Utah Valley University

What you'll study

The program requires a minimum of 18 semester credits. There are 12 credits of discipline core courses and 6 credits of electives.

• Discipline core (12 credits): ENGL 1010 Introduction to Academic Writing or ENGL 1005 Foundations of Academic Writing (3); INFO 1120 Information Systems and Technology Fundamentals (3); IT 1510 Introduction to System Administration--Linux/UNIX (3); IT 1600 Computer Architecture and Systems Software (3).
• Electives (6 credits) — choose 6 credits from: INFO 1200 Computer Programming I for IS/IT or CS 1400 Fundamentals of Programming (3); INFO 2410 Database Fundamentals (3); IT 2400 Voice and Data Cabling Fundamentals (3); IT 2530 Introduction to System Administration--Windows Client (3); IT 2600 Data Communication Fundamentals or CS 2600 Computer Networks I (3); CYBR 2700 Information Security Fundamentals (3); CYBR 2800 Computer Forensic Fundamentals (3); IT 2900 Current Topics in Information Technology (1).

Entry requirements

Students must complete at least 18 semester credits to earn the certificate. A minimum grade of C- is required in all courses, and an overall GPA of 2.0 (C) or higher is necessary for graduation. Residency requirement: at least 5 credit hours must be taken through course attendance at UVU. Advising support is available; students are encouraged to meet with an advisor and use Wolverine Track to create an individualized plan. Online course options may be available.

Career prospects

The certificate targets preparation for entry-level IT roles. The program notes related occupational categories and their national-level indicators, for example: computer and information systems managers; computer systems analysts; information security analysts; computer network architects; database architects; software developers; software QA analysts and testers; and data scientists. The source provides associated field growth and median salary figures for these occupations (for example, information security analysts median salary $120,360; software developers median salary $132,270), which indicate a range of possible career paths beyond entry-level technical roles.

Scholarships & funding angle

The program page advises meeting an assigned advisor and using university resources; prospective students should consult UVU financial aid and scholarship offices for funding options applicable to certificate students and for guidance on whether courses can be covered by institutional scholarships, grants, or employer tuition assistance.