The Graduate Certificate in Systems Models & Management

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This graduate-level certificate program has been designed by UMass Lowell's Computer Science Department to address the growing demand for advanced-level studies in Information Technology.

The Online Graduate Certificate in System Models and Management consists of four graduate online courses that focus on operating systems management, large-scale application deployment, network and systems administration, and managing virtual systems. Offered through the University's Computer Science Department, this program differs from traditional graduate computer science courses in its focus on application-specific details, case studies and the operational framework required by today's IT professionals.

Individuals interested in advancing their knowledge of contemporary operating systems deployment, network and systems administration, lifecycle management of large-scale applications, and managing virtual hardware and software configurations will benefit from this program.

Intended Audience

The program is particularly appropriate for Systems Administrators, Network Managers, and other IT professionals who have an undergraduate degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or related majors. Applicants should be familiar with C programming and have a math background that includes at least pre-calculus math, statistics and a first course in discrete structures. Other than these general certificate program requirements, the certificate program courses do not have specific prerequisites and may be taken in any order.

Program Outline

Choose 4 Courses:
94.511 Network and Systems Administration
94.517 Operating Systems Organization - Available Summer 2013!
94.518 Large Scale Application Deployment
94.519 Managing Virtual Systems
94.565 Cloud Computing - Available Summer 2013!

Note: You do not have to be enrolled in the program to take a course... Try a course before applying into the program if you would like... By enrolling now as a "non-degree" graduate student, you can begin taking graduate courses this semester. Complete the Non-Degree Course Registration Form, and fax it to the Registrar's Office at FAX:(978) 934-4076.

Admission Requirements

While the certificate program is designed to be readily accessible to students who have completed a four-year program in Computer Science, Information Technology or Information Systems, we understand that the IT community includes many individuals who have completed degrees in other majors and have made career adjustments to the field.

To accommodate the community at large, our specific certificate program admission requirements are:

• A transcript showing proof of completion of an undergraduate BS or BA degree from an accredited institution
• Mathematical experience to include a minimum of one semester of Precalculus, one semester of Discrete Mathematics and one semester of Statistics, or the equivalent experience
• C Programming proficiency, to include a minimum of one class of C Programming and one class of data structures, or the equivalent experience

For assistance with applying into the certificate program, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions at 978-934-2390.
Note: These courses cannot be used towards the M.S. or D.Sc. in Computer Science.

Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

Completion rates, median loan debts and program costs are outlined for each certificate program.

Graduate Certificate Gainful Employment Disclosure Information

Course Descriptions

94.511 Network and Systems Administration

This course will organize and examine the network and systems administration methodologies of both Windows and Linux/Unix based environments. Topics will include the deployment and aggregation of networked systems, user and privilege management, application and license management, security frameworks, resource sharing models and data collection and analysis. System configuration and registry structures will be discussed, along with both GUI and command line approaches to maintaining them. Several data collection and analysis tools will be evaluated from both platforms, with an emphasis on observing and optimizing system performance and security metrics. 3 credits. Prerequisite: This course may be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. in Information Technology; it cannot be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science.

94.517 Operating Systems Organization

This course investigates the organization and deployment of contemporary operating systems. The process model is examined both generically and in the context of the current Linux/Unix and Windows implemantations. Process attributes such as address spaces, threads, channels and handles, access rights, scheduling behaviour and states and state transitions will be studied. Memory management, deadlock management and the file system development are also evaluated. A subsystem of system configuration options will be considered during the course in order to highlight the functional deployment of the core OS issues discussed. Pre-req: BS in IT or equivalent. Cannot be used toward MS or PhD in Computer Science. 3 credits. Prerequisite: BS in IT or equivalent. This course may be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. in Information Technology; it cannot be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science.

94.518 Large Scale Application Deployment

This course will develop a systematic framework for the life cycle management of large scale applications. Beginning with requirements assessments, and impact analysis, and continuing through regulatory compliance, lifetime maintenance, scalability concerns, and end-of-life evolution, the material in this course will characterize the stages and transitions of large scale applications. Deployment and management tools will be examined in the context of live applications, with an emphasis on convergent analysis and configuration. Several case studies will be considered, including operating systems, database applications, mailing systems and collaboration systems. 3 credits. Prerequisite: This course may be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. in Information Technology; it cannot be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science.

94.519 Managing Virtual Systems

This course will investigate the current state of virtualization in computing systems. Virtualization at both the hardware and software levels will be examined, with emphasis on the hypervisor configurations of systems such as Vmware, Zen and Hyper-V. The features and limitations of virtual environments will be considered, along with several case studies used to demonstrate the configuration and management of such systems. Para-virtualized software components will be analyzed and their pros and cons discussed. Processor and peripheral support for virtualization will also be examined, with a focus on emerging hardware features and the future of virtualization. 3 credits. Prerequisite: This course may be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. in Information Technology; it cannot be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science.

94.565 Cloud Computing

This course starts with an overview of modern distributed models, exposing the design principles, systems architecture, and innovative applications of parallel, distributed, and cloud computing systems. The course will focus on the creation and maintenance of high-performance, scalable, reliable systems, providing comprehensive coverage of distributed and cloud computing, including: Facilitating management, debugging, migration, and disaster recovery through virtualization. Clustered systems for research or ecommerce applications. Designing systems as web services. Principles of cloud computing using examples from open-source and commercial applications. 3 credits. Prerequisite: BS in IT or equivalent. This course may be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. in Information Technology; it cannot be used towards UMass Lowell’s M.S. or Ph.D. in Computer Science.

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