Associate in Specialized Technology Degree in Information Technology
Altoona, Pennsylvania and State College, Pennsylvania, campuses.
Accredited by ACCSC
Licensed by the PA Department of Education, Department of Private Licensed Schools
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Associate in Specialized Technology Degree in
Information Technology
Accredited by ACCSC
Licensed by the PA Department of Education, Department of Private Licensed Schools
Program Highlights:
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
Internship:
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:
South Hills helps to prepare students to sit for internationally recognized certification exams including: A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, Server+, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and 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.
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:
Small
Class Sizes
Internship and Networking Opportunities
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Experienced Instructors
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.
Careers in Information Technology
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:
- Penn State University (many departments)
- Affinity
- CMIT Solutions
- EnergyCAP
- Minitab
- PneuDart International
- Sheetz
- TMM Data
- Videon Central
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.
Credits
This AST degree program consists of 135 credits that can be completed in just 2 years. It includes courses like: UNIX/Linux Essentials, Cisco Networking, Server Administration, SAN Administration and Disaster Recover, Ethical Hacking and Defense, Cloud and DevOps Fundamentals, and Content Management Systems.
The complete course list for the Information Technology program is located in our Course Catalog.
Hear From Our Alumni
Explore the impact of our programs through the experiences and accomplishments of our esteemed alumni. Check out our Alumni Testimonials page for more.
South Hills gave me the building blocks to develop a good stepping stone to start my career here at GoHost. They provided great information that’s current to today’s technologies…….If I could describe South Hills in three words, those three words would be fun, educational, and memorable.
I came to South Hills not knowing what I wanted to do with my life but after 2 short years, I earned my degree and now have a great job that I enjoy doing.
Meet the Faculty
Ray Liddick Jr.
Program Coordinator / Instructor
State College Main Campus
Ray Liddick Jr., the Program Coordinator for Graphic Arts, has been an Information Technology and Graphic Arts Instructor at South Hills School of Business & Technology since 2004.
Ray is a graduate of Tyler School of Art, Temple University and has had MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) accreditation. Ray has spent decades utilizing his IT and graphic arts creativity on the job. Outside of the school, he is the Marketing Media & IT Manager at Pneu-Dart, Inc., a global manufacturer of remote drug delivery, as well as being the Creative Director/Owner of Open Door Visions.
In the classroom and on the job, Ray applies his artistic vision and IT experiences to a wide range of projects including print design, web development, project management and IT infrastructure/networking.
Guido Santella
Instructor
Altoona Campus
Guido Santella has been an Information Technology instructor at the South Hills Altoona campus since 2005. In 2013, Guido was given the Instructor of the Year award by the Pennsylvania Association of Private School Administrators (PAPSA). Known for his classroom enthusiasm and energetic teaching style, Guido’s professional experience includes coding, web design, database, and server administration.
Over the years, Guido has enjoyed spending months at a time in Europe, as well as interning at the British Museum in London.
Guido is also an accomplished pianist and was awarded the Italian Heritage Society of Pennsylvania - John Monti Music Award in 2010 for exemplary efforts in promoting the musical heritage of the Italian-American community.
Guido's "I Am South Hills" Video
Nicholas Page
Program Instructor
State College Main Campus
Nicholas Page has been an instructor in Software Development and Information Technology at South Hills since 2022. As an instructor, he strives to ensure that his students understand how things work and encourages them to explore different concepts and conduct research both in and out of the classroom.
Nicholas graduated from Lock Haven University in 2019 with a bachelor's in applied computer science and information sciences. Following that, he gained experience in the private sector as a programmer. In addition, he is a freelance website developer, specializing in both front-end and back-end development.
Nicholas is an expert in C#, Java, C, C++, and assembly languages. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the world of robotics through building and programming robots, as well as researching computer science paradigms.
Rick Gority
Instructor
State College Main Campus
Rick Gority, instructor for computer skills classes, has been teaching at South Hills School of Business & Technology since 2009.
Rick received a BA from Penn State University in Telecommunications. In conjunction with a close friend, he co-founded a web & graphic design company in 2000. Rick continued to develop his skills with hardware and networking support, which led to his career in the IT field.
When free time is available, Rick enjoys boating on Lake Raystown, brewing beer, and vacationing in the Outer Banks.
Joseph Meyer
Adjunct Instructor
State College Main Campus
Joseph Meyer has been an adjunct Information Technology instructor at South Hills since 2017. He is a Senior Software Engineer within Penn State University’s software department. Previously, he has worked at CSC and Raytheon in similar roles.
Joe has his Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems with minors in Digital Design and Japanese from Philadelphia University. He earned his Master’s Degree in Computer Science from Drexel University.
Joe and his family have been residents of State College since 2008. When not working his day job or teaching at South Hills, he can usually be found working on a project in his garage or playing some very old video game.
