HCC In The News...

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT ANSON SMITH AT 203-332-5229.

TO EDITORS: IF YOU USE THIS ARTICLE, PLEASE CONSIDER RUNNING IT UNDER THE FOLLOWING BYLINE. THE WRITER IS A JOURNALISM STUDENT/INTERN AT HOUSATONIC COMMUNITY COLLEGE. NO COMPENSATION IS EXPECTED.

HCC COMPUTER DEGREE PROGRAM BLENDS PRACTICAL WITH ACADEMIC

By Mike Russo

BRIDGEPORT – Housatonic Community College’s Computer Information Systems Associate Degree program offers students the best of both worlds.

“This two-year program offers a unique blend of the practical and the academic,” noted HCC computer science professor, Paul Danzer. “It includes technical courses that prepare students for jobs in the field, as well as academic courses that can serve as the foundation for a four-year degree,” he said.

Those students that continue towards a four-year degree will find themselves in a booming job market after graduation. The demand for network and computer systems administrators’ expected to increase by 57.8%. On the average those jobs pay $64,011 a year.

In addition to the full two-year degree program, Housatonic offers a number of certificate programs, consisting of a set of four or five courses. “Students completing this program are able to demonstrate their proficiency in PC hardware technology to prospective employers,” said Professor Danzer, who coordinates the PC Technology Certificate program.  

Because of the constant changes in computer technology, the curriculum is adapted to suit the immediate and future needs of the industry. “PC technology changes on a daily basis, and we update our courses to keep up with these changes,” said Danzer. “We prepare our students for both the PC’s on their desks now, and the PC’s we expect they will be using in the years to come.” 

As an example, this fall for the first time Housatonic is offering an operating systems course based on Linux. “Today over 60% of the WEB pages on line are running on a Linux machine,” said Professor Paul Keenan, who is conducting the course. “In addition many small businesses and offices are using Linux as a lower-cost alternative to Windows.”

The associate degree program allows students to concentrate in the areas that most interest them: computer hardware, programming, web page technology, networking, or applications. Each is stepping stone to either a career-entry position, or continuation with a four-year degree.

While earning an associates degree, a student can also earn a certificate that will indicate proficiency in a specialty ?– tools that help many students obtain temporary or part-time jobs while they continue their education.

“One course might help you to do a better job in using and maintaining your office, home or business,” said Anson Smith, HCC spokesman. “We have something for everyone,” he said. “Often students begin with one course, take a few more, earn a certificate and then continue on to complete the two-year Associates Degree - which may be in addition to what ever other degrees they may have.”

For more information on PC hardware courses, you can call professor Danzer directly at 203-332-5127 or e-mail at pdanzer@hcc.commnet.edu.  The Linux course can be discussed directly with Professor Paul Keenan at 203-332-5129 or e-mail at pkeenen@hcc.commnet.edu. The school’s web site is http://www.hcc.commnet.edu, and main information number is 203-332-5000.

Open registration dates for the fall semester are August 3, 22, and 24, from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; August 4 and 23, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.; and August  25, 10 a.m. to noon. Registration for senior citizens and high school partnership students is August 25 from 1:30p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The first day of fall semester classes is August 26.

Mike Russo of Monroe is a journalism intern at Housatonic Community College.