Program Title – Computer Engineering Technician
-
Credential Earned
Ontario College DiplomaDelivery
Full TimeProgram Length
4 SemestersProgram Status
Open -
Bring Your Own Device
The BYOD initiative allows you to have access to tools and resources. Review BYOD information prior to the start of your program to ensure you have a system that meets requirements.
- Tuition and Fees Second Career
Program Codes
T100 (PC) Timmins Campus
T103 (KL) Kirkland Lake Campus
T100S (PC) Spring Intake – Timmins Campus
January 2021 Intake
T100W (PC) – Timmins Campus
Program Description
Computers and network systems are everywhere: in industry, business, vehicles, law enforcement, laboratories and homes. Computer engineering technicians are needed to support them! This program addresses many applications for computers including business analysis, networking and system security. Computer Engineering Technicians maintain software, systems and networks to improve life for society. This program prepares students to write exams for certifications such as Cisco (CCNA), CCNA Security, Networks +, A+ Certification, Server+ and Linux + Certification.
Career Opportunities
Northern College graduates are able to develop and maintain networks, systems and programs for both business and industry. Graduates can expect to find employment in the following fields/positions:
• Programmer / Analyst
• System / Network Administrator
• Telecommunications
• Municipalities
• Boards/organizations
Transfer Agreements
Download the complete Articulation Agreement list for Universities and Colleges (PDF, 113KB). You can also visit OnTransfer. This site provides information and resources to help students and potential students find their way through Ontario’s post-secondary system.
Contact Information
Hal Akulick
Tel: 705-235-3211 ext. 1-2144
Email: akulickh@northern.on.ca
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Grade 12 English (C, U)
Grade 12 Math (C, U)
Or equivalent
Or mature student status (an applicant who does not have a high school diploma or equivalent, and will have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program). Mature students must undergo academic testing prior to admission into a program. Call the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 for more details. Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading.
1. English Proficiency, we will require one of the following:
- IELT Academic International English Language Testing System
- a minimum overall score of 6.0 must be achieved with no individual band score under 6.0; however, we will accept one band at 5.5.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Computer-based overall minimum score of 79
- PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic – Graduate Diploma: 58+
NOTE: If your country of citizenship has English as its official language, we may accept alternate proof of English Proficiency
2. Proof of senior high school Diploma/Certificate with an equivalent Grade 12 Mathematics (50% min.)Technical /Science Stream.
****All educational documents must be submitted in English and will be dependant on the country of citizenship. For more information, contact the international admission office directly at INTLapply@northern.on.ca
CM1903 Communications I – Model A
GN1033 Health and Safety
IN1004 Cisco Networking I
IN1044 Introduction to Programming
IN1104 IT Essentials I
MA1100 Mathematics I
Semester 2
CM2903 Communications II – Model A
IN2034 Cisco Networking II
IN2054 Windows Server Administration
IN2343 Intermediate Programming
MA2104 Mathematics II
Semester 3
EE4013 Data Cabling
EL1003 Elective I
GN2133 Law and Ethics
IN3033 Markup Languages
IN3084 Cisco Networking III
IN3094 Linux Server Administration
IN3193 Database Management
Semester 4
IN2004 Systems Security
IN2104 IT Essentials II
IN4023 Virtual Systems Administration
IN4064 Cisco Cyber Ops
IN4074 Internet Programming
IN6003 Systems Analysis
Semester 1
CM1903 Communications I – Model A
Communications I is a practical course designed to help strengthen essential oral and written communication skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of learning methods and communication formats. Emphasis will be placed on the use of appropriate structure, writing conventions, tone and style as well as the enhancement of interpersonal, teamwork and presentation skills. Students will also develop discipline-specific documents, practice proper business etiquette and learn the importance of ethical behaviour and professionalism in the classroom and workplace. Attention to detail is emphasized.
*International students will receive additional language support through the concurrent delivery of CM1933 (Enhanced Comm1) which focuses on the foundational grammar, punctuation and sentence structure skills essential to academic success.
CM1933-Enhanced Communications I
Enhanced Communications I is a practical class designed to help non-native English speakers improve their English skills so they can successfully complete their college program of choice. Through formal lessons and interactive activities, students acquire new vocabulary and apply various grammar concepts. Topics covered in this class include, but are not limited to, punctuation, sentence structure, verbs, function words, and capitalization. Students who require additional help in English will take Enhanced Communications I and Communications I simultaneously. In addition to language support, Enhanced Communications I provides support to those who are struggling with the course content and/or assignments in Communications I.
GN1033 Health and Safety
This course introduces the student to health and safety in their home, in society and within an occupational setting. Students learn about the social and personal benefits of safe work practices and the methods to best prevent accidents or injuries. Students will review the role, right and responsibilities of an individual in today’s health and safety conscious world. Students also learn how to read and interpret the Occupational Act and Regulations.
IN1004 Cisco Networking I
Cisco Networking I is the first course of the Cisco Networking Academy CCNAv7 curriculum titled Introduction to Networks (ITN). Introduction to Networks is one of three courses that are aligned to the CCNA Certification Exam. ITN contains 17 modules, each with a series of topics. In Introduction to Networks, the student will gain a basic understanding of the way networks operate. They will learn about network components and their functions, as well as how a network is structured, and the architectures used to create networks, including the internet. ITN is about more than learning networking concepts. By the end of this course, the student will be able to build local area networks (LANs), configure basic settings on routers and switches, and implement internet protocol (IP). In ITN, every concept that the student learns and skills that they develop will be used in the rest of the CCNA curriculum.
IN1044 Introduction to Programming
This course provides an introduction to programming using Java. The course will focus on core programming concepts that are universal to all modern programming languages. Students will learn to write programs using proper algorithm design, logic, data types, variables, control structures and functions (methods). The goal of the course is to provide a solid foundation of core programming skills that will allow students to further their learning in a variety of development environments
IN1104 IT Essentials I
This course covers the fundamentals of computer hardware, software and advanced concepts such as security, networking, and the responsibilities of an IT professional. Students learn how to assemble and configure a computer, install operating systems and software, and finally troubleshoot hardware and software problems. In addition, chapters on networks and communication skills are included. This course helps students prepare for CompTIA’s A+ certification. Prerequisite: None.
MA1100 Mathematics I
This course covers basic algebra properties, graphing the straight line, basic geometry and trigonometry, and solving a system of equations graphically and algebraically. It also covers vector addition by components and by the cosine and sine laws.
Semester 2
CM2903 Communications II – Model A
Communications 2 is a one-semester course that applies the oral and written communication tools learned in the first semester to specific business/technical applications as required by industry today. The student will enhance writing skills acquired in COMM1 and learn to produce effective documents including business letters, emails, employment documents as well as reports applicable to their field of study. Students will also learn how to plan and participate in meeting situations and participate in mock interviews (as applicable) so that they are prepared to transition into the competitive employment market. Students will continue to learn and apply proper language and grammatical structures and apply editing strategies to business/technical documents through both in-class/online activities and through the usage of the customized Mylab online grammar tool. As with COMM1, the content will be inclusive and reflect the diverse workplace that students will find themselves in in the future.
*International students will receive additional language support through the concurrent delivery of CM2933 (Enhanced Comm2) which continues to focus on the foundational grammar, punctuation and sentence structure skills introduced in CM1933.
CM2933-Enhanced Communications II
Enhanced Communications II is a practical class designed to help non-native English speakers improve their English skills so they can successfully complete their college program of choice. Through formal lessons and interactive activities, students acquire new vocabulary and apply various grammar concepts. Topics covered in this class include, but are not limited to, word choice, sentence fragments, run-on sentences, formal/informal style and figurative language. Students who require additional help in English will take Enhanced Communications II and Communications II simultaneously. In additional to language support, Enhanced Communications II provides support to those who are struggling with the course content and/or assignments in Communications II.
IN2034 Cisco Networking II
Welcome to the Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials (SRWE) course. This is the second course in the CCNA curriculum series. It focuses on switching technologies and router operations that support small-to-medium business networks and includes wireless local area networks (WLAN) and security concepts. In addition to learning, key switching and routing concepts, learners will be able to perform basic network configuration and troubleshooting, identify and mitigate LAN security threats, and configure and secure a basic WLAN.
IN2054 Windows Server Administration
An operating system is an organized collection of programs and data designed to manage the resources of a computer system and provide a base upon which applications can be developed and run. This course is designed to build a foundation in basic server administration. It covers all of the critical Windows Server 2016 features, including the features unique to this operating system. The students will learn how to choose the right server edition for their needs, and learn how to install, configure, customize, manage, and troubleshoot their server.
IN2343 Intermediate Programming
This course covers intermediate level programming concepts using the Java programming language. Using a project-based approach, students will learn and apply Object Oriented Design (OOD) principles in solving computer programming problems.
MA2104 Mathematics II
MA2104 is the second course in the math stream for students in an Engineering Technician / Technology program. The emphasis of this course is on solving equations relating to quadratics, logarithms, exponentials, with sections on factoring, fractional equations, manipulating exponent and radical expressions, and complex numbers, and for some programs studying systems of linear equations and determinants. Applications of the basic concepts, to particular fields of study, will be covered. The second semester Mathematics course is designed to give the student the mathematical tools required to function in his/her special field of study. Students are encouraged to seek help after class hours if problems are encountered in the course. Every effort will be made to identify problem areas to the student, but in the final analysis, it is the responsibility of the student to ask for help. Prerequisite: MA1100 – Mathematics I (with 60%)
Semester 3
EE4013 Data Cabling
The course focuses on cabling issues related to data, voice, video communications and provides an understanding of the industry and its worldwide standards, types of media and cabling, physical and logical networks, as well as signal transmission. Cabling and networking equipment and consumable bundles are used to teach the hands-on portion of the curriculum. This provides the student with a basic understanding of networking and telecommunication cabling, communication standards, and how to properly plan and understand the different uses of technology examples (Power over ethernet, understanding connecting wireless networks, Fiber networking), install and test the data/telecommunication mediums and different types of networking equipment.
EL1003 Elective I
GN2133 Law and Ethics
This course provides a basis for legal and ethical issues of importance to graduates and specifically covers tort law, contract law, legislation regulating business organizations, employment law, and professional liability. The overall objective of this course is to begin preparing the student for professional designations and/or examinations.
IN3033 Markup Languages
This course provides an introduction to markup languages and their use in web publishing. The focus will be on HTML, CSS, and the most current techniques for front-end web development with an emphasis on creating web interfaces that work seamlessly on mobile devices. Students will learn through a combination of research and applied projects, and will apply the current standards in HTML5 and CSS3.
IN3084 Cisco Networking III
The focus of this course is to learn about WANs (wide area networks) along with new technologies for improving the functionality of these networks using virtualization and automation. You will use the skills and knowledge gained from your previous networking courses in order to successfully configure, secure, verify and troubleshoot enterprise network devices. This will be achieved by incorporating your newly acquired knowledge of application programming interfaces and network configuration management and monitoring applications.
IN3094 Linux Server Administration
Demand for Linux technical expertise is growing rapidly in IT departments. Linux is being adopted by many companies for numerous services once provided by other varieties of UNIX and Microsoft Windows operating systems. The course will introduce students to the most common methods, hardware and software used to achieve a useful and secure Linux computer system. This course helps students prepare for CompTIA’s Linux+ certification and the LPIC-1 certification through the study of the configurations used in the set up of Fedora Linux operating system installations.
IN3193 Database Management
This course will present the essential skills for designing and working with relational databases. Students will acquire a solid foundation in Structured Query Language (SQL) by working on a series of existing databases. Techniques for the design and implementation of databases will be presented following the principles of normalization and referential integrity.
Semester 4
IN2004 Systems Security
The course provides an introduction to the core security concepts and skills needed for the installation, troubleshooting, and monitoring of network devices to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and devices. Prerequisite: IN3084 – Cisco Networking III with a minimum passing grade level of “C” – 60%.
IN2104 IT Essentials II
This course provides a foundation of the basic information required for network operating system administration and other network administration tasks. The course is intended for students who want to pursue a career in information technology. The configuration and administration both the Windows Server 2012 and Linux Fedora operating systems is studied. Also, how to troubleshoot operating system issues is practiced. This course helps students prepare for CompTIA’s A+ certification. Prerequisite: IN1104 – IT Essentials I with a minimum passing grade level of “C”.
IN4023 Virtual Systems Administration
This course will teach the students about virtualization as it combines theories and concepts with practical hands-on activities and projects that allows the student to apply the concepts learned to real world scenarios.
This course will provide the student with a working knowledge of the leading virtualization products, including Oracle VirtualBox, VMware Workstation, Microsoft Hyper-V, and VMware vSphere. In addition to learning how to install and use the products, the student will learn how to apply virtualization technology to create virtual data centers that use clusters for high availability, use management software to administer multiple host systems, implement a virtual desktop environment, and leverage cloud computing to build or extend the data center and provide disaster recovery services. By the time they finish this course the student will have a solid base in virtualization concepts and products that you can use to build your IT career.
IN4064 Cisco Cyber Ops
Cisco CyberOps Associate covers knowledge and skills needed to successfully handle the tasks, duties, and responsibilities of an associate-level Security Analyst working in a Security Operations Center (SOC).
IN4074 Internet Programming
This course provides a hands-on introduction to web application development. Students will design and implement a series of projects that reflect the current trends in web applications. Sample projects include social media sites, shopping cart systems, and content management systems. Students will gain experience with web scripting languages and enabling database-driven content.
IN6003 Systems Analysis
This course provides an overall examination of systems analysis as it applies to all phases of the Systems Development life Cycle (SDLC). The actual components of these phases, in theory and in practice, are explored in relation to completing assigned projects. The projects will involve the planning, analysis, & design of a system. The course also introduces some concepts of Critical Thinking & Problem Solving.