab course designed to provide students with the skills necessary to install and troubleshoot hardware devices. Topics include system setup, RAM, hard and floppy drives, data buses, power supplies, IO cards, and diagnostic tools.

CTCS 160 Installing, Configuring and Administrating Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTDP 105 or Instructor Approval

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to set up and administer a computer running Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system as a single workstation and a member of a domain. The course provides the skills required to perform basic installation, configuration tasks, and day-to-day administration tasks in a Windows 2000-based network. The course also teaches students how to troubleshoot basic installation, configuration, and administration problems.

CTCS 164 Installing, Configuring and Administrating Microsoft Windows 2000 Server B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 160

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to set up and administer a computer running Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system in a single-domain environment. The course provides the skills required to perform basic installation, configuration tasks, and day-to-day administration tasks in a Windows 2000-based network. The course also teaches students how to troubleshoot basic installation, configuration, and administration problems. The course content applies to the Windows 2000 Server network operating system and the Windows 2000 Workstation operating system.

CTCS 170 Introduction to Internetworking and Cabling / Introduction to IP Routing B 8 credits

Prerequisite: CTDP 105 or Instructor Approval

This course covers the following networking topics and skills: OSI model and industry standards, network topologies, IP addressing including subnet masks, networking components, basic network design, beginning router configurations, and routed and routing protocols.

CTCS 172 Advanced Routing and Ethernet Switching / Wide Area Networking B 6 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 170

This course covers the following networking topics and skills: advanced router configurations, LAN switching theory and VLANs, advanced LAN and LAN switched design, Novell IPX, WAN theory, design WAN technology, PPP, Frame Relay, ISDN, network troubleshooting, and threaded case studies.

CTCS 252 Integration of Microsoft Windows 2000, Novell NetWare and Unix B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills required to integrate the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server network operating system with a Novell NetWare network; migrate users, files, directories, and permissions from a NetWare environment to a Windows NT ServerBbased domain; and implement a single network login for NetWare users in a multiple-server network. This course also provides students with the knowledge and skills required to integrate the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server network operating system with an UNIX network, as it applies to working in a mixed (UNIX and Windows 2000) environment. This will be accomplished by comparing the two operating systems, services, tasks, and concepts.

CTCS 260 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164

This course will instruct students how to install, configure, manage, and support a network infrastructure that uses Microsoft Windows 2000 Server products.

CTCS 262 Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164

This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to install, configure, and administer Microsoft Windows 2000 Active Directory directory services. The course also focuses on implementing Group Policy and understanding the Group Policy tasks required to centrally manage users and computers.

CTCS 264 Designing Security for a Microsoft Widows 2000 Network B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to design a security framework for small, medium, and enterprise networks using Microsoft Windows 2000 technologies. This course contains four units that describe security in specific areas of the network: Providing Secure Access to Local Network Users, Providing Secure Access to Remote Users and Remote Offices, Providing Secure Access Between Private and Public Networks and Providing Secure Access to Partner.

CTCS 266 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0 B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164

This course teaches students how to support the various features of Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS). Students will learn how to install, configure, and implement all components that comprise IIS. They will have hands-on experience setting up a web site.

CTCS 268 Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164

This course provides the students with in-depth product information on the following topics: Planning and installing Exchange Server; Architecture of Exchange Server; Supporting Exchange Server in a single site or multi-site enterprise environment; Establishing messaging connectivity over the Internet; and Supporting Web access to Exchange Server computers through Microsoft Outlook Web Access. This course also provides students with the skills necessary to fine-tune Microsoft Exchange Server for optimum performance, diagnose and troubleshoot issues, and perform disaster recovery. The course is designed to be hands-on lab intensive and to reinforce essential Microsoft Exchange troubleshooting and maintenance concepts and considerations.

CTCS 270 CCNP Level I & II B 6 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 172

This course provides the student with advanced routing and network management skills. This is the first part of a two-semester course to prepare the student to successful pass the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification.

CTCS 272 CCNP Level III & IV B 6 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 270

This course provides the student with advanced routing and network management skills. This is the second part of a two-semester course to prepare the student to successful pass the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification.

CTCS 280 Systems Analysis and Design B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTCS 164 and CTCS 172

This course provides a thorough introduction to the features and methodologies of structured systems analysis and design. A variety of techniques and disciplines are explored in the course.

CTDP 111 Lotus 1-2-3 B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTDP 105

Introduces students to business applications using spreadsheets. Emphasis is placed on the essential functions of spreadsheet operation, as well as introduction to some advanced spreadsheet functions such as macros and database management. Emphasizes mastery of spreadsheet concepts and applications and development of analytical thinking skills.

CTDP 119 Excel B 3 credits

Prerequisite: CTDP 105

Introduces students to business applications using spreadsheets. Emphasis is placed on the essential functions of spreadsheet operation, as well as introduction to some advanced functions such as lookup functions and database management. Content emphasizes mastery of spreadsheet concepts and applications and development of analytical thinking skills.

CTMA 122 College Mathematics for Technology B 3 credits

Prerequisite: Grade of C or higher in CTMA 101 or qualifying score on the placement exam.

This course is a presentation of concepts followed by applied examples and problems drawn from diverse occupational fields. Topics of measurement, algebra, geometry, and trigonometry are developed and integrated for use in a practical field setting.

Faculty

The current faculty at MSU-Billings, College of Technology will be available in their regular teaching capacities for the general education classes. There are fifteen credits of this proposed program currently being offered. For the first year, a qualified faculty member that is currently assigned to the Business and Information department will be transferred to the Technical Occupations department to start the program. It is anticipated that a second faculty will be required during the second year of the program to instruct the additional students retained and attracted in by this revision. Additional faculty loads will be placed on faculty from the Business and Information, General Education, and Trade and Industrial Technology departments.

Students

It is anticipated that students for this program will come from the following sources:

1. Students currently enrolled in other programs at the College of Technology.

2. Persons recommended by area employers.

3. Persons from in-state and out-of-state with no experience.

The Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education in Montana and the Board of Regents are in support of the growth of two year schools and the increase of resident and non-resident enrollment. The Computer Systems Technology program offers the MSU-Billings, College of Technology the opportunity to meet the need for training and the expectations of the Montana University System.

Facilities/Support

Libraries: The City of Billings has three college-based libraries, MSU-Billings, MSU-Billings COT, and Rocky Mountain College and a public library, Parmly Billings Library. The College of Technology will add appropriate books, materials, and software to support this program on a continuous basis. Local industries can provide guidance regarding additional appropriate reference material needed for the program. Extensive information is available for the related and general education components of the program.

Computer Services: MSU-Billings COT has four general computer labs (total of 74 computers) and a Student Support Center with sixteen computers available to students during all school hours. The College of Technology is a designated Microsoft Training Center and Cisco Regional Academy, which provides access to the latest versions of all Microsoft software and Cisco hardware, which are taught by highly qualified instructors. The COT also offers a variety of other application programs such as Lotus and WordPerfect. Internet access is available in all classrooms, the library, and all offices.

Equipment: Equipment and supplies for the program are currently in place. (See Appendix C for budget information.)

Space/Capital Structures: Present classroom and lab facilities on the MSU-Billings COT campus will be adequately serve the needs of the proposed program.

Support Services/Administration: No additional expenditures will be necessary since both the College of Technology and the Senior campus have all student support services available including tutoring, assistance for students with disabilities, testing, computer labs, etc.

Administration of the program will be assigned to an existing department and a mentor will be chosen for the new instructor(s) to assist in further program development, teaching methods, grading, and whatever will ensure exceptional instruction and program quality.

PROGRAM QUALITY:

Accreditation

The Computer Systems Technology program must satisfy Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Colleges= institutional accreditation requirements.

Assessment

The MSU-Billings College of Technology has traditionally used industry advisory committees in all educational departments. The advisory committees are composed of industry members, faculty and administration that review the program every semester to determine necessary curriculum additions, deletions, and changes. During this submittal process the committee for this program has meet to discuss proposed curriculum changes. As the program proceeds advisory committee members will be invited to visit classes in progress and submit suggestions for improvement.

All courses and faculty are evaluated every semester under an evaluation system put in place under the A Quality, Access and Productivity@ document. Non-tenured faculty are evaluated every year and tenured faculty are evaluated every two years under the current contract.

The program must also meet the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges' standards and will be continually reviewed by program faculty, students and administration to ensure that these standards are met. The program must also be compared with other programs nationally to remain competitive in attracting students and to ensure that its students will be recognized and employable nationally.

Students are advised to take the Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) certification test, the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification test and the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification test upon completion of relevant content areas. These certifications are becoming an industry standard in computer systems positions.

APPENDIX A

PROGRAM AND INDUSTRY INFORMATION

Educational program information:

1) While computer curriculum has been a common component of vocational-technical programs since the introduction microcomputers, few programs have evolved beyond the teaching of word processing, spreadsheets, and database into the technical content required to be employed as a computer support technician, which requires the student to handle more advanced issues including computer and network support.

2) This lack of computer curriculum is now combined with a shortage of skilled computer support technicians at the local, regional and state levels.

3) The introduction of new curriculum is expected to broaden the potential employment base for graduates beyond entry-level computer/data entry positions.

Industry information:

1) Outlook B Employment is projected to increase as fast as the statewide average for all occupations in Montana. Nationally, employment in this occupation is expected to nearly double through the year 2006 as well. The outlook depends on the activity level in the computer and business industries. Most openings will result from the need to find those workers who have the broad base support skills. Prospects are best for experienced students who are familiar with current computer hardware and software. More jobs will be available in the business services industry for repair and maintenance. B Montana Career Information System (MCIS)

2) In Montana, the average wage for computer support specialists is $13.85/hour. The wage varies depending on the type of support provided. Nationally, the average wage is $17.98/hour B Montana Career Information System (MCIS)

3) About 710 are employed in this medium-sized occupation in Montana. Nationally, there are 216,558 employed B Montana Career Information System (MCIS)

APPENDIX B

Other similar programs:

(Computer Technology AAS)
Helena College of Technology B UM
1115 Roberts Street
Helena, MT 59601

http://www.umt.edu/hct/programs.htm#Comp Tech

(Microcomputer Technology AAS)
College of Technology of the UM
909 South Ave. West
Missoula, MT 59801

http://www.umt.edu/mcot/

(Computer Technology AAS)
MSU College of Technology B Great Falls
2100 16^th Ave. So.
Great Falls, MT 59405

http://msucotgf.montana.edu/programs/comptec.html

(Computer Systems and Applications AAS)
Casper College
125 College Drive
Casper, Wyoming 82601

http://www.cc.whecn.edu/business/Curriculum.html#_Hlk423837586

 (Computer Information Systems AAS)
Bismark State College
P.O. Box 5587
Bismark, ND 58506-5587

http://www.bsc.nodak.edu/offic_ed/css.htm