Degree programs offer ‘value-added’ certification opportunities

Students who seek an associate’s degree alone to mark the end of their community college education might be missing out on an extra benefit.

Well-recognized national certifications and professional certificates are part of what community college leaders point to as the “value-added aspect” of today’s two-year college education.

Certification indicates that the student is qualified in an advanced technical field, often related to computer technology, and the certification can boost the student’s resume when it comes time to enter the work force.

Pellissippi State offers the chance to earn national professional certification, either in a classroom setting or online, while also pursuing an Associate of Applied Science degree.

Many students are taking advantage of the chance to obtain certification when they are working toward their degree, says Cynthia Arnold, associate professor of Computer Science and Information Technology.

An example of recent additions to the certification lineup is Certified Internet Web training, which is offered as part of Web Technology courses and the Computer Science and Information Technology program.

In Web Technology, CIW courses are part of the associate’s degree requirements in the Media Technologies program. The courses prepare students to succeed on CIW exams, which then can lead to the CIW Site Designer certification.

In CSIT, the CIW course work prepares students to succeed on exams that lead to CIW Master Enterprise Developer certification.

To obtain a national Certified Internet Web professional certification, students must pass the CIW Foundations course, which is also offered through the Web Technology curriculum.

Among other computer technology certifications for which Pellissippi State has training classes are those for manufacturers’ software and hardware applications, such as Microsoft, Novell, Sun Microsystems, and various other hardware programs, such as A+ and Network+.

Students taking such courses can receive college credit, and if they pass the exam, they receive national certification concurrently with earning a degree.

“That’s an important line on their resume that says the students know what they are doing,” Arnold said. “These are nationally normed exams that measure proficiency, compared to other students nationally.

“A student can leave here with a two-year degree, at least one certification or certificate, and job experience through an internship. That’s a lot or credentials for just two years,” she said.

Students can work on the highly sought-after national certifications that Pellissippi State offers at a fraction of the cost of commercial certificate study programs, Arnold says.

Some certification examinations, mainly in Web Technology, are available as part of the Web Technology curriculum, while other exams in Computer Science and Information Technology are available for additional costs.

Jerry Parsons, a vice president at Science Applications International Corp. in Oak Ridge, says certification is beneficial because it provides proof of technical skills and knowledge.

“In general, I do look for certifications, and in fact, candidates without certifications are usually assumed to be entry level,” he said.

The College also offers a wide variety of certificates not tied in to degree programs, although credits from certificate programs often can be applied toward an associate’s degree.

Pellissippi State has three technical certificate programs for Local Area Network Operations and Management, Photography and Supervision and more than 30 institutional certificate programs in such fields as banking, manufacturing automation, industrial maintenance and travel and tourism.

“Some are designed specifically for working students who want to upgrade their skills or gain additional certification in a particular area,” said Michael Hudson, director of Certificate Programs at Pellissippi State. “Certificates also can help those already in the workforce enhance their job skills and pave the way for career advancement.”

"Inside Pellissippi" is a bi-monthly electronic publication produced by the Community Relations Office for the faculty and staff of Pellissippi State Technical Community College, 10915 Hardin Valley Road, P.O. Box 22990, Knoxville, Tennessee 37933-0990. All suggestions and comments should be sent to Julia Wood (jwood@pstcc.edu).

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