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Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking

Continuing Engineering Education Program (C.E.E.P.)
College of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Colorado at Denver
(303) 556-4907 - Fax: (303) 556-2511
Kim Penoyer--Director


Course Descriptions | Certificates | NACSE | Required Competencies

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Several factors highlight today's corporate environment: flattening of managerial hierarchies, rightsizing of corporate computing infrastructure, mobility of the professional and increased demands on individual productivity. These factors have all combined to increase the importance of computer networking in today's fast-paced corporate environment. Accompanying these changes is an increased demand for professionals who understand networking from a business as well as a technical perspective.

The Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking is designed to provide the student with a conceptual view of the networking industry as well as specific aspects and products commonly found in networking. The program is comprised of a series of networking courses that will lead to the following industry certifications, both vendor-neutral and vendor specific:

COURSE BENEFITS GENERAL INFORMATION

TThe University of Colorado at Denver's College of Engineering and Applied Science Continuing Engineering Education Program sponsors the Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking. The program is designed to provide continuing education and professional development opportunities for individuals interested in increasing their knowledge and skills within the networking fields.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
The program carries continuing education units and certificates of completion are awarded to those who successfully complete the program. The CEU is a standardized and nationally recognized unit of measure that documents successful participation in a professionally organized continuing education learning experience. One CEU equals ten hours of program activity.

Registration
Registration for the Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking Program includes ten courses and a NACSE membership with four NACSE certification tests. The tuition covers the instruction, use of facilities and equipment, course materials (including textbooks and CD's), the Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking and UCD Certificates of Completion carrying CEUs. Tuition can be paid by check or charge (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) or we can bill your employer. Financing information is also available for loans through private lending institutions.

Please call for dates and locations!

NACSE

  • NACSE MEMBERSHIP
    Included in the Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking is a one-year membership in NACSE and NACSE FAST TRACK Program.
  • What is NACSE?
    NACSE is a non-profit, vendor-neutral professional credentialing organization. NACSE certifies individuals, based on proven/tested skills and real world experience. They also certify college and university programs that produce skilled and knowledgeable professionals for the industry. Major technical companies recognize NACSE's, vendor-neutral testing and credentials across the country. NACSE-certified programs provide those communication and networking standards vendor-specific programs miss.
  • What is Fast Track?
    Fast Track is just that...a very fast way for our members to get the job they want with the best companies in the industry. Most major technology based firms are struggling to find properly educated, trained and certified technical people at all levels. Most NACSE members have obtained their certifications throughaccredited colleges and universities. They have proven their knowledge and skills by rigorous examination. Once certified by NACSE, each member receives a special contact form that can direct his or her resume to a specific person or department at the target company. It also tags that resume as belonging to a NACSE-certified member. Each partner company has committed to giving NACSE-certified members priority consideration and will respond to the applicant in a fast and timely manner.
  • Who Can Participate?
    Any active certified member in good standing may participate in the Fast Track program and...at no added cost. By getting NACSE certified, our members open the door to success.
  • What Companies Are Participating In The NACSE Fast Track Program?
    The list is growing daily and contains more than 30 leading companies; here are but a few - COMPAQ, Computer Corporation, Exabyte, Hewlett Packard, Internet Communications, 3COM, Sun Microsystems, Antarctic Support, etc.
  • What Kind of Companies Hire NACSE Members?

    British TeleCom
    Antarctic Support Inc.
    Boeing
    Galileo International
    McData Corporation
    Lockheed Martin
    State of Colorado
    Compaq Computer Corporation
    3COM
    Bay Networks
    Network Associates 
    MCI
    Xerox Corporation
    Walt Disney World Company
    Sprint Inc.
    State of Florida
    US West Communications
    AT&T
    Oppenheimer Funds
    Sun Microsystems
    IBM
    Hughes Aerospace
    Lanier Worldwide Systems
    TCI

NACSE (National Association of Communication Systems Engineers)
18029 E. Dorado Ave, Aurora, CO 80015
Phone (303) 690-9808 or (303) 367-5570
Fax (303) 340-8688

NACSE Tech Offices
Higher Education & Advanced Technology Center (H.E.A.T.)
1059 Yosemite St. Suite 142, Denver, CO 80122
Internet:
www.nacse.com

CompTIA Network+ certification
Information Technology Professionals find that CompTIA Network+ certification provides technicians with a credential recognized and valued throughout industry.

In 1995, a group of high tech companies created a task force under the auspices of CompTIA, to identify, classify and publish skills standards for networking professionals employed in three types of organizations: information technology companies, channel partners and business-government firms.

A task force defined the job tasks of network professionals through sound research. The job analysis, completed in November of 1997, became the foundation of an industry-wide certification program called Network+.

ABOUT THE CompTIA Network+ EXAM

The CompTIA Network+ exam covers two broad areas:

  • Networking Technologies, which is two-thirds of the exam, evaluates basic knowledge, security and TCP/IP fundamentals.
  • Networking practices, which is one-third of the exam, tests a candidate's application of basic knowledge in maintaining a network and assessing and responding to problems.
The exam is administered through Sylvan Prometric and is targeted for technicians with 18-24 months of networking technology experience in the IT industry. Students are responsible for the payment and arrangement of this optional exam.

CompTIA CORNERSTONE PARTNERS

The Network+ Certification program was established with support and financial assistance from industry leaders like:

3Com Corporation
Banyan
Compaq Computers
CompuWORLD
IBM
Lotus
Microsoft
Novell
Softbank
US West
Wave Technologies

About the Association

CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, is a 17-year-old association representing over 7,500 computer hardware and software manufacturers, distributors, retailers, resellers, VARS, system integrators, training, service, telecommunications and Internet companies.

In addition to providing a unified voice for the industry in the areas of public policy, workforce development and electronic commerce standards, CompTIA certifies information technology and service professionals with its widely adopted and vendor-neutral A+(tm), Certified Document Imaging Architecture(tm) (CDIA) and I-NET+(tm) certification programs.

CompTIA members are eligible to receive valuable discounts on a variety of products and services, including certification pricing and offers from other members. They also gain access to networking opportunities via the membership database and specialized marketing programs as well as CompTIA's annual trade show event, Breakaway XChange(tm).

CompTIA
450 East 22nd Street, Suite 230
Lombard, IL USA 60148-6158
Phone: 630-268-1818, Fax: 630-268-1384
E-mail: info@comptia.org
Internet: www.comptia.org

CompTIA - One Industry. One Voice.

Certification/Test Summary

* Basic Series
NACSE First Year Membership(Included)
A. NACSE -NANS-
or your choice of A or B
1 Test (Included)
B. Comptia - Network +1 Test (Sylvan)
C. Microsoft Networking Essentials1 Test (Sylvan)
D. Microsoft - MCP1 Test (Sylvan)
E. NACSE - Unix NCLA1 Test (Included)
F. CU Denver - Certifiacte(Included)
* Advanced Series
A. NACSE - NSNS1 Test (Included)
B. Microsoft - MCP+I2 Tests (Sylvan)
C. Microsoft - MCSE3 Tests (Sylvan)
D. NACSE -Unix NCLA1 Test (included)
E. CU Denver - Adv. Certificate(Included)

Basic Networking Course Descriptions

The following is a listing of the program modules:

INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING - 21 hours

An introduction to the underlying concepts of data communications, telecommunications and networking will be discussed. The course provides a conceptual view of networking and will bring together the acronyms, protocols, and components used in today's networks. It is the fundamentals portion of the Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking, designed specifically to provide the student with practical and comprehensive working knowledge of networking.

Expected Outcomes

  • Understand key networking terms and concepts
  • Relate the OSI Model to current products and protocols
  • Understand basic principles of Ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI
  • Identify the differences between bridges, routers, hubs and gateways
Brief Outline
  • Network Topologies
  • Computer Protocols and Services
  • The OSI Model
  • Network components
  • Local Area Networks (LANs)
  • Wide Area Networks (WANs)

LANs & WANs - 21 hours

The student will learn the current concepts of Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) technologies. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to the concepts, technologies, components and acronyms inherent in today's local networking environments. An introduction to the technology of switched voice communications will be discussed. This is necessary background to understand how communication channels of public switched networks are used for data communications. Students will learn about important new technologies that integrate voice, data and video. This course will include an introduction to the major providers of telecommunications services and a discussion of tariffs and charges for telecommunications services.

Expected Outcomes

  • Identify the components of the OSI 8802 (IEEE 802) protocol suite, showing their relationship to one another
  • Given a user's requirements for a LAN, identify the LAN architecture that best addresses those needs
  • Identify the primary advantages of the client/server model when used in PC network environments
  • Identify primary products and product characteristics of the leading NOS vendors
  • Indicate the usage and definitions of common terms used in telephony
  • Identify telephony standards used in data communications, such as T1
  • Identify the major characteristics of modems and modem protocols
  • Identify emerging telecommunications architectures and technologies and specify how they fit into the telecommunications picture
Brief Outline
  • LAN Fundamentals including topologies
  • Ethernet LAN Technologies
  • Token Ring and FDDI LANS
  • Network Operating Systems including Novell Netware and Windows NT
  • LAN Analysis
  • WAN Fundamentals including telecommunications
  • WAN Protocols including Dial-up, ISDN, Frame Relay and ATM
  • WAN Solutions

TCP/IP & NETWORKING ARCHITECTURES - 21 hours

This course covers the most popular networking architecture in existence today, TCP/IP. The class will cover underlying components and protocols that make up the Internet. TCP/IP will be covered as well as the services that are provided by the Internet. Coverage will be given to DNS, ICMP, Ipv6, telnet, ftp, SMTP for e-mail, SNMP management and HTTP Browsers. TCP/IP troubleshooting will also be discussed.

Expected Outcomes

  • Identify the TCP/IP layers, their components and their functions
  • Identify the services that six important TCP/IP applications provide
  • Understand the protocols used to transport data over the Internet
  • Understand internet addressing
  • Understand subnetting pinciples
  • Understand HTTP, SMTP, SNMP, and other application protocols
Brief Outline
  • TCP/IP: Applications
  • TCP/IP: Structures and Addressing
  • TCP/IP: Protocols and Routing
  • Trouble shooting a TCP/IP network
NANS CERTIFICATION TEST
Students are responsible for successful completion of the NACSE-specific exams or the Comptia Network and exam.


UNIX ADMINISTRATION - 30 hours

This course is designed to teach the student basics of the Unix operating system and networking characteristics of Unix systems. The student will install, configure and utilize at least one UNIX operating system. This course will assist the student in their preparation for a NACSE UNIX administration certification.

Expected Outcomes

  • Understand Unix commands
  • Understand Basic Unix System Administration
  • Understand Unix Networking Environments
Brief Outline
  • Download, install and configure the Linux operating system
  • Learn basic Unix commands
  • Learn both command line and GUI interfaces
UNIX TESTING
Students are responsible for successful completion of the NACSE-specific exams.


MICROSOFT NETWORKING ESSENTIALS - 9 hours

This course is designed to assist the student in their preparation for Microsoft Networking Essentials exam. This exam covers the networking knowledge and skills necessary to implement, administer, and troubleshoot information systems.

Expected Outcomes

Students will prepare for the Microsoft Networking Essentials exam.

Brief Outline

  • Networking terms.
  • Network, Server, Protocol types.
  • Compare the implications of using connection-oriented communications with connectionless communications.
  • Define the communication devices that communicate at each level of the OSI model.
Planning
  • Select the appropriate media for various situations
  • Make planning decisions based on cost, distance limitations, number of nodes
  • List the characteristics, requirements, and appropriate situations for WAN connection services.
Implementation
  • Choose an administrative plan to meet specified needs, including performance management, account management, and security.
  • Choose a disaster recovery plan for various situations.
  • Monitor trends.
Troubleshooting
Identify common errors, connectivity and performance problems such as broadcast storms.

MICROSOFT TESTING
Students are responsible for arrangement, payment and successful completion of the Microsoft-specific exams.


MICROSOFT NT SERVER 4.0 - 21 hours

This certification exam measures the student's ability to implement, administer, and troubleshoot information systems that incorporate Windows NT Server version 4.0 in a simple computing environment. A simple computing environment is typically a homogeneous LAN. It might include one or more servers, a single domain, and a single location; and it might have file-sharing and print-sharing capabilities.

Expected Outcomes
Students will be assisted in their preparation for the Microsoft NT Server 4.0 exam.

Brief Outline

  • Plan the disk drive configuration by choosing a file system and a fault-tolerance method.
  • Install Windows NT Server.
  • Configure protocols and peripherals.
  • Manage user and group accounts.
  • Administer remote servers from various types of client computers.
  • Client access to NT Server.
  • Monitor performance of various functions by using Performance Monitor.
  • Troubleshooting installation, boot, configuration, printer, connectivity issues.
MICROSOFT TESTING
Students are responsible for arrangement, payment and successful completion of the Microsoft-specific exams.


Advanced Networking

INTERNETWORKING - 12 hours

This advanced course is intended for networking professionals and students who grasp the general concepts of data communications and networking, but would like a more detailed understanding of internetworking. This course will focus on the problems that are encountered with network growth and the internetworking components that solve these problems. In addition, there will be a discussion of the issues that arise when corporations merge or divisions of a company want to share information.

Expected Outcomes

  • Identify internetworking components such as repeaters, relays, bridges, routers, hubs and gateways
  • Identify the types and functions of the various bridging methods
  • Identify the types and functions of the various routing methods
  • Analyze configurations using bridges, routers and gateways
  • Identify the major problems that can be solved using internetworking components
Brief Outline
  • Internetworking Components including repeaters, hubs, bridges, switches, routers and gateways
  • Identify Virtual LANS
  • Network Management

PROCESSES AND PROTOCOLS - 12 hours

This course provides a survey of the underlying processes and protocols that make up today's networks. The most widely used encoding scheme and protocols used in LANs, WANs, and point-to-point networks will be discussed. Physical and Logical network addressing as viewed from both a LAN and WAN perspective will be covered. The prime focus of this course will be TCP/IP, NCP/SPX/IPX, SMB/Netbios/Netbeui. Web browser to web server - Client/Server information transfer via HTTP will be discussed.

Expected Outcomes

  • Understand the difference between data link, network, and transport layer addresses
  • Understand the most popular type of encoding scheme used in corporate LANs
  • Identify the components of an Ethernet MAC frame
  • Identify the components of a Token Ring MAC frame
  • Understand various Network Layer protocols such as IP and Novell's IPX
  • Understand various Transport Layer protocols such as TCP and UDP
Brief Outline
  • Network Addressing
  • Data Link Layer Protocols
  • Network Layer Protocols
  • Transport Layer Protocols
  • Upper Layer Protocols
  • Client/Server information transfer

NETWORK ANALYSIS & DESIGN - 9 hours

The student will gain a more in-depth understanding of methods used to analyze, design and manage LANs and point-to-point networks. Exercises are geared toward learning techniques in network design and analysis. Network diagrams from several corporate networks will be analyzed and discussed.

Expected Outcomes

  • Understand general offerings of today's carriers
  • Understand when to use various types of equipment and technologies
  • Learn how to design a network to meet specific needs
  • Learn how to analyze existing networks
  • Learn the difference between network management and systems management
Brief Outline
  • Requirements Analysis and Business Planning
  • Traffic Analysis
  • Logical Network Design
  • Physical Network Design
  • Integration, Testing, Implementation and Operation
  • Network Baselining
  • Network Analysis Problems
NSNS CERTIFICATION TEST
Students are responsible for successful completion of the NACSE-specific exams.


MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION - 51 hours

This course is designed to assist the student in their preparation for the last four exams required to obtain the MCSE certification. The MCSE designation requires the successful completion of six exams: four operating system exams (the "core") and two electives. This class concentrates on completing the exams not covered in the NT Server 4.0 course and Microsoft Networking Essentials courses in the Networking Basics portion.

Expected Outcomes

  • Implementing and Supporting Microsoft(r) Windows NT(r) Workstation 4.0 exam
  • Internetworking with Microsoft(r) TCP/IP on Microsoft(r) Windows NT(r) 4.0 exam
  • Implementing and Supporting Microsoft(r) Internet Information Server 4.0 exam
  • Implementing and Supporting Microsoft(r) Windows NT(r) Server 4.0 in the Enterprise exam
  • In addition, students will understand Windows 98 and Microsoft Networking from the client side.
Brief Outline
  • Install and Configure IIS Server
  • Setup and Configuration of a TCP/IP Network
  • Install and Configure NT Server for the Enterprise
  • Install and Configure Windows 98
  • Test Preparation
MICROSOFT TESTING
Students are responsible for arrangement, payment and successful completion of the Microsoft-specific exams.


Competencies

The following are the Competencies Requirements for the Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking. Anyone enrolling in the program must check each box and sign the bottom of this form certifying that they possess these competencies.

Must Know:

  • __Windows Explorer
  • __Alt-View Options
  • __Moving files
  • __Creating files
  • __Deleting files
  • __Renaming files
  • __Copying files
  • __Installing Software
  • __Scandisk
  • __Checkdisk
  • __MS Word
  • __Acrobat Reader
  • __Recycle Bin
  • __Virus Scan
  • __Operating System Startup/Shutdown
  • __Sending e-mail with attachments
  • __Browser Usage
  • __Downloading files off the Internet
  • __Basic keyboard knowledge
  • __DOS command usage
  • __dir
  • __cd
  • __md
  • __rd
  • __copy
  • __move
  • __delete
  • __Starting/closing an application
  • __Close Program a.k.a. Task Manager
  • __Folders
  • __creation
  • __renaming
  • __removal
  • __Zipping and unzipping files
  • __Display settings / the desktop environment
  • __Printing files
Nice to Know:
  • __Network Neighborhood
  • __File sharing
  • __Unix Commands
  • __MS Power Point
  • __Adding a Printer
I certify that I possess these competencies:



____________________________________________________________________
Signature/ Date

University of Colorado at Denver
Advanced Certificate in Computer Networking


Continuing Engineering Education Program (C.E.E.P.)
College of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Colorado at Denver
(303) 556-4907 - Fax: (303) 556-2511
Kim Penoyer--Director