Google IT Support Professional Certificate
Launch your career in IT
Thank you for your interest! The application is currently closed. Please fill out the form below to get updates on available classes.
About the Program
Using materials developed by Google, City Colleges of Chicago offers a free certificate program that gives students the skills and knowledge needed for an entry-level position in IT support. This five-course program combines video lectures, virtual labs, quizzes and live instructor coaching to teach skills such as:
- Troubleshooting
- Networking
- System administration
- System security
- Customer service
While the Google IT Support Professional Certificate course is beginner-friendly, it is neither entry-level nor basic. The following skills are a helpful foundation to succeed in this course:
- Some understanding of how to navigate between software programs, browsers, and multiple, open windows
- Some knowledge of command line interfaces and how to utilize them
- Some understanding of Microsoft’s MS-Windows and its structure
After completing the program, students may find themselves ready to prep for the CompTIA A+ certification exams. Combined with the Google IT Support Professional Certificate, these credentials can help graduates find a great starting position in the ever-expanding field of IT. The program is completely available online, but enrolled students will have access to all of the supportive services available to City Colleges students, including computer labs, libraries, and more. Space is available for 240 students, and positions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Apply today. Students who successfully complete this program will be better prepared to apply for the City Colleges of Chicago Cybersecurity Boot Camp.
Course Information and Program Cost
The certificate is made up of five online courses, taken sequentially.
Classes begin the week of April 17, 2023
Classes end the week of September 23, 2023
This is a synchronous class that meets weekly with an instructor/coach.
Program Cost: FREE
Requirements
Selected participants:
- Must attend a program orientation the week of April 10, 2023, 6-7pm
- Need an average of 6-8 hours of study each week to complete the 23-week program
- Need to complete the program employment and exit surveys
- Should desire to work or already work in an IT-related field, or continue an educational path in IT
Class Schedules and Instructors
All classes are offered live, online in Zoom, at the times listed below. Placements will be on a first come/first served basis for each class.
TUESDAY EVENINGS
- Class lecture: Tuesdays, 6:00-7:00 PM
- Office Hours: Tuesdays, 7:00-8:00 PM
- Instructor, Jim Gies (Kennedy-King College)
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS
- Class lecture: Wednesdays, 7:00-8:00 PM
- Office Hours: Wednesdays, 8:00-9:00 PM
- Instructor, Alex Hernandez (Kennedy-King College)
FRIDAY EVENINGS
- Class lecture: Fridays, 5:30-6:30 PM
- Office Hours: Fridays, 5:40-7:40 PM
- Instructor, Danny Shields (Olive Harvey College)
MONDAY/WEDNESDAY MORNINGS
- Class lecture: Mondays, 9:30 – 10:30 AM
- Office Hours: Wednesdays, 9:30 – 10:30 AM
- Instructor, Chuck Brown (Olive Harvey College)
Course 1
Technical Support Fundamentals
This course is the first of a series that aims to prepare you for a role as an entry-level IT Support Specialist. In this course, you’ll be introduced to the world of Information Technology, or IT. You’ll learn about the different facets of Information Technology, like computer hardware, the Internet, computer software, troubleshooting, and customer service. This course covers a wide variety of topics in IT that are designed to give you an overview of what’s to come in this certificate program. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
● understand how the binary system works
● assemble a computer from scratch
● choose and install an operating system on a computer
● understand what the Internet is, how it works, and the impact it has in the modern world
● learn how applications are created and how they work under the hood of a computer
● utilize common problem-solving methodologies and soft skills in an Information Technology setting
Course 2
The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
This course is designed to provide a full overview of computer networking. We’ll cover everything from the fundamentals of modern networking technologies and protocols to an overview of the cloud to practical applications and network troubleshooting. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
● describe computer networks in terms of a five-layer model
● understand all of the standard protocols involved with TCP/IP communications
● grasp powerful network troubleshooting tools and techniques
● learn network services like DNS and DHCP that help make computer networks run
● understand cloud computing, everything as a service, and cloud storage
Course 3
Operating Systems and You: Becoming a Power User
In this course — through a combination of video lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice — you’ll learn about the main components of an operating system and how to perform critical tasks like managing software and users, and configuring hardware.
By the end of this course you’ll be able to:
● navigate the Windows and Linux filesystems using a graphical user interface and command line interpreter
● set up users, groups, and permissions for account access
● install, configure, and remove software on the Windows and Linux operating systems
● configure disk partitions and filesystems
● understand how system processes work and how to manage them
● work with system logs and remote connection tools
● utilize operating system knowledge to troubleshoot common issues in an IT Support Specialist role
Course 4
System Administration and IT Infrastructure Services
This course will transition you from working on a single computer to an entire fleet. Systems administration is the field of IT that’s responsible for maintaining reliable computers systems in a multi-user environment. In this course, you’ll learn about the infrastructure services that keep all organizations, big and small, up and running. We’ll deep dive on cloud so that you’ll understand everything from typical cloud infrastructure setups to how to manage cloud resources. You’ll also learn how to manage and configure servers and how to use industry tools to manage computers, user information, and user productivity. Finally, you’ll learn how to recover your organization’s IT infrastructure in the event of a disaster.
By the end of this course you’ll be able to:
● utilize best practices for choosing hardware, vendors, and services for your organization
● understand how the most common infrastructure services that keep an organization running work, and how to manage infrastructure servers
● understand how to make the most of the cloud for your organization
● manage an organization’s computers and users using the directory services, Active Directory, and OpenLDAP
● choose and manage the tools that your organization will use
● backup your organization’s data and know how to recover your IT infrastructure in the case of a disaster
● utilize systems administration knowledge to plan and improve processes for IT environments
Course 5
IT Security: Defense against the digital dark arts
This course covers a wide variety of IT security concepts, tools, and best practices. It introduces threats and attacks and the many ways they can show up. We’ll give you some background of encryption algorithms and how they’re used to safeguard data. Then, we’ll dive into the three As of information security: authentication, authorization, and accounting. We’ll also cover network security solutions, ranging from firewalls to Wifi encryption options. Finally, we’ll go through a case study, where we examine the security model of Chrome OS. The course is rounded out by putting all these elements together into a multi-layered, in-depth security architecture, followed by recommendations on how to integrate a culture of security into your organization or team.
At the end of this course, you’ll understand:
● how various encryption algorithms and techniques work as well as their benefits and limitations.
● various authentication systems and types.
● the difference between authentication and authorization.
● how to evaluate potential risks and recommend ways to reduce risk.
● best practices for securing a network.
● how to help others to grasp security concepts and protect themselves.