Computer Support Specialist Careers

Program Description

This course is designed to introduce the student to the fundamental design concepts and guiding principles that are key to producing good, solid network designs. The student will learn to define and understand the design environment from end users and their applications to the computers and networks that support them. This course takes the view of the network as a set of services in the design.

Occupational Objectives

Accurately complete the network design process: establish design goals, develop criteria for technology evaluation, make technology choices for the design, apply intercommunication mechanisms to the design, integrate network management and security into the design, perform risk analysis and contingency planning, evaluate cable plant and design options, determine network equipment placement, design physical diagrams, establish routing flows in the design environment, manipulate routing flows, develop an addressing strategy, and develop a routing strategy.

• Gather information from customers on their business needs relevant to technology solutions.

• Identify backbone locations and create the backbone topological design

• Identify security threats and solutions, including authentication, encryption, intrusion detection, decoys, and firewalls.

• Select transmission technologies: private lines, POTS, ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM, SMDS, SONET, and more

• Identify access locations and associated traffic patterns

• Define a hierarchical network architecture

• Demonstrate knowledge of designing networks with its five major elements, or phases: definition of requirements, preliminary design, management review, final design and business case.

• Demonstrate understanding of Cisco router components and concepts

• Demonstrate knowledge of basic Cisco router commands

• Design Cisco router connectivity

• Understand the concepts of VLANS

• Install and configure Ethernet switches

• Understand troubleshooting techniques including the use of network analysis tools. 

• Explain how the solution will solve the customer’s problems and meet business needs.

• Demonstrate effective use of library resources at Miami-Jacobs Library and/or other area libraries and apply these research tools in such a way as to enhance the course content.           

This course will prepare the student to design, research and recommend network switches and routers.  After passing this course the student will have knowledge to perform basic network designs.

The following from Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition

Job Outlook

Employment is expected to increase faster than the average. Job prospects should be good, especially for those with a college degree and relevant skills.

Employment change. Employment of computer support specialists is expected to increase by 14 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for these workers will result as organizations and individuals continue to adopt the newest forms of technology. As technology becomes more complex and widespread, support specialists will be needed in greater numbers to resolve the technical problems that arise. Businesses, especially, will demand greater levels of support, as information technology has become essential in the business environment.

Job growth will be fastest in several industries that rely heavily on technology. These include the computer systems design and related services industry; the data processing, hosting and related services industry; the software publishing industry; and the management, scientific, and technical consulting industry. These industries will employ a growing number of support specialists as they utilize and provide an increasing array of IT services. Healthcare and related establishments, in addition, may see substantial growth as these organizations look to improve their efficiency and patient care through the use of information systems and other technology.

Overall growth may be dampened, to a certain extent, as some jobs are outsourced to offshore locations. Advances in technology increasingly allow computer support specialists to provide assistance remotely. Some employers may seek to reduce expenses by hiring workers in areas that have lower prevailing wages.

Job prospects. Job prospects are expected to be good; those who possess a bachelor’s degree, relevant technical and communication skills, and previous work experience should have even better opportunities than applicants with an associate degree or professional certification.

Earnings

Median annual wages of wage-and-salary computer support specialists were $43,450 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,680 and $55,990. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $26,580, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $70,750. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of computer support specialists in May 2008 were as follows:

Professional and commercial equipment and supplies merchant wholesalers $48,580 Management of companies and enterprises 45,200 Colleges, universities, and professional schools 43,130 Computer systems design and related services 43,080 Elementary and secondary schools 40,550