Course Options
No course offerings available at the moment.
Overview
This new HND course teaches you skills that are in demand in many support roles in the IT industry, including desktop support and systems administration.
You’ll cover the basics of computer networking and will also learn how the components of a computer/laptop device function. This particular unit is taught using the Cisco Networking Academy online material and success in this unit may allow you to also sit the vendor Cisco IT Essentials qualification at the end of the second term.
The course contains a mixture of practical and theoretical material and does involve independent research, study and report writing. Although you'll use the Windows environment in class, you'll also learn how to use the Linux operating system.
On completion of the course, you may have the opportunity to work for companies such as Dell and Ericsson in a technical support/networking role.
City of Glasgow College has an excellent track record for students entering computing competitions for World Skills UK and you may have an opportunity to develop themselves further by entering these competitions.
This course is placed on the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework at Level 8. For more information on the framework visit: www.scqf.org.uk/the-framework/.
Minimum entry requirements
- Two Highers at Grade C or above in relevant* subjects AND three National 5 qualifications at Grade C or above including a computing related subject or English/Maths; OR
- National Qualification at SCQF level 6 in a relevant subject such as Digital Media Computing, Computing: Technical Support or Software Development; OR
- Other equivalent qualifications or experience.
*relevant subjects include Computing, Information Systems, Mathematics or Physics.
Applicants whose first language is not English should have minimum SQA ESOL National 5 or equivalent for NC/NQ courses and ESOL Higher or equivalent for HNC/D courses.
Additional selection requirements
You'll be invited for a group and/or individual interview, where you'll get the opportunity to find out more about the course and tell us why you're interested in this subject area.
What you study
Year one:
- A Basic Introduction to Software Development using Visual Basic.
- Learning How to Work in a Team to Manage a Project.
- Understanding the Legal Issues Surrounding the IT Industry.
- Building and Maintaining a PC.
- How to Troubleshoot a Range of Hardware Problems.
- How to Install and Configure Windows 7 and Administer Server 2008.
- Introduction to Ethical Hacking.
- Introduction to Unix OS.
You may have the opportunity to work towards vendor qualifications such as MCSA: Windows 7 and MTA awards from Microsoft. You'll also have the opportunity to achieve the Cisco IT Essentials certificate, a vendor qualification essential for anyone wishing to become an entry level desktop support technician.
Year two:
- An Introduction to Systems Administration.
- Unix.
- Cloud Computing.
- Understanding the Legal Issues Surrounding the IT industry.
- Industry Standard Operating Systems.
- Preparation for Vendor Certification Exams.
After the course
This course prepares you for a career in IT infrastructure.
How the course is taught
Approximately 16 hours a week over 3 terms of 12 weeks each, a mixture of lab, classroom and lecture theatre.
Materials
Paper, pen, external flash drive; you may have the opportunity to purchase textbooks and exam vouchers where applicable.