Computer and Network Support Technician

Our Program

Humber's Computer and Network Support Technician program trains students for careers in information technology, as students learn skills in electronics, programming, personal computer (PC) hardware, operating systems and networks infrastructure.

Students also gain experience with various hardware platforms, protocols and services, with a strong emphasis on network security. Learn on the latest equipment to install and manage Linux/Ubuntu operating systems and Microsoft server operating systems, and to configure and manage web servers and build applications using Internet scripting.

Humber's Computer Network and Support Technician diploma works with our industry partners to adapt to the changing demands of this field by constantly updating the curriculum. Learn in small classes and labs from industry-experienced faculty; professors have strong connections to companies in Toronto and southern Ontario, enhancing your future career prospects.

Group projects round out your education with essential customer service, interpersonal communications and teamwork skills. This, alongside your new comprehensive technical credentials, will give you the multi-dimensional background that employers want.

"The faculty are knowledgeable and helpful. They teach us the skills we need to get jobs. This is a challenging program because you are learning so much, such as the latest industry trends. You have to work hard, and then, the results will come and you'll be ready for your career."
Michael, 2011 graduate

Your Career

Take the first step to a career in information technology (IT) with Humber's Computer and Network Support Technician.

IT is the backbone of just about any business – the information and communications technology (ICT) sector itself contributes nearly $60 billion to the Canadian gross domestic product (GDP). Currently, even the lowest-paid employees in the sector make 20 per cent more than the national average salary. Join this highly skilled and specialized workforce to analyze, set up, install, upgrade and maintain computer and network systems and data and network security, train others, troubleshoot systems, and install and integrate software applications.

As a graduate of Humber's Computer and Network Support Technician program, you'll be ready to work in technical, website management, customer service, information technology (IT) infrastructure and user support – all key areas in businesses and organizations. Graduates also work for non-profit and government departments.

Your Future Study Options

Qualified graduates of this program may be eligible to apply their academic credits toward further study at many postsecondary institutions. For detailed information, visit humber.ca/transferguide.

Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status
Grade 12 English (ENG4C or ENG4U). If English is not your first language, refer to the English Language Proficiency Policy
Grade 12 Mathematics (MAP4C, MCT4C, MDM4U, MCB4U, MGA4U, MCV4U or MHF4U)
Two Grade 11 or Grade 12C, U or M courses in addition to those listed above
Applicants who do not possess the required courses may complete admission testing to determine equivalencies. Invitation and booking of admission testing is done using the email address provided on the online application
Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet applications is required. Students who lack the requisite computer skills will be required to take a computer course at their own expense. Students must have acquired these computer skills before the beginning of second semester

Note: For more information, refer to Selection Procedures.
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

Fees / Scholarships

The 2013/2014 fee for two semesters is

domestic $3,775.08
international $12,950.

Amounts listed are the total of tuition, lab and material fees, student service and auxiliary fees for the first two semesters of the 2013/2014 academic year. Fees are subject to change. For more information, refer to Fees and Financial Assistance.

Alternative Course of Study

Humber also offers the Computer Engineering Technology diploma program 03501, which places more emphasis on computer programming and how hardware and software interact with one another.

Curriculum (View the 2012/13 Curriculum)

Semester 1

Course Code	Course Name
TECH 101	Electric Circuits Electric Circuits Course Code: TECH 101 An introductory course on basic concepts of voltage, current flow and resistance leads to the analysis of series, parallel, and series-parallel circuits. Classical circuit theorems are introduced to calculate the current or voltage in resistive networks. Power and efficiency are studied. Sinusoidal waves and their characteristics are introduced. Capacitors are studied in a simple DC environment. Complementary laboratory work includes the use of multimeters, oscilloscopes, power supplies, and signal generators.
TECH 103	Digital Fundamentals Digital Fundamentals Course Code: TECH 103 This course provides students with a structured approach to learning the principles and practical applications of digital electronics used in computers, communications equipment and control systems. Through a balanced series of lectures and hands-on laboratory sessions, the student will acquire a solid foundation in digital electronics, including gates, binary numbers, flip-flops, counters, display devices, and applications of Boolean algebra. The student is responsible for purchasing electronics parts kit containing all the components necessary to complete the laboratory experiments. The same kit will be used in other and subsequent courses/semesters.
TECH 104	Programming Fundamentals Programming Fundamentals Course Code: TECH 104 The students learn to develop logic to write structured programs. Different engineering and technology problems and issues are presented in the course and the students learn to analyze and develop solutions to these problems. These solutions may then be implemented as applications in structured programming approach. In this course the basics of programming languages are introduced. The learners will select the appropriate data type to store and process data and will also learn to generate the formatted output display. They learn to design, develop and implement the solutions of the problems based on the conditions and criteria defined in the problem using the control structures, conditional statements and simple arrays. They also learn to use a modular approach of writing structured programs using functions. The main objectives of the course are to introduce the concepts and standards of designing and implementing solutions in a programming language while developing a good programming style and logical and critical thinking. C is introduced as the programming language to develop the applications in this course.
TECH 105	Technology Foundations Technology Foundations Course Code: TECH 105 This course prepares learners for foundational, as well as nontechnical aspects of a career in engineering technology, addressing topics that include numerical computation, program-specific applications of geometry and algebra, effective presentation and communication skills, application of engineering principles to the learner?s specific program area, and ethics and professionalism in engineering technology. Concepts will be presented within the context of the industry specific to the learner?s program area, and learners will acquire competencies by engaging in a variety of activities that may include working as part of a team, group participation, peer evaluation, blended learning, group presentations, online and in-class participation and research.
TMTH 104	Technical Mathematics 1 Technical Mathematics 1 Course Code: TMTH 104 The student will demonstrate basic mathematical skills, and be able to apply them in specific applications in numerical computation of basic arithmetic operations, fundamental concepts of algebra and operations, simple equations and formulas, functions and graphs, fractions and fractional equations, ratio proportion and variation, exponents and radicals, exponential and logarithmic functions, angles, right triangles, trigonometric and sinusoidal functions.
WRIT 120	Technical Reading and Writing Skills Technical Reading and Writing Skills Course Code: WRIT 120 This course is designed to develop the writing skills that will be required for clear communication in technical documents. Students will learn to write documents that are clear, accurate, and grammatically correct. Students will practice reading and writing skills that will be valuable in their college programs and build a strong base for professional technical and business writing. Those students who plan to further their studies will develop the fundamental skills for writing acceptable academic English. To help students reach these goals, the course covers the following: analytical reading and critical thinking; summarizing and paraphrasing; strategies for organizing and developing various technical documents; and the elements of clear writing, including grammar and punctuation skills.

Semester 2

Course Code	Course Name
GNED 101	An Introduction to Arts and Science An Introduction to Arts and Science Course Code: GNED 101 The humanities course focuses on fundamental questions individuals ask of themselves as they proceed through life. Why are we the way we are? Do we have free will or are we prisoners of our past experience or our biological inheritance? What motivates societies to change? Why do societal changes so often divide people into opposing camps? Why do so many people find contemporary life at home, at work, and in the community unfulfilling? What constitutes good government? How should injustice be fought? Can nations successfully deal with global problems? What is science and how does it differ from other kinds of inquiry? Can scientists provide solutions to the problems we face? What is art and does it offer answers of its own? What is its relationship to beauty, to knowledge, and to ethics? Is objectivity about art (or anything) possible? These questions are organized into units that begin with issues concerning the nature of the individual and then extend outward to various social, cultural and physical contexts. The issues explored in this course are too complex to have any one right answer. Rather, individuals must search for answers that make sense of their experiences via various theoretical perspectives. The humanities course supports this endeavour through study of different thinkers presented in the readings and exploration of different points of view explored in class discussions.
TECH 150	Electronic Devices and Circuits Electronic Devices and Circuits Course Code: TECH 150 This course is an introduction to semiconductors, including the diode family, the bipolar junction transistor (BJT) and the field effect transistor (FET). Applications of these devices are examined including the full-wave capacitor filtered rectifier, the BJT and FET switch and both small signal and power BJT amplifiers.
TECH 151	PC Hardware and Operating Systems PC Hardware and Operating Systems Course Code: TECH 151 This course is designed to provide the student with sufficient knowledge of current microcomputer hardware and software content and configuration to begin diagnosing and solving simple hardware-related problems. In addition, this course will enable the student to approach upgrading and maintaining a microcomputer from a more knowledgeable perspective. All aspects of a microcomputer system will be investigated including enclosures, power, motherboards, storage devices, input/output devices, memory, and open-source operating systems. However, because each of these areas is continuously/rapidly developing/changing all topics will not be given equal coverage.
TECH 152	Telecom Networks Telecom Networks Course Code: TECH 152 This course will look at the combined roles of electronics and networking in the transfer of data. Specifically, we will explore how information physically moves from one place to another. We will examine the coding of digital and analog data; transmission media, such as twisted pair, coaxial cable, fibre-optic cable and wireless; the methods used to share the media between multiple users; and the basic architectures for distributing the Internet, namely DSL and cable.
TECH 154	UNIX and the Internet UNIX and the Internet Course Code: TECH 154 The focus of this course is on enabling learners to gain a working knowledge of the UNIX operating system environment. Learners will work in both X Windows and command line environments. Editing, printing, file management, and account management are some of the operational functions that will be covered. There also will be an introduction to scripts. Learners will be introduced to Internet resources. They will use ssh and sftp, as well as various Internet network utilities. They will create web pages including tables, frames, and forms. There also will be an introduction to server side includes (SSI) and common gateway interface scripts (CGI).
TECH 160	Introduction to Operating Systems Introduction to Operating Systems Course Code:
WRIT 220	Technical Workplace Writing Skills Technical Workplace Writing Skills Course Code: WRIT 220 This course is designed to reinforce and expand on the skills students learned in Technical Communications 1. In Technical Communications 2, students will learn to design and write informal reports and a variety of other technical documents, using appropriate research, language, layout, and graphics.

Semester 3

Course Code	Course Name
GNED	General Education Elective General Education Elective Course Code: GNED The following courses represent the GNED General Education electives that you can choose from as part of your program's curriculum. Introduction to Liberal Arts and Sciences GNED 101 An Introduction to Arts and Sciences Anthropology ANTH 202 Physical Anthropology ANTH 205 Cultural Anthropology Arts ARTS 138 Understanding Movies: An Introduction to Film Studies ARTS 229 Musical Pioneers ARTS 241 Exploring Music and Film ARTS 246 Art and Artists - Money, Madness and Masterpieces Cultural Studies CULT 211 Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking CULT 214 AlterNative Pathways: Aboriginal People in Canada CULT 217 Encounter with Latin America CULT 228 Pop Culture: Shaping How We Live CULT 236 China: The Next Superpower CULT 239 Digital Culture CULT 242 Culture, Technology and Identity CULT 243 Crossing Borders: Migration and Culture CULT 244 Gender, Race and Ethnicity CULT 245 The Body: Beauty, Sex and Consumerism CULT 248 Women and Popular Culture Economics ECON 110 Real Life Economics ECON 204 People, Money and Markets ECON 206 The History of Money English ENGE 110 Literature: An Introduction ENGL 239 Dark Days Ahead ENGL 242 Pulp Fiction ENGL 246 Contemporary Fiction ENGL 247 Life Stories ENGL 248 Voices from the Underground Geography GEOG 210 The Nature of Ontario GEOG 212 Political Geography History HIST 110 Canada: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly HIST 203 Monsters of the 20th Century HIST 217 History of War HIST 218 The Making of the Modern World HIST 222 The Age of Europe: From the Enlightenment to 1989 Humanities HUMA 137 Art Matters: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art HUMA 226 The Arts and the 21st Century Imagination: Longing for Paradise HUMA 235 World Religions HUMA 241 Risky Business: Living in a Dangerous World HUMA 242 Vampires: In Film and Literature HUMA 244 Ordinary Heroes: Extraordinary Lives! HUMA 250 God, Science and Religion Languages SPAN 110 Introductory Spanish 1 Philosophy PHIL 100 Ideas: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 110 The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 217 Ethical Issues PHIL 225 Philosophy of Love and Sex PHIL 227 Business Ethics PHIL 228 Success: Philosophical Perspectives PHIL 229 Violence, Order and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics Political Science POLS 110 Introduction to Politics POLS 204 Morality, Democracy and Politics POLS 219 Globalization POLS 223 War and Terrorism POLS 224 Justice, Equality and Rights POLS 225 Environmental Policy and Economics Psychology PSYC 110 Psychology - An Introduction PSYC 205 Applied Psychology and Leadership PSYC 207 Psychology of Sport PSYC 210 Psychology - Developmental PSYC 220 Psychology - Social PSYC 230 Psychology - Abnormal Science SCIE 110 The Science of Everything SCIE 208 Water: A Life or Death Issue SCIE 213 Astronomy: The Evolving Universe SCIE 216 Origins of Life SCIE 219 Dangerous Earth SCIE 221 The Environment SCIE 223 Astrobiology: Life in the Universe SCIE 224 Discovering Dinosaurs Sociology SOCE 100 Canadian Society and Culture SOCI 110 Sociology: Introduction SOCI 205 Social Entrepreneurship: Profit, People and the Planet SOCI 219 Sport and Society SOCI 232 Gender, Power and Society SOCI 233 Sociology of Cultural Difference SOCI 234 Society and Conflict SOCI 236 Issues in Crime SOCI 237 Sociology of Fashion SOCI 238 Sociology of Food SOCI 239 Citizenship, Immigration, and Democracy SOCI 240 Sociology of the Family SOCI 246 Sociology of Emotions SOCI 247 Leadership SOCI 249 Imagining the City SOCI 257 Canada Today SOCI 277 Sexual Diversity: Contemporary Social Issues
NEST 200	Networking Technologies Networking Technologies Course Code: NEST 200 This course provides learners with an introduction to the issues and problems associated with the interconnecting of personal computers, servers, hubs, routers etc., into networks. Students will develop expertise working with and testing various types of network hardware including cabling, cable connectors, cable meters, hubs, bridges, and routers. The course includes an examination and comparison of ethernet, Token Ring and FDDI technologies. Learners will learn to work with IP addressing and IP subnetting. The TCP/IP protocol stack and some of its common protocols and services such ARP, DHCP, and DNS are examined. Significant time will be spent in practical exercises using common Windows networking commands and packet-capture software to investigate and troubleshoot common networking problems.
NEST 201	UNIX Operations UNIX Operations Course Code: NEST 201 This course focuses on the principles, theory and features of multi-user, multi-tasking operating systems. It covers user account management, network and system service management, process management, scheduling, input/output, memory management, file systems, and system management. These concepts are illustrated by studying the operation of an open-source UNIX operating system (e.g. Fedora, Ubuntu). Also, comparisons to MS Windows systems management are done.
NEST 202	Server Operating Systems Server Operating Systems Course Code: NEST 202 Students work with Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Active Directory services in planning, implementing, and maintaining forests, sites, domains, and organizational units that meet the accessibility, performance, and security goals of a business plan. In addition, students use group policy to deploy software and configure a computer or user environment. Finally, students learn troubleshooting techniques that are valuable for the maintenance of a network environment.
NEST 203	IT Processes and Support IT Processes and Support Course Code:
NEST 204	Virtualization Solutions and Infrastructure Virtualization Solutions and Infrastructure Course Code:

Semester 4

Course Code	Course Name
GNED	General Education Elective General Education Elective Course Code: GNED The following courses represent the GNED General Education electives that you can choose from as part of your program's curriculum. Introduction to Liberal Arts and Sciences GNED 101 An Introduction to Arts and Sciences Anthropology ANTH 202 Physical Anthropology ANTH 205 Cultural Anthropology Arts ARTS 138 Understanding Movies: An Introduction to Film Studies ARTS 229 Musical Pioneers ARTS 241 Exploring Music and Film ARTS 246 Art and Artists - Money, Madness and Masterpieces Cultural Studies CULT 211 Conspiracy Theories and Critical Thinking CULT 214 AlterNative Pathways: Aboriginal People in Canada CULT 217 Encounter with Latin America CULT 228 Pop Culture: Shaping How We Live CULT 236 China: The Next Superpower CULT 239 Digital Culture CULT 242 Culture, Technology and Identity CULT 243 Crossing Borders: Migration and Culture CULT 244 Gender, Race and Ethnicity CULT 245 The Body: Beauty, Sex and Consumerism CULT 248 Women and Popular Culture Economics ECON 110 Real Life Economics ECON 204 People, Money and Markets ECON 206 The History of Money English ENGE 110 Literature: An Introduction ENGL 239 Dark Days Ahead ENGL 242 Pulp Fiction ENGL 246 Contemporary Fiction ENGL 247 Life Stories ENGL 248 Voices from the Underground Geography GEOG 210 The Nature of Ontario GEOG 212 Political Geography History HIST 110 Canada: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly HIST 203 Monsters of the 20th Century HIST 217 History of War HIST 218 The Making of the Modern World HIST 222 The Age of Europe: From the Enlightenment to 1989 Humanities HUMA 137 Art Matters: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Art HUMA 226 The Arts and the 21st Century Imagination: Longing for Paradise HUMA 235 World Religions HUMA 241 Risky Business: Living in a Dangerous World HUMA 242 Vampires: In Film and Literature HUMA 244 Ordinary Heroes: Extraordinary Lives! HUMA 250 God, Science and Religion Languages SPAN 110 Introductory Spanish 1 Philosophy PHIL 100 Ideas: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 110 The Love of Wisdom: An Introduction to Philosophy PHIL 217 Ethical Issues PHIL 225 Philosophy of Love and Sex PHIL 227 Business Ethics PHIL 228 Success: Philosophical Perspectives PHIL 229 Violence, Order and Justice: An Introduction to Political Philosophy PHIL 230 Environmental Ethics Political Science POLS 110 Introduction to Politics POLS 204 Morality, Democracy and Politics POLS 219 Globalization POLS 223 War and Terrorism POLS 224 Justice, Equality and Rights POLS 225 Environmental Policy and Economics Psychology PSYC 110 Psychology - An Introduction PSYC 205 Applied Psychology and Leadership PSYC 207 Psychology of Sport PSYC 210 Psychology - Developmental PSYC 220 Psychology - Social PSYC 230 Psychology - Abnormal Science SCIE 110 The Science of Everything SCIE 208 Water: A Life or Death Issue SCIE 213 Astronomy: The Evolving Universe SCIE 216 Origins of Life SCIE 219 Dangerous Earth SCIE 221 The Environment SCIE 223 Astrobiology: Life in the Universe SCIE 224 Discovering Dinosaurs Sociology SOCE 100 Canadian Society and Culture SOCI 110 Sociology: Introduction SOCI 205 Social Entrepreneurship: Profit, People and the Planet SOCI 219 Sport and Society SOCI 232 Gender, Power and Society SOCI 233 Sociology of Cultural Difference SOCI 234 Society and Conflict SOCI 236 Issues in Crime SOCI 237 Sociology of Fashion SOCI 238 Sociology of Food SOCI 239 Citizenship, Immigration, and Democracy SOCI 240 Sociology of the Family SOCI 246 Sociology of Emotions SOCI 247 Leadership SOCI 249 Imagining the City SOCI 257 Canada Today SOCI 277 Sexual Diversity: Contemporary Social Issues
NEST 250	Internet Script Programming Internet Script Programming Course Code: NEST 250 This course is about the underlying architecture of web-based Internet applications. Web pages consist of text marked up by HTML or XHTML along with CSS. It makes sense that certain actions be handled on the user?s machine (the client) and this is accomplished within the web page using a C like language known as JavaScript. User requests are handled at the Server using CGI scripts. Additionally, at the back end there is often a database that both stores user provided information sent from the client and retrieves requested information as part of a new web page. Our goal is to understand how these pieces of technology fit together so that the student can set up, explain, troubleshoot and maintain a working Web-based environment. A minimum programming background is required in order to construct some basic examples.
NEST 251	Windows Server Operating Systems Administration Windows Server Operating Systems Administration Course Code: NEST 251 This course is a more detailed study of Windows Server 2008. Students will install Windows XP, Windows Server 2008. Server and explore common internal and administrative issues. These issues include setting up server clients, managing multiple servers, and maintaining system performance. Students will network with TCP/IP and install DHCP, DNS, WINS and remote access services.
NEST 252	Routers and Switches Routers and Switches Course Code: NEST 252 This course is a discussion of local area network (LAN) interconnection techniques used to form larger wide area network (WAN) networks. This includes descriptions of bridges, switches and routers and the various protocols with which they work. The course also describes remote bridges and the remote management of networked devices using Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP).
NEST 253	UNIX Administration UNIX Administration Course Code: NEST 253 This course focuses on enhancing learners' knowledge of system administration on UNIX servers. Administration tasks include automation of repetitive tasks, kernel compilation, backup policies, security logs and firewall maintenance and system services management. The installation and configuration of server applications (e.g. ssh, sftp, Samba, mail) are performed. Learners will utilize various system utilities to complete their tasks. These concepts are illustrated by studying the operation of an open-source UNIX operating system (Fedora, Ubuntu). Comparisons to MS Windows systems management are also done.
NEST 254	Network Security Network Security Course Code: NEST 254 For students already familiar with basic network concepts this course will describe applications that use a network to its best advantage. The first topic is electronic mail and the standards associated with it. Specific products are Message Handling System (MHS) mail and SMTP (UNIX) mail. The course then moves on to Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) pages and web servers. In all cases, the emphasis will be on underlying concepts rather than which button to click on. The course will finish with a brief look at network programming with Java.

Diploma to Degree

Humber offers pathways from Ontario college diplomas to Humber degrees. Find out where your diploma can take you.

You can also choose another postsecondary institution. Humber has formal articulation agreements indicating the specific transfer arrangements from a Humber program to a particular degree program, as well as general policies on admissions at specific institutions. Click here to find out more.

May 2013 Program Availability

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Computer and Network Support Technician

School of Applied Technology

Our Program

Your Career

Your Future Study Options

Admission Requirements

Fees / Scholarships

Alternative Course of Study

Curriculum (View the 2012/13 Curriculum)

Semester 1

Electric Circuits

Digital Fundamentals

Programming Fundamentals

Technology Foundations

Technical Mathematics 1

Technical Reading and Writing Skills

Semester 2

An Introduction to Arts and Science

Electronic Devices and Circuits

PC Hardware and Operating Systems

Telecom Networks

UNIX and the Internet

Introduction to Operating Systems

Technical Workplace Writing Skills

Semester 3

General Education Elective

Networking Technologies

UNIX Operations

Server Operating Systems

IT Processes and Support

Virtualization Solutions and Infrastructure

Semester 4

General Education Elective

Internet Script Programming

Windows Server Operating Systems Administration

Routers and Switches

UNIX Administration

Network Security

Diploma to Degree