ITS A.A.S. Degree Competencies
Individuals preparing for employment as an information technology specialist must develop technical, professional, and soft skills. The ITS A.A.S. degree program is built around these competency areas and students graduating from the program will develop:

• Technical skills in the areas of applications, operating systems, hardware, networking, and troubleshooting.
   
• Professional skills in the areas of independent thinking and research; computer support skills, professional practices, and project implementation and management.
   
• Soft skills in the areas of written and oral communication, critical thinking, computation, and human relations.

Individuals who develop this full range of competencies will possess the skills and knowledge necessary to become highly competitive candidates for job openings and promotions within information technology or related fields.

Technical Skills

Application Skills
Students will be able to use, configure and support computer applications to meet specific user needs.

Operating Systems Skills
Students will learn essential operating systems skills including installing, upgrading, supporting, and troubleshooting multiple operating systems.

Hardware Skills
Students will learn to diagnose and solve hardware problems, install new hardware, and to recommend and install hardware upgrades.

Networking Skills
Students will learn to use current network technologies. Students will also learn how to implement, administer, and troubleshoot network environments.

Troubleshooting Skills
Students will learn to research solutions to hardware, software, and networking problems. Students will develop a method of troubleshooting that can be used to solve practical problems.

Professional Skills

Independent Thinking and Research Skills
Students will learn to research technology problems, provide technology support, and acquire new skills, independently, in order to keep their skills current.

Human Relations and Support Skills
Students will learn to respect and meet the diverse technical support needs of computer users. Students will learn to develop training and maintenance plans and to translate their technical knowledge so that others can use it.

Professional Practices
Students will learn to document their work, write clearly and appropriately in an information technology context, respect user’s data, including backup and security, and to think through the ethical consequences of information technology decisions.

Project Implementation and Management
Students will learn to plan, implement and manage projects. Students will be able to organize, budget, evaluate, and finish projects that meet information technology needs.

Related Links:

• ITS Certification Review Overview
• Course Descriptions
• Course Competencies