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Why join the Information Technology & Security Academy?

Powerful Training- Students receive technical training in preventative maintenance, installation, networking, security, troubleshooting, and basic programming.  

Paid Industry Internships- approximately $2,500 in a paid internship between the junior and senior year.

Training Sites- Alamo Colleges’ Advanced Technology Center, San Antonio;  Central Texas Technology Center, New Braunfels;  Boerne High School, Boerne

Choices- After graduation, students will be prepared for the Information Technology (IT) industry jobs. They can test for a CompTIA A+ Certification after the junior year of high school and can continue training to receive other industry certifications or use their college credits toward further education at the college level.

High Pay- The IT industry paid $882 million in wages and salaries to 15,648 employees in 2008.  Salaries at the local IT companies average at $56,359 with additional schooling and experience.

Established Industry- The IT industry has a significant presence in the San Antonio economy.  Its economic impact in 2008 was $8 billion.  

 Over 15,648 workers are employed with a $882 million annual payroll.
(Source: Greater SA Chamber of Commerce study)

Increasing Need- The industry has grown 20% since 2005 and has doubled in size over the past decade.

 

Information Technology & Security Academy Criteria

 

Students interested in attending the Advanced Technology & Manufacturing Academy program must meet the following admission requirements:

1. Junior class standing to include completion of all required courses toward high school graduation plan.

2. Completion of 13 credits by end of sophomore year and be at least 16 years old by start of fall class.

3. Completion of Academy Application with required signatures and forms.

4. Copy of current Academic Achievement Record (AAR)/Official High School Transcript with an official raised seal and one copy of the daily attendance report for the current school year.

5. Students must be passing all high school classes with a “C” or higher. Special emphasis will be placed on the following classes: Algebra I, Geometry, and English.

6. Complete Apply Texas Application on-line – www.applytexas.org. Please call your coordinator for specific instructions. You will need to submit your Apply Texas ID number to the coordinator.  This will generate a   Banner ID that you will need to use as your ID number for your Accuplacer or THEA.

7. Complete all sections of Accuplacer or THEA: Reading, English (w/ Essay), and Math. Must meet all College Dual Credit and Program minimum placement test score requirements in Math, Reading, and English. Students must pass one section in Accuplacer or THEA to qualify for the Information Technology & Security Academy.

Accuplacer Minimum Placement Scores  

Math: 63 

Reading: 78 

English: 80 in Sentence Skills with a score of 5 in Essay, or a score of 6 or higher in Essay.

 

THEA Minimum Placement Scores  

Math: 38 

Reading: 41

English: 220 and WSAM 3

 

  • There is a $29.00 fee for the exam. Student must provide a photo ID and social security number at the time of testing.  Please contact college testing centers directly to schedule testing and to get testing instructions.
  • There is a practice website at http://www.thea.nesinc.com/practice.htm  that you can use to preview the THEA IBT or www.testprepreview.com for Accuplacer.
  • You will receive a printout of Accuplacer or THEA test scores that you can submit to the Coordinator for your Academy program.
  • You may contact one of the following testing centers to schedule the THEA: 
St. Philip's College 210-486-2830
Southwest Campus 210-486-7281
Northwest Vista College 210-486-4346
Palo Alto College 210-486-3444
San Antonio College 210-486-0444
Northeast Lakeview College 210-486-5401
Center Texas Technology Center 210-431-7111

 

8. Consult with your high school counselor to determine eligibility to participate in the Alamo Academies and update your graduation plan. 

Information Technology & Security Academy Curriculum

 

Certificate of Completion
Information Technology and Security

 

Fall Semester 1st Year (2 courses / 7 credits)  

ITSC 1305 Introduction to PC Operating Systems (3-3-1)
Introduction to personal computer operating systems including installation, configuration, file management, memory and storage management, control of peripheral devices, and use of utilities.  Basic computer skills are required.

ITSC 1425 Personal Computer Hardware (4-3-1)
Current personal computer hardware including assembly, upgrading, setup, configuration and troubleshooting.

 

Spring Semester 1st Year (2 courses / 7 credits)  

ITCC 1401 Cisco Exploration 1 – Network Fundamentals (4-3-2)
A course introducing the architecture, structure, functions, components, and models of the Internet.  Describes the use of OSI and TCP layered models to examine the nature and roles of protocols and services at the applications, network, data link, and physical layers.  Covers the principles and structure of IP addressing and the fundamentals of Ethernet concepts, media, and operations.  Build simple LAN topologies by applying basic principles of cabling; perform basic configurations of network devices, including routers and switches; and implementing IP addressing schemes.  Basic computer skills are required.

ITSY 1342 Information Technology Security (3-3-1) 
Instruction in security for network hardware, software , and data, including physical security; backup procedures; relevant tools; encryption; and protection from viruses.  

 

Summer Semester 1st Year (1 course / 3 credits)  

ITSY 2386 Internship – Computer and Information Systems Security (3-0-16)
A work-based learning experience that enables the student to apply specialized occupational theory, skills and concepts.  A learning plan is developed by the college and the employer.

First Year Total Program of Studies:  5 courses and 17 credits hours.  

 

Fall Semester 2nd Year (2 courses / 7 credits)  

ITSC 1307 Unix Operating System I (3-3-1)
A study of the UNIX operating system including multi-user concepts, terminal emulation, use of system editor, basic UNIXX commands, and writing script files.  Includes introductory system management concepts.

ITCC 1404 Cisco Exploration 2 – Routing Protocols and Concepts (4-3-2) Prerequisites:  ITCC 1401 or concurrent enrollment
This course describes the architecture, components, and operation of routers, and explains the principles of routing and routing protocols.  Students analyze, configure, verify, and troubleshoot the primary routing protocols RIPv1, RIPv2, EIGRP, and OSPF.  Recognize and correct common routing issues and problems. Model and analyze routing processes.

 

Spring Semester 2nd Year (2 courses / 8 credits)  

ITCC 2408 Cisco Exploration 3 – LAN Switching and Wireless(4-3-2)
This course helps students develop an in-depth understanding of how switches operate and are implemented in the LAN environment for small and large networks.  Detailed explanations of LAN switch operations, VLAN implementation, Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol (RSTP), VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP), Inter-VLAN routing, and wirless network operations.  Analyze, configure, verify, and troubleshoot VLANs, RSTP, VTP, and wireless networks.  Campus network design and Layer 3 switching concepts are introduced. 

ITCC 2410 Cisco Exploration 4 – Accessing the WAN (4-3-2) Prerequisites:  ITCC 1401, 1404, and 2408(or concurrent)
This course explains the principles of traffic control lists (ACLs) and provides an overview of the services and protocols at the data link layer for wide-area access.  Describes user access technologies and devices and discover how to implement and configure Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE), DSL, and Frame Relay.  WAN security concepts, tunneling, and VPN basics are introduced.  Discuss the special network services required by converged applications and an introduction to quality of service (QoS). 

Second Year Total Program of Studies:  4 courses and 15 credits hours.  

Two Year Program of Studies:  9 courses and 33 credits hours.  

 

Did You Know?

San Antonio is #2 in the nation for information  assurance, behind only Washington, D.C.

(Source: Computerworld Magazine)