Associate in Science Degree Program
Computer Support Specialist: Hardware Support Option
The Computer Support Specialist degree is designed for full-time or part-time students who wish to prepare for the positions of Help Desk Technician, Technical Support Specialist and Customer Service Representative. This occupational group provides technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and users. The degree prepares graduates by developing in them skills ranging from the technical and computer-related to the "people" skills of verbal and written communications, telephone skills, tact, good manners, and logical problem diagnosis and solution.
The degree incorporates preparation for the certification examinations for either CompTIA (Computer Technical Industry Association) A+ or MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist). A range of general education courses in the program enrich professional skills.
Click here to view the Computer Support Specialist poster.
| Learning Outcomes |
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Upon successful completion of all program requirements, graduates will be able to:
- Understand the psychology of the workplace, including attendance, punctuality, initiative, teamwork, privacy, discrimination issues, due process, safety, employee/employer conflict, job descriptions, and techniques for working productively with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds
- Apply customer service and end-user support principles, including communication skills, telephone etiquette, and courtesy when dealing with customers and individuals lacking a technical background
- Understand career paths in the computer support field
- Demonstrate a working knowledge of the Internet that includes effective strategies for on line research and correct citation of internet based resources
- Preemptively solve computer hardware/software problems to provide disaster prevention and recovery of computer systems before problems occur whenever possible
- Apply a comprehensive understanding of the function of computer hardware and software in a personal computer system, both networked and stand-alone
- Perform computer troubleshooting using diagnostic test equipment, diagnostic software, network documentation, on-line documentation resources, and troubleshooting strategies and techniques to resolve basic hardware, software, and network problems
- Identify resources for resolving peripheral device problems including printers, scanners, CD ROMs, sound cards, external CD RW devices, digital imaging devices and DVDs
- Select appropriate hardware and software, trouble-shoot on the board level, and understand software licensing agreements and privacy issues
- Communicate effectively with clients, verbally and in writing
- Understand and apply mathematical and scientific reasoning in solving problems, and think critically

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| Course of Study¹ |
| First Semester |
Credits |
|
Intro to Software Applications |
3 |
|
Introduction to Computers |
3 |
|
Composition |
3 |
|
Intermediate Algebra OR |
3 |
|
Principles of Statistics |
|
|
General Psychology I OR |
3 |
|
Principles of Sociology |
|
| Second Semester |
|
Intro to Computer Hardware |
3 |
|
Intro to Computer Hardware Lab |
3 |
|
Intro to Visual Communication OR |
3 |
|
Public Speaking |
|
|
Composition & Literature |
3 |
___ ___ |
Science Elective |
3 |
| Third Semester |
|
Intro to Operating Systems |
3 |
|
Data Comm and Networking I |
3 |
|
Advanced Computer Hardware |
3 |
|
Advanced Computer Hardware Lab |
3 |
___ ___ |
Arts Elective |
3 |
___ ___ |
Humanities Elective |
3 |
| Fourth Semester |
|
Help Desk Concepts |
3 |
|
Internet Marketing OR |
3 |
|
Business Internship OR |
|
|
Principles of Customer Service |
|
___ ___ |
CSA*, CSC*, or CST* Elective |
3 |
___ ___ |
CSA*, CSC*, or CST* Elective |
3 |
___ ___ |
Social Sciences Elective2 |
3 |
¹ |
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