Program Description:
The Mainframe System Administrator Apprenticeship includes micro-credentials like professional skills, agile development, and design thinking. The program also includes a broad range of fundamental skills in computer science and programming within mainframe systems, z/OS operating system, REXX programming, DB2 fundamentals, and Customer Information Control System (CICS). The program is a great pathway for a career as a mainframe system administrator as well as system programmer, application programmer, and system operator.
Program Objective:
The objective of this course is to prepare students for a career as a Mainframe System Administrator at IBM.
Learning Outcomes:
- describe basic operations of computer hardware and software
- perform basic Operating System operations
- process information using word processing, databases, spreadsheets, email, and related tools
- identify types of storage
- describe the use of files and folders
- use the Internet and online resources
- apply security and privacy concepts in all computer activities.
- input data into forms
- download data sets for analysis
- develop SQL reports
- administer updates to the database management system (DBMS)
- integrate the database with external systems
- utilize the Python programming language format and structure in coding
- understand and utilize Python programming concepts, including lists, dictionaries, classes, and loops
- use Python libraries and tools
- debug basic Python programs
- employ Python as a means for developing information security tools
- create programs using fundamental concepts
- identify programming's role in cyber operations
- create flow charts and design and implement pseudo-code to solve problems
- identify variable types and strings
- analyze, create and compile programs
- describe the use of classes and objects in programming
- explain vectors and create functions in programming languages
- apply security practices to routers, switches and networks
- install, configure and manage malware detection software
- deploy security tools in defense of computer systems and networks, including firewalls and intrusion detection software
- monitor networks to detect denial of service (DOS), malware and rootkit attacks
- perform network security risk analysis
- mitigate external and internal security attack potential.
- describe basic concepts of information systems and computer networks
- demonstrate knowledge of computer applications suite
- demonstrate the use of Internet and email tools
- apply the use of computers in a variety of environments
- create, organize, and manage electronic files and folders
- create, modify, and maintain a word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation documents
- use functions, formulas, and charts in documents, spreadsheets, and databases
- utilize applications and terminology effectively
- analyze a complex computing problem and apply operating system administration principals and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions
- analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of programming and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions
- evaluate the requirements for a specific system configuration and recommend solutions
- create the program to meet the objectives
- function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the task
- identify and analyze user needs then create, integrate solutions in the computing-based project
- demonstrate the application of knowledge and skill sets acquired from the courses and workplace in the assigned job function
- demonstrate critical thinking and problem-solving skills by analyzing underlying issue/s and apply to project challenges
- recommend ideas to improve work effectiveness and efficiency by analyzing requirements then considering viable options
- describe the life cycle of a process and how multiple processes can execute at the same time and share hardware resources
- describe and illustrate dynamic memory allocation, dynamic address translation, virtual memory, and demand paging
- describe disk management and scheduling algorithms, directories, protection, and crash recovery
- demonstrate presentation skills
- prepare effective business messages for culturally diverse audiences
- communicate by written, oral, and visual methods
- compose clean and concise business letters, reports, memoranda, and emails
- use creative thinking to solve problems
- develop strategies for risk analysis and risk mitigation
- conduct situational analysis
- use decision support systems; conduct backward planning
- allocate resources to resolve problems
- apply ethics to problem solving
- define networking basics to include LAN, cabling and Ethernet
- perform networking addressing
- explain network communication protocols
- define and apply the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model and Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) to define data layers
- perform basic network troubleshooting
- employ IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and subnet masks
- perform troubleshooting techniques
- deploy advanced data structures like arrays and linked lists
- connect to and utilize networked data stores (flat files and relational databases)
- develop well designed and functional user interfaces
- function in a modern development environment using current tools (GitHub, Jenkins, Tekton, Kafka, etc.)