Computer Support Specialist Program

What is a Computer Support Specialist?

A Computer Support Specialist is a general name or title for the job of a person who provides technical support and business tool usage advice and guidance to other employees, vendors and business customers for computers, computer systems, software systems and peripheral equipment. These individuals troubleshoot and solve routine technical service and equipment problems by analyzing, identifying and diagnosing errors using established process and procedures and document these events using database systems and track resolution of problems. Computer Support Specialists go by many names including Computer Technician, Computer Service Technician, Computer Support Technician, PC Technician, IT Technician, PC Tech, Computer Tech, Information Technology (IT) Technician.

What is the Computer Support Specialist Program?

The Computer Support Specialist Program is an exciting new career training opportunity for anyone who likes working with computer technology and enjoys helping people use it. The program is a partnership between Modesto Junior College, The Stanislaus County Office of Education, and Workforce Development Department, and the Google.org Foundation. The Computer Support Specialist Program is a flexible online program designed to assist students to start or advance in a career as Information Technology (IT) Support Professionals by helping them acquire the knowledge and skills required to pass the IT certification exams, as well as to gain practical hands-on experience, while earning college credits.

Here are some videos that describe the Computer Support Specialist Program in detail:

What is the Computer Support Specialist Program? (Introduction)

Part1: Overview of the Computer Support Specialist Program

Part2: Level 1 of the Computer Support Specialist Program

Part3: Level 1 Course Activities in the Computer Support Specialist Program

Part4: Levels 2 through 4 of the Computer Support Specialist Program

More videos can be found on this page

What is the purpose of the Computer Support Specialist Program?

The purpose of Computer Support Specialist Program is to help people start or advance in a career as Computer and Information Technology (IT) Support Professionals by helping them acquire the knowledge and skills required to pass the IT certification exams as well as gain work experience through internships, while earning college credits.

What is the Computer Electronics Program at Modesto Junior College?
The Computer Support Specialist Program is basically the same thing as as the Computer Electronics Program at Modesto Junior College (MJC) except the Computer Support Specialist Program is also a partnership with Stanislaus County Office of Education, The Google.org Foundation, 2nd Chance Modesto, and the Stanislaus County Workforce Development Department. This provides addition opportunities and resources for the students.

What is a certification ?

A certification is credential that proves your knowledge and skills that you earn by passing a exam. It is issued by an organizations and companies like the Computer Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), Cisco, The EC Council, Microsoft, and TestOut.

What is a certificate ?

A certificate is credential document issued by an organization to recognize the completion of a set of courses or certifications. Eventually the Computer Support Specialist Program will have four certificates or levels. It is starting with the first level which is the Computer Support Technician (Level 1) Certificate. Students who complete the Computer Support Technician Certificate may earn several Information Technology (IT) certifications including the TestOut IT Fundamentals Pro Certification, the CompTIA IT Fundamentals Certification, the Google IT Support Professional Certificate (Google scholarship grant, optional), the TestOut PC Pro Certification, and the CompTIA A+ Certification.

What are the certificates (levels) in the Computer Support Specialist Program?

There are planned to be three college issued certificates and a 2-year Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree in the Computer Support Specialist Program. The first (level 1) certificate, which is called the Computer Support Technician (Level 1) Certificate, is currently available. Levels 2 through 4 are planned to start by 2024.

Level 1: The Computer Support Technician Certificate
includes fundamentals of information technology, computer user support, computer hardware, operating systems, networking, security and mobile devices. As part of the courses for the Computer Support Technician (Level 1) Certificate, students will earn the TestOut IT Fundamentals Certification and the TestOut PC Pro Certification. As part of the courses for the Computer Support Technician (Level 1) Certificate students will also prepare for the CompTIA IT Fundamantals (ITF+) Certification and the CompTIA A+ Certification. At that time, students also have the option of participating in the Google IT Support Professional Certificate Program. By completing the optional Arduino Fundamentals Labs in the four courses of the Computer Support Technician (Level 1) Certificate, students also prepare for the Arduino Fundamentals Certification. By 2024, the Computer Support Technician (Level 1) Certificate will earn 10 college unit credits (currently 12 or 13 units).

Level 2: The Computer Support Specialist Certificate
includes more advanced technical support for computers, networks, applications and operating systems. Students will earn the Computer Support Specialist (level 2) Certificate by earning the CompTIA IT Fundamantals (ITF+) Certification , the CompTIA A+ Certification, and the Google IT Support Professional Certificate Program. By 2024, the Computer Support Specialist (level 2) Certificate will earn 10 additional college unit credits for a total of 20 units.

Level 3: Computer Electronics Certificate
To earn the Computer Electronics (level 3) Certificate students may choose from many different combinations of IT Certifications (Credit for Prior Learning), internship career experience, additional courses in Computer Science, Electronics, or related subjects to earn a total of 30 or more subject area college unit credits.

Level 4: Computer Electronics Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree
To earn the Computer Electronics (Level 4) Associate of Science (A.S.) Degree, students complete the Modesto Junior College General Education Requirements, in addition to the requirements for the Computer Electronics (level 3) Certificate. The subject area (Computer Electronics) content is the same for Level 3 and Level 4.

Where can I download the slideshows shown in the video playlist for the Computer Support Specialist Program?
You can find the slideshows in the Computer Support Specialist Program overview presentations here.

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