Information Technology

The Technology in the Entertainment and Media Industries course examines the impact of technology and technological innovations across various industries. Students will explore a variety of interactive forms, media types, programming languages, and organizational structures and will also learn how these various components can be combined to create professional technology-based projects. In addition, students will learn how emerging technologies are shaping entertainment and media industries and how to prepare for careers in this dynamic field.

The Computer Operating Systems course explores the concepts of operating systems and how they interface with hardware and application software. Principles of kernels, processes, device drivers, file systems, and user permissions are examined. Students will understand how to install and configure various types of operating systems and how to use this knowledge to restrict access to certain users.

The Networking Technologies course introduces students to the principles of network architecture, network protocols, application protocols, and Internet design. Students will learn how to identify local- and wide-area networks and their specific standards as well as how Internet data is delivered.

In the Virtual Computing course, students will learn about computer hardware virtualization, container technologies, and virtualization software. Students will deploy Linux and Windows operating systems using virtualization software and will apply these technologies throughout future courses as they build more complex systems. This course will provide a clear understanding of virtual machines and containers and how each are managed and implemented.

The Introduction to Information Security course presents the concepts of network security, encryption, and security policies. Students will learn security principles and how to apply this knowledge throughout future courses. Role-based access control, trusted parties, risk assessment, and incident response management practices are applied to business policies and technology systems to protect data and preserve records. The use of encryption in computer, network, and storage systems is studied and applied.

In Project I: Information Technology, students will apply their knowledge of operating systems, networking, and security practices to plan a technology solution based on a typical use case. Through this course, students will demonstrate and troubleshoot the design, installation, and configuration of a working project with servers and user endpoints. They will also create a written project plan documenting their work and detailing how they plan to support users and technology systems. They will explore continuing education opportunities and prepare for an industry certification test.

In Portfolio I: Information Technology, students will refine their technology project completed in Project I. They will revise their written project plan and reflect on the research and design process. Students will also practice taking an industry certification test to prepare them for employment expectations in the information technology field.