Computer Support Specialist

The Computer Support Specialist programme is offered via traditional delivery and distance education delivery. It prepares graduates for a career providing technical assistance, support, and advice to computer users, with training in troubleshooting computer software and hardware problems. The programme includes instruction in computer concepts, information systems, networking, operating systems, computer hardware, the Internet, software applications, help desk concepts and problem solving, and principles of customer service.

Students train on computer equipment and simulated software to execute support tasks, install and set up software and hardware, and prepare for certification exams; classrooms provide access to computer hardware and software for demonstration and practical application. A PC (Windows 10/11) or Mac laptop with 8GB RAM, 512GB storage and an Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 processor is required.

The programme includes 280 hours of hands-on lab work, live virtual courses, network, security and programming foundations training, nine career skill badges, and preparation for five career certifications. Exam fees for CompTIA A+, TestOut PC Pro, TestOut Network Pro and TestOut IT Fundamentals Pro are included in tuition if taken within three months of completion; CompTIA ITF+ is available at additional cost.

Southern Careers Institute was founded in 1960 and received its initial accreditation from the Council on Occupational Education in 1991. It trains students at eight Texas campuses and online, and its campuses are authorized testing sites for the National Healthcareer Association and Certiport. Students earn skill badges as they progress, and SCI Connect, the school’s career services portal, lets students build a profile with their resume, skill badges and videos of them performing job tasks for employers who post jobs there.

Before you start. Prior to the start date, you must visit the school and tour the campus (if you are enrolling in a programme with on-campus classes) and complete an interview with a licensed representative in the Admissions department.

Age and education. You must be at least 16 years of age. An applicant who is under 18 at the time of admission must provide proof of a high school diploma or GED and have written permission from a parent or legal guardian, who co-signs the enrollment agreement. You must provide verifiable official documentation of completion of secondary education within 21 calendar days of starting school: a high school diploma or transcript showing the graduation date, a home school transcript, a recognised high school equivalency certificate, an associate degree from an institution accredited by an agency recognised by the US Department of Education, or a foreign credential evaluated by a NACES member or a TEA-listed evaluation service.

Criminal history. Prospective students must provide criminal history information. Anyone with a convicted or pending felony violent crime, a convicted or pending serious felony drug crime, any sex offense conviction or pending felony sexual case, or who is a registered sex offender is not eligible for enrollment in any programme. SCI reserves the right to conduct criminal background checks.

English. SCI does not provide ESL instruction; classes are taught in English. Students whose primary language is not English must document English proficiency, for example graduation from an English-speaking secondary institution, a TOEFL iBT score of 61, an IELTS level of 6, or a grade of C in an intermediate ESL course.

SCI admits students without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, disability, or any other factor prohibited by law.

Technology requirements. To be admitted to a programme that includes virtual or online learning, you must have regular, daily access to a computer (minimum a Windows 10 or newer PC/laptop or a MacBook with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage and a Core i5 processor) with speakers, a microphone and a webcam; regular, daily broadband or 3G/4G/LTE internet access; the ability to use email, a web browser and the learning management system; and word processing software such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.

Format. The Computer Support Specialist schedule has synchronous lectures two days each week, with asynchronous work in the learning management system for the remainder of the schedule. The estimated completion time is 27 weeks for 720 clock hours.

Modules. SCI programmes run in three-week modules scheduled continuously; the externship module is six weeks. Students registered for distance-education courses attend an online orientation and gain access to their courses after passing it; online courses may combine live virtual sessions with asynchronous work, and asynchronous attendance is measured by completing the defined activity benchmark.

Tuition: $13,950.00; mandatory fees: $0.00; total: $13,950.00.

Graduates may find entry-level employment as a help desk coordinator, help desk specialist, PC technician, desktop support technician, software trainer, software installer, computer applications specialist, or computer support specialist.

Computer Support Specialists can work in various settings, including businesses, government agencies, schools, and healthcare facilities, diagnosing and resolving technical issues related to software, hardware, or network systems.

Career services. Career Services are available to active students and graduates. Staff strive to meet every student before graduation for an exit interview that includes a customised job-search profile, an entry-level resume and a mock interview; they provide resume and interview help and work with local employers to match their needs with graduates’ skills. SCI does not guarantee employment or a specific starting salary.

Orientation. Before beginning their programmes, all new students attend an orientation session to hear about the campus and the learning experience and to meet the administrative staff, faculty and other students. Campus department directors explain the student support available and clarify students’ responsibilities and expectations. Students registered for distance-education courses also attend an online orientation that introduces the learning platform and the standards for postings, plagiarism, online etiquette and attendance.

Classes. SCI programmes run in three-week modules scheduled continuously (the AAS in Nursing runs in 15-week terms), and the externship module, where a programme has one, is six weeks. Learning new material may require at least five additional outside hours for every 20 hours spent in lecture or laboratory. To graduate you must complete all courses within the maximum time frame and earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0; graduation ceremonies are typically held twice a year.

Support. Student services include tutoring, attendance advising and academic advising, and SCI gives referrals to community resources for housing, childcare, employment, transportation, mental health services and alcohol and drug counselling. SCI does not provide housing. Students receive skill badges to mark milestones and help market their skills.