M&IS 44095 Fall 2008 Howard

This is a three semester-hour credit-for-exam course designed to help you pass at least one Microsoft or other vendor's professional certification exam. You may choose the exam you wish to take, and the course will provide you with a supported self-study opportunity to prepare for the exam. The test you choose to take need not necessarily be a Microsoft exam. If you have not already done so, please read the introductory material by clicking here.

CONCEPT: This is a supported self-study credit-for-exam workshop. If you pass a certification exam during the period of the course, you'll be awarded an "A" or an "A-" (see below) and three credit hours. (You can quit coming as soon as you pass an exam, even if it is the first week!) You'll receive guidance on selecting which is the most appropriate Microsoft or other vendor's certification exam for you to take, will be guided in selecting study materials, and may then be grouped with other people who are preparing for that same exam. Class time will be devoted almost entirely to supervised group study. I'll be available for coaching. (I have multiple Microsoft certifications). You should have taken "Small Systems Technology" in order to succeed in this workshop if you choose to take a networking exam, but it can be done successfully if you have good study skills.

PREREQUISITES: M&IS 24060 ("Systems Analysis I"), M&IS 24070 ("Principles of Systems Development"), Junior/Senior standing. To do well, you need to have a fundamental understanding of Windows, and very good study habits.

COURSE MATERIALS: There are 7 of us in the course, and each person will select a Microsoft or other exam for which to study. Click on this overview link for a one-page graphic summary of the Microsoft exams and certifications from which you can choose. Click here for the list of suggested materials. After you have selected your "target" exam, you will need to buy the Visual CertExam Manager software for $24, which makes it possible to use a large number of free practice tests from http://www.examcollection.com . Also, you'll might also want to go to a commercial bookstore and buy the materials appropriate to your particular exam.

TEST FEES: You will be taking the certification exam at a Thompson Prometric Learning Center. KSU is not authorized to administer these exams. There is a $125 fee for each test you take, whether you pass or fail. Kent's Center for Information Systems is offering to reimburse certification exam fees for the first three full time students who pass an exam and apply for this benefit. 

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR: I'm very responsive to e-mail -- ghoward@kent.edu . Don't hesitate to call me at home if you need something in a hurry. 330.628.5707

ATTENDANCE: 

(Classes will not meet on any Tuesday/Thursday dates not shown in the table.)

TEXT: Varies -- we'll discuss in class on the first day. If you have not yet done so, click here for text suggestions.

WHY MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION ? There is high demand in the employment marketplace for people who possess formal industry skills certifications. Read the IDC White Paper on benefits of certification. You earn certifications by passing a test or a series of tests that prove the depth of your conceptual and practical knowledge. The most important of these are the two main certifications available from Microsoft: the MCTS ("Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist") and the MCITP ("Microsoft Certified IT Professional.") Passing even only one of the exams gives you an edge in the job market and earns you MCTS or MCP status. 

DELIVERABLES: There are no papers, projects, homeworks, or tests except for the certification exam itself.

GRADING:

REGISTERING FOR THE EXAM: You can register on-line at http://www.prometric.com, but they require that you first establish a web account with them. The process is clunky, but be patient and you will get through it. It is sometimes faster to phone the Prometric registration hotline at 800.755.3926. You'll have to provide a credit card number to pay for the exam at the time of registration. Register at least a week in advance of your test date to reduce the chance that you will get closed out. 

UNIVERSITY BOILERPLATE

The Following Policies apply to everyone in this course.  

A.   Students attending the course who do not have the proper prerequisites risk being deregistered from the course.  

B.   You have responsibility to ensure they are properly enrolled in courses. You are advised to review your official course schedule (using Web for Students) to ensure you are properly enrolled in this course and section. Should you find an error in your course schedule, you have until [date will be provided soon] to correct the error with your advising office. If registration errors are not corrected by this date and you continue to attend and participate in courses for which you are not officially enrolled, you are advised now that you will not receive a grade at the conclusion of the semester for any course in which you are not properly registered.

C.   Academic honesty: Cheating means to misrepresent the source, nature, or other conditions of your academic work (e.g., tests, papers, projects, assignments) so as to get undeserved credit.   In addition, it is considered to be cheating when one cooperates with another in any such misrepresentation.  The use of the intellectual property of others without giving them appropriate credit is a serious academic offense.  It is the University's policy that cheating or plagiarism result in receiving a failing grade for the work or course.  Repeat offenses may result in dismissal from the University.

D.   Withdrawal: For Fall 2008, the course withdrawal deadline is November 1. Withdrawal before the deadline results in a "W" on the official transcript; after the deadline a grade must be calculated and reported.  

E.   Students with Disabilities: University policy 3342-3-18 requires that students with disabilities be provided reasonable accommodations to ensure their equal access equal access course content.  If you have documented disability and require accommodations, please contact the instructor at the beginning of the semester to make arrangements for necessary classroom adjustments.  Please note, you must first verify your eligibility for these through the Student Disability Services (contact 330-672-3391 or visit www.registrars.kent.edu/disability for more information on registration procedures).