Course Descriptions

The Academy of Information Technology curriculum is developed with leading representatives from industry and education to ensure that courses are both current and relevant.  By integrating necessary workplace skills in the classroom, students come to understand the connection between academic learning and career success.

In 2006 and 2007, NAF will be redeveloping curriculum for this Academy.  New Scopes and Sequences will be completed in 2006, and new curriculum will begin to be developed in 2007. 

The Academy of Information Technology course list appears below.  Please refer to the AOIT Course Scope for a more complete outline of the Academy program of study.

Strategies for Success with Computer Applications
This is a full-year course combining NAF Strategies for Success with computer applications. The computer applications segment of the course covers the following topics: presentation, word processing, spreadsheet, E-mail, browser, and desktop publishing.

Introduction to Information Technology
In this course the student is presented with the basic concepts of Information Technology: available careers as well as the impact of Information Technology on the world, people and industry.

Introduction to the Internet
This course presents the basics of Web page design, focusing on learning about and writing in HTML and increasing Web page performance. Additional topics include determining appropriate image formats and working with plug-ins.

Programming I
In this course students learn how to describe, analyze and solve programming problems, paying attention to details. These skills will be acquired while learning the syntax of the Scheme programming language. It is important to note here, however that learning programming skills, not this specific computer language, will be the main course objective.

Digital Networks
Basic concepts of functionally connecting multiple computing devices are addressed in this course. Physical connections as well as logical connections are presented. Concepts such as bandwidth, access time, data rate, error detection and correction, as well as other appropriate topics are covered.

Systems Support and Maintenance
This course introduces students to the computer's inner workings. Students learn how to troubleshoot and repair various hardware, software, and configuration problems. Students also learn how to install basic computer components as well as to install and configure software ranging from operating systems to applications.

Digital Media
In this course students study appropriate digital media and other topics including audio, video, graphics, text, and animation tools. Concepts such as color and presentation are also addressed.

Programming II
This course carries students into more advanced programming concepts such as object oriented programming and more complex data structures. The students will also work on the concept of code reuse by working on already created code that might not be correctly documented or documented or all.

Advanced Web Tools
In this course, students are introduced to more advanced Web topics such as Java, Web-scripting, Web server administration, and the various multimedia tools and concepts available. Tool sets and concepts such as plug-ins are covered.

Databases
In this course, students are introduced to the basic concepts of relational database engines and the tools to use them. Database concepts of tables, rows, indexes, constraints, triggers, SQL syntax, and storage are among the concepts presented. The importance of data relationships is also addressed.

AOIT Courses To be Developed in 2007:

Linux

3D Graphics

 

Paid Internship 
Paid IT-related internship during the summer between junior and senior year.

College-Level Information Technology-Related Course (One semester required)
Offered during senior year, preferably at a four-year institution and taught by a college professor.  (Preferably fall semester of senior year). Certification programs such as CCNA or Oracle may fall in this category.