 ISC Home >> About the ISC >> Curriculum
The curriculum is based on standards developed by a committee of industry representatives
and educators and follows closely the Skill Standard for Information Technology
published by the Northwest Center for Emerging Technology.
All certificate holders have completed a set of core courses that are designed
to familiarize everyone with the basic technologies of the Web. Students learn the
common language of development and the maintenance process. This results in a deeper
understanding of the work that is being done in the other tracks. This
is accomplished in a series of three core courses that
cover the various aspects of Web site development. Each track will be exposed to
the work being done by the other two tracks. For example,
Content Developers learn something about script programming and database
management, so they understand the nature of Web programming.
Web Programmers learn about content development and site management.
Web Management students are exposed to all of the aspects of Web site
Development.
In addition, all students learn about site architecture and navigation to enhance
their appreciation for usability issues. All students learn about the
newest technologies and are exposed to technologies that are just showing on the
horizon. This way they are prepared for early adoption of new technologies, but
also know when that new technology is application-appropriate.
After completion of the core courses, all students then
take upper-division courses in their major, which have been approved by the ISC
to be Web content development oriented. Currently, five majors have been designated
as content development oriented. One has been designated as programming oriented
and one has been designated as management oriented. Students in other majors may
fulfill the requirements for content development certification if they complete
courses in any of the designated majors or specific courses in English or Journalism
and Communications, which have been opened to the general student body for this
purpose.
The final stage in the certification is completion of either the
practicum course or a three-month internship
with an actual Web development team. In the practicum, students are
teamed up with members from other tracks and are involved with an actual site development
project. These projects are real. The Center maintains a service to small businesses
and non-profit organizations to produce (and host) sites. Thus the practicum is
essentially an on-campus internship, managed by the Center faculty. Regular internships
enable students to gain on-the-job experience, get course credit and get paid for
it! The Center serves members of it consortium companies by introducing prospective
interns to company representatives. Students may obtain an internship wherever they
choose so long as it meets the standards established by the Center. Consortium member
companies have already agreed to the standards - they helped create them!
Thus, certification means that a graduate has gained working experience in every
phase of site development, management and in-depth study of methods currently used.
Most importantly graduates are able to employ their talents within the Web environment.
Enrolling and completing the Web Management ISC Certificate opened many doors while I was in school and even more after I
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