Information Technology Degrees Online

This course is the final step towards professional certification in computer networking – successful completion of the course will enable you to design, build and maintain computer networks. The course is designed for those who already hold the CCNA qualification and have a certificate registration number with Cisco. London Metropolitan University was established as a “Cisco Regional Academy” in 1998, and is one of the very few places in the UK that has been certified by Cisco Systems to provide CCNP training in one of the most advanced CISCO training laboratories in the UK.

This course is the first step towards gaining the skills needed to design, build and maintain computer networks. It is designed for those who have no previous computer networking experience, including school-leavers, graduates and mature entrants re-training for a second career. Providing a basic foundation in computer networking, successful completion of this course means you are eligible for the industry-standard qualification – Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) certification. In order to become fully trained in computer networking, the Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP) examinations are the final step. Cisco Systems is considered to be one of the worldwide leaders in networking for the internet. Innovation in communications technology is constantly expanding the scope of networking. With a predicted shortage of over eighty thousand network skilled employees in the UK alone, and six hundred thousand in Europe, networking qualifications are at a premium. Today’s corporations depend on their information networks for mission-critical operations, and are looking for highly trained networking professionals to keep them up and running – there are currently more Cisco networking jobs available than professionals to fill them. London Metropolitan University was established as a “Cisco Regional Academy” in 1998, and is one of the few places in the UK that has been certified by Cisco Systems to provide CCNA/ CCNP training in one of the most advanced Cisco training laboratories in the UK.

Content

The Cisco Networking Academy Programme allows students to get hands-on experience with state-of-the-art networking equipment. Through this alliance with Cisco Systems, we aim to provide innovative, flexible and high-quality vocational education. A review of current job specifications and requirements for network focused technical posts show that employer expectations have significantly moved to encompass Cisco experience, expertise and qualifications. The programme is vocational education at its best providing training and the provision of new career opportunities in the community.

The CNAP programme is divided into semesters. There are four semesters in total, each covering a specific part of the CNAP curriculum. A student studies the Semesters 1 to 4 in sequence. Starting with Semester 1, the student progresses by passing each Semster in turn until all four are completed, thus obtaining the CNAP qualification.

Semester Content Overview

Semester 1 – covers network foundations. You are introduced to fundamental communication theory, network components and protocols and learn how to make and test different cable types.
Semester 2 - is real router hands-on time. You learn about the Cisco IOS and important key configuration issues for interfaces and ip set-ups.
Semester 3 – More router hands-on, learning how to filter different traffic types. You will also take your first steps in LAN design using switch technology and study key concepts in network management eg VLANS.
Semester 4 - This semester completes the CNAP program with more hands-on and a close look at WAN technologies. For example ISDN and Frame Relay are studied, culminating in a substantial integrated LAN/WAN design project.

Cisco Systems, Inc., based in San Jose, California, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-performance LAN and WAN products such as routers, switches, and hubs, and sponsors this program at ACC.

The Cisco Networking Academy program prepares students to design, install, and maintain small to medium-sized local- and wide-area networks. The program consists of four courses of five credits each. Classes meet once or twice per week for discussion, testing, and lab activities. Students who successfully complete the four courses will have the knowledge and skills needed to pass the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) exam.

Because the Cisco curriculum is online, you should have Internet access from home and an email account. In addition it is recommended that prospective Cisco students be comfortable using a command-line interface. Some computer hardware experience will be helpful, although not required.

The Cisco program is intense and demanding; it is not for the casual student or computer beginner. Individuals who are new to the college environment are advised to begin with some introductory computer courses to sharpen their time-management and study skills.

Graduates act as networking professionals within organisations that either use networks as part of their mainstream IT operations, or that supply networking products or services to other organisations. The course is accredited by the British Computer Society. It has been sponsored by the worldwide leaders in networking, Cisco Systems, and their CCNA curriculum is embedded in years one and two.

Course highlights
This course includes a placement year that gives students invaluable opportunities to experience various aspects of the computing industry
The course is based in the School of Computing, Communications and Electronics and in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise, our research in Computer Science was rated 5, denoting international excellence
The CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA) curriculum is included in the first two years of this course.

Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the British Computer Society. A graduate is entitled to membership of the society (MBCS) and can work towards Chartered (CITP, CEng) status with three year’s relevant work experience.