VGCC introduces Computer Technology Integration program


From left, VGCC Computer Education instructor Yolanda Yoder oversees students, including Alberto Ortiz of Henderson, B.K. Hall of Oxford, and Damian Maldonado of Henderson, in a computer lab on the college’s Main Campus. (VGCC photo)

From left, VGCC Computer Education instructor Yolanda Yoder oversees students, including Alberto Ortiz of Henderson, B.K. Hall of Oxford, and Damian Maldonado of Henderson, in a computer lab on the college’s Main Campus. (VGCC photo)

Vance-Granville Community College will offer a new, more flexible format for preparing students for information technology careers when the spring 2014 semester begins on Jan. 13. A new program called Computer Technology Integration serves as an umbrella that includes three degree tracks.

Students will choose from the CTI – IT Support track, which will prepare them for job placement in technical support, help desk, and administrative positions, with a focus on office software applications; the CTI – Networking and Security Technologies track, which offers training for positions involved in setting up, maintaining and supporting computer networks while learning to protect systems and identify security threats; or the CTI – Web Design and Support track, which focuses on the various web development tools used to build effective and secure websites and mobile apps.

“Under the new Computer Technology Integration program, all students start off with the same core courses, and then they can pick the specialty that suits their career goals,” said Spring Tucker, chair of VGCC’s Business Technologies department. “The I.T. world is changing rapidly, and this new program allows us to change with it, so that our graduates will be competitive in the job market.”

Course work includes development of a student’s ability to communicate and solve technical issues related to information support and services, interactive media, network systems, programming and software development, and other emerging technologies based on the selected area of study.

Graduates from any of the CTI tracks should qualify for employment in entry-level positions with businesses, educational systems, and governmental agencies which rely on computer systems to design and manage information. The program will incorporate the competencies of industry-recognized certification exams. Students will complete “capstone projects” as part of their degrees and will also be encouraged to gain real-world experience through internships, or “co-ops.”

Orientation and advising of new students will take place through November and December. For more information on all VGCC Computer Education offerings, call Spring Tucker at (252) 738-3292.