IT 4600: Senior Capstone

Spring 2023 Syllabus

Course Description

During this capstone course students will achive several certifications.

The class is VERY much self-directed. You will choose what you are going to focus on and HOW you are going to achieve it. Your instructor is always willing to meet with you to help with study ideas and how to achieve your goals (in this case, a certificate)

Prerequisites: Advanced standing. The semester you plan on graduating.

Course fee: The fee for this course is $20.00. This will be use to pay for a lab assistant and replace aging hardware.

Course Time: MWF 10:00am - 10:50am in SCC 107

Final Exam: You will take your certification exam(s). All results need to be in no later than Apr 28.

Professor: Dr Joe Francom

Email: joe.francom at utahtech dot edu
Phone: 435-652-7732 (note: email preferred)
Office: NBURNS 237
Office Hours: See Below

Joe’s Spring 2024 Schedule

Days	Time
MWF	8am - 8:50 - IT4600
MWF	9am - 9:50 - IT3110
MWF	10am - 10:50 - Office
MWF	11am - 11:50 - Office
MW	12pm - 2:00 - office hours by appointment
TR	Limited zoom office hours by appointment only

Zoom is the preferred method of office hours. See canvas for the link.

Program learning outcomes

The learning outcomes for the IT program are as follows:

    1. Administer computing resources to support organizational needs, including networks, operating systems, and security configurations.
    2. Create repeatable and automated infrastructure solutions. 
    3. Identify and resolve technical problems using troubleshooting techniques.
    4. Explain ethical and legal issues impacting information technology.

Course Learning Outcomes

Each of the CLO’s maps to a PLO above (see the number in parentheses)

    1. Prepare for and pass industry-level certifications (PLO 1,3)

Resources

There is no required text for this course. However, each student will need to research information specific to individual certifications. Should you need any assistance, the instructor is willing and eager to meet with you. Do not silently fail. Get help.

Course Web Site

This course has an accompanying website. You are responsible for announcements, the schedule, and other resources posted on the website. Assignments and grades will be managed using Canvas, which requires a valid Utah Tech username and password.

Assignments and Exams

You need to complete some industry certifications as given on the certification list. You must obtain pre-approval from the instructor before persuing the certifications.

Some course participation will be required. There will be things like:

pluralsight channel creation
mock interviews
resume creation
career center visit
job application
advisor visit
other things

Grading

Your grade will largely be determined based on the number of certs that you achieve. Here is the grading breakdown:

Cert1 = 65% of your grade. This certification must be obtained during this semester, and cannot be a certification for another course.
Cert2 = 15%. This can be another cert that you have or that you get during the semester.
Cert3 = 10%. This can be another cert that you have or that you get during the semester.
Tasks = 10%. Tasks to be completed throughout the semester.

Note: To use previously attained certificates, they must be approved by the instructor and must not expire within 6 months of the course end date. All certs must be approved by the instructor. You cannot pass the class unless you obtain one approved certification during this course.

Tasks will be available on the Canvas webpage for the course.

Course Policies

Absences

Students are responsible for material covered and announcements made in class. School-related absences may be made up only if prior arrangements are made. The class schedule presented is approximate. The instructor reserves the right to modify the schedule according to class needs. Changes will be announced in class and posted to the website. Exams and quizzes cannot be made up unless arrangements are made prior to the scheduled time.

Time

Courses should require about 45 hours of work per credit hour of class. This class will require about 135 hours of work on the part of the student to achieve a passing grade, which is approximately 9 hours per week. If you do not have the time to spend on this course, you should probably rethink your schedule.

Late work

Assignments that are turned in by the due date and that are done correctly will receive full points.

Late assignments can be turned in until the exam is given which covers the assignment. You may receive a reduced score on the late assignment.

Assignments will not be accepted after an exam has been given that relates to those earlier assignments.

Any exceptions must be discussed with the instructor. Computer failure does not qualify as an excuse for late work.

Cheating and Collaboration

It is ok to talk to each other and to get help from each other, but in the end, everything should be your own. You should NOT copy/paste. You should know what cheating is. Cheating can be penalized with an ‘F’ on the assignment, and ‘F’ in the course, and/or appropriate annotation on campus-wide student records.

Important Dates Spring 2023

    Jan 9 - Date classes begin
    Jan 13 - Last day to add without instructor permission
    Jan 20 - Last day for refund of 100% tuition and fees
    Jan 30 - Pell Grant census date
    Jan 30 - Last day for refund of 50% tuition and fees
    Feb 6 - Last day to add or audit classes with instructor permission
    Mar 1 - Midterm grades posted
    Mar 3 - Last day to drop an individual class
    Apr 10 - Last day for complete withdrawal from all classes
    Apr 26 - Last day of classes
    Apr 28 - May 4 - Final Exam dates
    May 9 - Final grades posted

Check the academic calendar for exact dates.

Disability Statement

DSU strive to make learning materials and experiences accessible for all students so If you are a student with a medical, psychological, or learning disability or anticipate physical or academic barriers based on disability, you are welcome to let me know so we can discuss options. Students with documented disabilities are required to contact the Disability Resource Center located in the North Plaza Building, Next to the Testing Center (435-652-7516) to explore eligibility process and reasonable accommodations related to disability.

Title IX Statement

DSU seeks to provide an environment that is free of bias, discrimination, and harassment. If you have been the victim of sexual harassment/misconduct/assault we encourage you to report this to the college’s Title IX Director, Cindy Cole, (435) 652-7731, cindy.cole@dixie.edu. If you report to a faculty member, she or he must notify the Title IX Director about the basic facts of the incident.

Email Disclaimer

You are required to frequently check your campus email account. Important class and university information will be sent to your campus email account, including Utah Tech bills, financial aid/scholarship notices, notices of canceled classes, reminders of important dates and deadlines, and other information critical to your success at Utah Tech and in your courses. To access your campus email account, visit mail.utahtech.edu. Your username is your Digital ID (e.g. D00111111) If you have forgotten your PIN, visit my.utahtech.edu and click the “Forgot Pin” button.

College Policies

Policy for absences related to college functions

Disability Resource Center

Last Updated 01/09/2023