Students will be prepared with the knowledge and skills essential for a career as an entry-level service technician. They will be prepared to service computers and peripherals by discovering how to install, configure, diagnose, repair, upgrade and maintain microcomputers. Skills acquired will assist students in preparing to take industry A+ Certification exams. A+ Certification is an industry recognized credential that distinguishes one as a knowledgeable service professional.

Program contact: Learn more

This certificate will be automatically awarded when the certificate requirements are completed. If you do not want to receive the certificate, please notify the Office of the Registrar at RegistrarOffice@tri-c.edu.

Learn more here and here about how certificate credits apply to the related degree.

Program Admission Requirements

  • High School Diploma/GED
  • IT-1090 Computer Applications or IT-109H Honors Computer Applications

Program Learning Outcomes

This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:

  1. Communicate effectively utilizing verbal, written and presentation skills in person, on the phone, and via the Internet with all levels in the organization.
  2. Communicate appropriately with diverse audiences to provide high level customer service to internal and external constituents.
  3. Work independently and effectively within a team to meet the needs of the organization.
  4. Operate within diverse business cultures with professionalism, integrity and accountability.
  5. Demonstrate ethical behavior and recognize legal issues.
  6. Adapt to change within their profession by demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and the flexibility to deal with different requirements from different clients with a wide range of personality styles and prior computer knowledge.
  7. Plan, organize, and prioritize tasks in order to meet project deadlines.
  8. Apply analytical, critical and creative thinking and problem solving/troubleshooting techniques to develop effective information technology solutions in the context of business needs.
  9. Apply fundamental concepts of computer hardware, operating systems, business applications, networking, security, backup and recovery procedures to troubleshoot, maintain and support PC hardware and software to ensure an efficient and effective operation.
  10. Prepared to sit for A+ certification exam.

Suggested Semester Sequence

Plan of Study Grid
Program Admissions Requirements SemesterCredit Hours
Select one of the following: 3
Computer Applications 1
Honors Computer Applications
 Credit Hours3
Summer Start
EET-1015 Introduction to Computer Maintenance and Repair 3
IT-1025 Information Technology Concepts for Programmers 3
 Credit Hours6
First Semester
EET-1035 Operating Systems and Software for PC Technicians 4
EET-1055 Computer Hardware Support 4
Select one of the following: 3
College Composition I
Honors College Composition I
ITNT-2300 Networking Fundamentals 3
 Credit Hours14
Second Semester
BADM-1050 Professional Success Strategies 3
ITNT-2320 Network Administration I 3
Select one of the following: 3
TCP/IP
Network Security Fundamentals
 Credit Hours9
 Total Credit Hours32
1

Credit-by-exam is available through the IT department to meet this requirement. Written departmental approval from the IT department required. 

MATH-1140, MATH-1141, MATH-1200, MATH-1270, and MATH-1280 can no longer count towards fulfilling the college-level mathematics requirement.  These courses were re-classified as developmental mathematics by the state of Ohio in 2016.  Tri-C established a 5-year transitioning window for students who had completed these courses prior to 2016 to apply them towards meeting graduation requirements, which expired in Summer 2021. It is highly recommended to see a counselor to determine the appropriate math required for your current major.