IT Degree | South Hills School of Business & Technology

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Information Technology Degree

Earn your AST degree in information technology at our Altoona, Pennsylvania and State College, Pennsylvania, campuses.

Our Information Technology Degree Program At-a-Glance

Earn your specialized degree in just 2 years
Accredited by ACCSC

Licensed by the PA Department of Education, Department of Private Licensed Schools

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What You Need to Know About Our Information Technology AST Degree

Increasingly, so much of what we do evolves around computer and digital information systems, in both large and small businesses alike. Whether it’s network security, database management, network administration or cloud asset management, employers are in need of skilled information technicians who can help protect their digital assets and ensure everyone has the technology they need to work efficiently. At South Hills School of Business & Technology, you can learn the skills you need to become part of the IT field in just two years with our Associate in Specialized Technology Degree in Information Technology.

From classroom theory to practical experience, we bring the real world of IT into our program so that you are exposed to all of the training and technical skills you’ll need in to start your career. Our experienced instructors cover topics like:

Utilizing networking switches and routers to create local area networks
Demonstrating troubleshooting techniques that lead to resolving computer-related problems
Cloud computing and common use cases in information technology
Creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting information from modern database systems
Setting up and maintaining Windows and Linux operation systems and creating automation scripts for them using common scripting languages
Understanding the foundations of modern web-based applications
Protecting networks using common computer security practices

We include a 12-week internship with one of our partner employers as part of your program, so you’ll have the opportunity to put what you’ve learned to work. Previous IT internship locations have included:

UPMC
Sheetz
Local School District IT Departments
Link Computer Corporation
PS Solutions
Affinity Connections
CMIT Solutions
Penn State University
Penn State Outreach
ZoomTan - International Company

South Hills helps to prepare students to sit for internationally recognized certification exams including:

A+
Network+
Security+
Linux+
Server+
AWS Cloud Practitioner
Cisco CCNA

Students have the flexibility to customize their class choices based on their desired career choice.

South Hills IT grads are working in careers including Computer Support Specialist, Network Administrator, Security Analyst, Applications Developer or Programmer, Webmaster, E-Commerce Specialist, Network Systems and Data Communications Analyst, and Database Administrator.

Successful students in this program will be fast learners, willing to explore and try new things with the computer, and not easily distracted by online temptations such as games and social media.

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Why You Should Choose South Hills

South Hills School of Business & Technology has been in the business of helping our students gain the specialized career skills they need for over 50 years. We know that we can help you, too, as you prepare for your future career in IT. Here are just a few reasons why:

Important internship and networking opportunities — Every specialized associate degree program we offer at South Hills includes a 12-week internship component, which gives you not only hands-on experience, but also a chance to network and connect with our partner organizations.
Small class sizes — It’s important to us that each of our students feels seen, both in what they need out of their education and what their goals are. It’s why we keep our class sizes small, so you can build a personal relationship with your teachers and fellow students.
Experienced instructors and mentors — Our instructors are also experienced professionals who know what it takes to be successful in the job market. Information technology classes are taught by network admins, help desk techs, database managers, and other IT professionals who incorporate their experience into the curriculum.
Two convenient campus locations — We’ve been providing specialized skills training in Pennsylvania since 1970, starting with our campus location in State College, and expanding into Altoona in 2001.
Career and alumni services — South Hills is an education community, there for you from the day you enroll to graduation and for years afterward. We have a dedicated Career Services team to help ready you for finding and securing your first job and support you through your career.
Financial aid and scholarships — Finances shouldn’t stand in the way of you being able to train for the career you want. South Hills has a financial aid team that will help you every step of the way through the application process. Their goal is to help you to obtain all of the grant, loan, agency and military funding that you are eligible for.

Talking Tech with Guido Santella

Guido has been an Information Technology instructor at the South Hills Altoona campus since 2005. In the following videos, he shares advice for those interested in a career in technology.

Want more insight from Guido? Check out the full collection of Talking Tech with Guido Santella videos here.

A Closer Look at Our Information Technology Classes

The Associate of Specialized Technology Degree in Information Technology at South Hills is an on-campus program that features small class sizes and more opportunities for individualized attention.

This AST degree program consists of 135 credits that can be completed in just 2 years. It includes courses like:

IT201 UNIX/Linux Essentials
IT209 Cisco Networking
IT210 Server Administration
IT216 SAN Administration and Disaster Recover
IT219 Ethical Hacking and Defense
IT239 Cloud and DevOps Fundamentals
IT238 Content Management Systems

Complete Course List

Information Technology Course List

Information Technology Course List for 2023-24

Term	Course #	Course Name	Credits	Clock Hours
First Term	GE117	Applied Algebra	4	60
	GE183	Business English I	4	60
	GE130	History of IT	2	24
	CP127	Introduction to Operating Systems	2.5	36
	CP132	Introduction to Programming & Logic	4	60
	IT200	Networking Essentials	4	60
	PD110	Professional Development	2	24
		Totals	22.5	324

Second Term	GE184	Business English II	4	60
	IT204	TCP/IP	4	60
	CP134	Web Site Design	4	60
	IT201	UNIX/Linux Essentials	4	60
		Technical Elective #1*	4	60
		Totals	20	300

Third Term	CP135	Business Applications	4	60
	CP129	Introduction to SQL Databases	4	60
	IT101	IoT Programming	4	60
	GE259	Technical Writing	2.5	36
	CP130	Technical Presentations	2	24
		Totals	16.5	240

Fourth Term	IT202	Database Administration	4	60
	IT238	Content Management Systems	2.5	36
	IT210	Server Administration	4	60
	IT206	Microsoft Server Operating Systems	4	60
	IT209	Cisco Networking	4	60
	IT212	VOIP Telephony	4	60
		Totals	22.5	336

Fifth Term	IT239	Cloud and DevOps Fundamentals	2.5	36
	CD207	Job Search Skills	2	24
	CP277	Project Management	5	60
	IT215	Web Server Administration	4	60
	CP133	Hardware	4	60
	IT216	SAN Administration and Disaster Recover	4	60
		Totals	21.5	300

Sixth Term	GE178	Human Relations in the Workplace	2.5	36
	IT240	Information Technology Capstone Project	6	110
	MG116	Introduction to Business	4.5	60
	GE213	Oral Business Communications	2	24
	IT219	Ethical Hacking and Defense	4	60
		Totals	19	290

Seventh Term	IT227	Information Technology Internship	11	330
	CD214	IT Career and Certification Prep	2	21
		Totals:	13	351
			IT PROGRAM TOTAL CREDITS	IT PROGRAM TOTAL HOURS
			135.0 Credits	2,141 Clock Hours

The Outlook for Information Technology Jobs and Careers

The Information Technology program at South Hills is designed to prepare you for entry-level jobs like:

Network Technician
Systems Support Specialist
Customer Support Specialist
Help Desk Technician
Computer Repair Technician
Desktop Support Technician
Database Administrator
IT Technician
Server Administrator
Network Administrator

The field of information technology is expanding fast, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that the entire field will grow 13% and add 667,600 new jobs through 2030. One of the fastest-growing careers overall is for information security analysts, which is expected to jump up by a whopping 33% over the next several years.

With a specialized associate degree in information technology, you also lay the foundation to increase your opportunities for success. The BLS found that people who earned their specialized associate degrees average almost 20% higher wages and had an unemployment rate two percentage points lower than those who had only a high school diploma. A specialized associate degree is also a potential jumping off point to getting your bachelor’s degree or even master’s degree later on as you advance in your career.

With two years of hands-on training and strong skillsets, our Information Technology graduates are prepared for a variety of career options, including:

IT Specialist
IT Technician
Software Trainer
Systems Technician
Programmer

Web Developer
IT Consultant
Help Desk Associate
Software Quality Agent
Programmer Analyst

Each student completes a summer-long internship before graduation, providing real world experience. We have placed interns at locations including:

Affinity Connections
CMIT Solutions
Falkner Technology LLC
Keystone Central School District

Penn State University ITS TNS
Penn State Outreach
PneuDart International
ZoomTan

South Hills Information Technology graduates are well-trained and in demand for their knowledge and work ethics. Some of the many firms employing our graduates include: