Program: Information Technology Technician (Desktop Support) (6945) - Florida State College

Information Technology Technician (Desktop Support)

Technical Certificate

Desktop support work involves installing, configuring, repairing, and managing computer hardware and software. In this program you gain the basic skills and knowledge required to work as an entry-level computer technician or desktop support specialist.

All courses in this technical certificate are also included in the Information Technology Management (Systems Administrator) (6946) technical certificate and the Networking Services Technology (Network Support) (2156) (A.S.) degree. This means that you have the option of applying all the coursework completed in this program toward a more advanced technical certificate and an associate degree.

Career Opportunities, Rapid Placement

Florida State College is the regional resource for employers in every type of technology. Our partnerships with Cisco Systems, Dell, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and Sun Microsystems provide career connections. An Florida State College intranet site posts jobs targeting our students. Graduates are regularly employed by CSX, JEA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the City of Jacksonville, Medtronic, Mayo Clinic and other regional employers including the government and military.

Annual Salaries

There is a current need for about 100,000 IT desktop support specialists, and that demand should double over the next five years. Starting salaries for Jacksonville average $32,000-35,000; the Florida average is $36,784 and the national average is $39,110.

Certification and Licensing

Upon completion of this program, students will be prepared to pursue industry recognized certifications such as CompTIA’s A+ Microcomputer Technician certification and Microsoft’s Certified Professional (MCP) certification.

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Curriculum

Total Credit Hours: 12

Professional Courses

CTS 1131 - Hardware Configuration Credit Hours: 3
CTS 1133 - Software Configuration Credit Hours: 3
CTS 1154 - Technical Support Credit Hours: 3
CNT 1015 - Operating Systems Foundations Credit Hours: 3

Graduation Requirements

In order to be awarded a technical certificate, students must have met the following requirements.

Earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 (C) on all courses attempted at Florida State College.
Completed the required courses as set forth in the College catalog or as approved by the assistant dean of the area.
Students who place into college preparatory courses are required to complete designated college preparatory courses with a grade of “C” or better regardless of program of study.
Completed at least one–fourth of the total hours required for a certificate in residence at Florida State College. Before students may graduate, they must have fulfilled all financial obligations to the College.

Note: Students are cautioned to pay particular attention to the following statements.

Graduation dates will be the date at the end of the College term in which students complete the academic requirements for the degree or certificate for which they are applicants. (The removal of an incomplete grade does not affect students’ graduation dates, since the grade change is effective at the end of the term in which the incomplete grade was assigned rather than the term in which the incomplete work was made up.)
If students expect to complete the coursework under the terms of the catalog in effect during the term of their first registration, they must graduate within five years or they will need to be reassigned to an active catalog. Accordingly, students who enter under this catalog (2009/2010) must graduate by the end of the Summer Term 2014, or they will be required to consult with their academic program to determine the appropriate active catalog placement. Changes to requirements as mandated by law or by rule of the District Board of Trustees may supersede this provision.

Articulation

Students have the option of applying all the coursework completed in this program towards the Information Technology Management (Systems Administrator) (6946) technical certificate or the Networking Services Technology (Network Support) (2156) (A.S.) degree.