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Mission
To positively impact
student lives through leadership, teaching, counseling, advising and
curriculum development
CNS Department Profile
If you want a quick and
dirty statement about what the CNS department it would be this:
"We provide
hands-on learning in a short period of time that helps to prepare
you for an exciting career in a fast paced field. You will learn
how to set up and manage computer networks and systems and get a
good paying job after graduation."
On a more expanded note.
Our department focuses
on teaching computer networking and network operating systems (NOS)
Administration. Many people ask me about our disciplines that we
teach here and I normally explain it as follows:
"A stand-alone
computer (like many of us have at home) has a software operating
environment installed that allows many applications to run on the PC
or Mac. This operating environment is called a desktop operating
system. In a Local Area Network (LAN) environment, the software glue
that allows the various desktop operating systems to talk to each
other is the network operating system or NOS. The NOS is installed
on a special computer called a "server". Sometimes this software is
called Server Software but most often it is called a "NOS". The NOS
enables the Administrator to setup set up user accounts with various
permissions or "rights" assigned to each group and/or user. Here in
the CNS Department we teach Microsoft 2003 Server, Sun Solaris 10,
and Novell Suse (Linux) 10.x for our network operating systems (NOS).
This is "Systems Administration". Computer Network Administration
deals with the hardware connecting the individual computer
motherboard to other computers on the same network, the physical
media interconnecting the computers, the devices (switches and
routers that interconnect the various segments or networks and the
configuration and management of the internetwork operating systems (IOS)
that enables the various switches and routers. In the networking
classes we focus on aspects of the design, addressing, installation
and management of the Networks as opposed to the Systems or NOS."
The CNS department is
recognized as a
Microsoft Solution Provider by Microsoft Corporation. To
that end, everyone of our students are eligible to try out
Microsoft’s latest production software through our
Microsoft MSDNAA agreement. All of our students will learn enough
about Microsoft Windows XP to support it and take their Microsoft
Certified Professional (MCP) for Windows XP. Depending
on the program a student selects they could complete enough training
to test for their Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. We are a
Regional Cisco Networking Academy (my program) teaching TSTC
students and instructors from our various Local Cisco Networking
Academies. Through the academy, our students should be ready to
take the Cisco 640-801/802 exam to earn their certifications as a Cisco
Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and passing the CompTIA Network+
exam. As a
Sun Microsystems Academic Education Center we offer an
Associate degree in UNIX administration leading toward certification
as both a Sun Certified Systems Administrator (SCSA) and as a Sun
Certified Network Administrator (SCNA) in addition to passing the
CompTIA Linux + exam. Students in the CNS AAS will have the
opportunity to prepare for the Certified Novell Administrator exam
through the two courses in our
Novell Education Academic Partner program.
We are privileged
to have an incredible team of faculty members. Our faculty members
have years in experience in private companies such as
Dell Computers,
Lockheed-Martin Aerospace,
KPMG Consulting,
Spenco Medical,
Texas Farm Bureau,
Raytheon,
L3 Communications,
AST Computer,
CORD,
Northrup-Grumman, Sprint-ParaNet,
Central Freight Lines,
KBTX TV- Brazos Broadcasting,
Education Service Center Region 12, and the
Dwyer Group. Faculty experience from the public sector side
includes the United States Military, the Texas Department of Human
Services, as well as various schools and churches. Faculty teaching
experience includes experience in the K-12 arena (public and
private) as well as at the following colleges and universities:
University of Maryland, University of Kansas, Texas Women's
University, McLennan Community College, Baylor University, Penn
State University and Texas A&M University. Most of us perform
outside consulting work to stay current in our fields/disciplines.
When you couple our industry experience, formal education, and our
attitude to build toward student success, you have a powerful,
life-changing, educational experience.
Frequently I'm asked about
what we teach in our department. So I thought I'd add some FAQs to let
you know what we do and why we do it so well.
1) Why the long name for
the CNS department? Computer Systems Administration deals with the installation and
administration of Network Operating Systems (NOS), while Network
Administration, Engineering, Management is the design, installation
and administration of computer networking systems including the
cabling or installation of the media, all digital and analog
signaling devices attached to computers, and specialized
computers that facilitate electronic communications such as routers,
switches, and access points.
2) What is
the CNS advantage?
Our faculty all have industry experience as well as their
education, we live in culture of continuous learning. Our faculty
culture is one of continuing improvement in our technical knowledge
but in how we teach. An old boss of mine said you are either
improving and growing or you are dying - here in the CNS program the
faculty have a culture where it is exciting to come to work in the
morning! On the average we expect spending two weeks a year
traveling to upgrade our existing skills or learn new and emerging
technologies. Most of us also consult to keep our fingers on the
pulse of our industry.
3) What is the placement
rate of CNS graduates? Over the last three to four semesters we have
placed every single graduate who was employable. So what is
employable? Keep in mind, anyone who shows up to an interview unprepared
or with an attitude is basically unemployable irregardless of their
education. We basically have more jobs than we have graduates.
Until Summer 2004 the job outlook was not very good. Now there are
almost as many IT workers in this country as we had before the IT bust
in mid 2000. Our graduates are attracting the attention of four year
universities. We have several articulation agreements with
departments at four year universities.
4)
Who are some of the CNS Learning Partners?
Click on the icon below
Contact Information
- Telephone: 254-867-4831 ext 3090
- FAX:
254-867-3231
Tom Dean's CNS Website 
