The need for professionals with a strong information technology background will continue to increase as business, government, schools, and other organizations seek new applications for computers and networks in the workplace. This certificate is designed as an introductory program for those who want to explore a broad range of electives in different information technology subject areas before deciding on an area of specialization. This program will serve as a gateway to the other, more specialized certificate programs in information technology.

You can earn the Certificate in Information Technology entirely online, on campus, or by taking a combination of online and on campus courses.

Required Courses: (2)
90.160 Introduction to Information Systems
90.202 Microsoft^® Office*

Electives - Choose 4:**

Programming Electives:
90.211 Introduction to Programming with C, Part I
90.212 Introduction to Programming with C, Part II
90.220 Visual Basic
90.267 C Programming
90.268 C++ Programming
90.269 Advanced C++
90.270 Visual C++ .NET
90.364 Problem Solving with C

Database Electives:
90.171 Applications Software: Microsoft^® Access
90.342 Web-Enabled Database Development
90.474 Relational Database Concepts

Multimedia/Web Electives:
90.230 Introduction to Multimedia
91.113 Exploring the Internet

Additional Electives:
90.311 Introduction to the UNIX Operating System
90.312 Shell Scripting
90.461 LAN/WAN Technologies

*Students with appropriate experience can replace the required courses with any of the elective courses.

**Note: This is a partial list of computer elective courses. For the complete list of courses that may be applied as electives to this program, see the Continuing Studies Course Catalog for computer courses with the 90. prefix, or contact the Faculty and Student Support Center at (978) 934-2474.

Course Descriptions

90.160 Introduction to Information Systems
Provides the student with an understanding of how computer hardware and software are combined to build efficient and effective information systems for business professionals. The course takes a user's orientation toward the use of the application tools, how to develop applications without programming, how users can build decision support systems, how to use the structured system development life cycle, how to control information systems and life cycle, and how personal computers can be interfaced with other systems.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

90.202 Microsoft Office
This is an intensive hands-on course intended to teach the student basic personal computer skills in a lecture/lab format using MS Office. The student will learn the fundamental concepts of word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation development.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

90.211 Introduction to Programming with C-Part I
Offers an introduction to the processing of information by computer. Computer logic, memory, input/output processing, and programming in the 'C' language.
Prerequisite: No previous programming experience required
Credits: 3
Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for both the 90.211/90.212 sequence and 90.267
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.212 Introduction to Programming with C - Part II
Serves as a continuation of 90.211. Additional topics will include pointers, dynamic memory allocation, file handling techniques and libraries. Students may not receive credit for both the 90.211/90.212 sequence and 90.267.
Prerequisite: 90.211
Credits: 3
Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for both the 90.211/90.212 sequence and 90.267.
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software

90.220 Visual Basic®
This course will focus on developing Windows-based programs using the Visual Basic programming environment. Topics covered will include the use of text boxes, labels, scroll bars, menus, buttons, and the Windows applications. Students should be familiar with the Windows environment and with at least one programming language prior to taking this course.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3
Special Notes:
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.267 C Programming
Introduces students to the techniques of programming in C. The language syntax, semantics, its applications, and the portable library are covered. This course is not an introductory course in programming. However, it will teach some of the basics in the first few weeks. Students should have a working knowledge of at least one high-level programming language.
Prerequisite: Previous programming experience
Credits: 3
Special Notes: Students may not receive credit for both the 90.211/90.212 sequence and 90.267
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.268 C++ Programming
This course will cover the C++ language and show the student how to use the language. We will cover class construction, operator overloading, virtual functions, templates, and introduce the student to the IO streams. Inheritance and its use in creating extendible libraries will be presented. Object-oriented concepts will be presented in the context of the C++ language and its support for object-oriented programming.
Prerequisite: 90.267 or 90.212
Credits: 3
Special Notes:
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.269 Advanced C++
Serves as a continuation of 90.268, with emphasis on Object Oriented Programming with C++. Design issues and programming guidelines will be discussed. Inheritance, dynamic binding, overloaded operators, abstract classes, and class hierarchies will be covered in more detail, with course projects concentrating on these areas.
Prerequisite: 90.268, experience with Data Structures.
Credits: 3
Special Notes:
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.270 Visual C++ .NET
This course introduces students to Windows programming. Students learn how to create a Windows application using both native and managed code. Native programming which allows us to create fast applications and managed code which is core of the .NET is compared and contrasted throughout the course. Course topics and hands-on exercises will cover: creating variety of windows, internet programming, creating Web services, using and creating databases and database programming and database connectivity, multithreaded programming, dynamic link libraries (dlls). Course will discuss interoperability with other languages (C# and VB) and with other software.
Prerequisite: 90.268
Credits: 3
Special Notes:
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.364 Problem Solving with C
Intended as a practical problem-solving course, to give students further exposure to the topics covered in 90.267 and to provide the tools needed for software development. The course emphasizes these aspects of the programming problem-solving process: problem specification and organization; algorithms, coding, debugging; the elements of good programming style; and the means of producing a high-quality finished product. Programming examples are chosen to span a wide range of both numeric and nonnumeric applications.
Prerequisite: 90.212 or 90.267
Credits: 3
Special Notes:
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.171 Applications Software: Microsoft Access
This introductory course is intended to teach students how to create and manipulate database files using Microsoft Access. Students will learn about database management, relational databases, and the issues that must be considered before creating a database. They will learn how to create a database file with tables, queries, forms and reports. Topics include entering and editing data; sorting, filtering and printing records; extracting information with different types of queries; designing and customizing forms and reports; creating charts and pivot tables; and customizing Access. In addition, they will learn how to use macros to automate a database, and how to exchange Access data with other applications.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

90.342 Web-Enabled Database Development (Formerly Relational Database Integration)
This course expands on the topics introduced in the Relational Database Concepts course. Using the Linux operating system, the PHP scripting language, and the Postgresql relational database, students will develop modern internet applications, such as online catalogs, discussion areas, and auction sites.
Prerequisite: 90.474.
Credits: 3

90.474 Relational Database Concepts
Introduces database directives, design elements of databases, architectures, and commercial databases. Students will participate in design of a large-scale database application and administration of this database.
Prerequisite: 90.267
Credits: 3
Special Notes:
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

90.230 Introduction to Multimedia
Provides participants with an overview of multimedia and its professional applications in training, education, marketing, and entertainment. Scanning images, digitizing video and audio, and exploring the design and production of interactive multimedia are the focus of this class. Includes technical/hardware considerations and production procedures pertinent to interactive multimedia.
Prerequisite: P: Basic Macintosh or Windows proficiency
Credits: 3

91.113 Exploring the Internet
This course focuses on the primary tools used to navigate the Internet from a Windows desktop: e-mail and the web browsers. In addition, this course covers many of the other applications of the Internet: ftp, listserve, newsgroups, chat, search engines, and portals. Students will complete hands-on exercises, including construction of their personal web page.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3
Special Notes: Non-CS Majors only

90.311 Introduction to the UNIX Operating System
Addresses manipulating and maintaining files within the UNIX file system; creating and editing text files using the vi and ed editors; using pipes, redirection, and filters; using advanced text processing utilities; using electronic mail; writing and debugging shell scripts; submitting and executing processes.
Prerequisite:
Credits: 3

90.312 Shell Scripting
Teaches the students the techniques of programming in the high-level programming language of the Bourne, Korn and BASH Shells. The course covers the building blocks necessary to create portable shell scripts that can be used as new utilities for computers running either UNIX, Linux, or the Cygwin environment on Windows.
Prerequisite: 90.311, and 90.267 or 90.212
Credits: 3

90.461 LAN/WAN Technologies
This course discusses basic data communication concepts; digital and analog signaling; media and cabling systems; the OSI reference model; Physical and Data Link layer; LAN standards; Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, Switched technologies, emerging LAN standards; Bridges and Routers; and Network operating systems.
Prerequisite: 90.267 or previous programming experience.
Credits: 3

Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in UMass Lowell certificate programs must complete the indicated series of certificate program courses, generally consisting of both required courses and electives. Students may complete the certificate programs at their own pace, enrolling in one or two courses per semester (which is the average recommended course load). Students should anticipate at least two hours of preparation for every hour of classroom instruction and they are required to maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better to receive the certificate.

Courses held on campus typically meet one night per week, three hours each night, for 14 weeks during the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (Summer courses are also offered over two 6-week condensed sessions). Call for a course bulletin or check our website course listings for specific course scheduling information.

For students who are pursuing a certificate program online, UMass Lowell's online courses generally meet for 14 weeks, and students log on to their course site one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. For more information on online course listings, please refer to the UMass Lowell online course website at http://continuinged.uml.edu/online.