This is a three semester-hour intersession course designed to help you pass at least one Microsoft professional certification exam. You may choose the exam you wish to take, and the course will provide you with a supported self-study opportunity to prepare for the exam. The test you choose to take need not necessarily be an NT exam. If you have not already done so, please read the introductory material by clicking here.

CONCEPT: This is a supported self-study workshop. That means that you'll receive guidance on selecting which is the most appropriate Microsoft exam for you to take, will be guided in selecting study materials, and will then be grouped with other people who are preparing for that same exam. You will then be coached toward study milestones. The course material will be largely self-taught, but the instructor will be available for coaching (I have experience with the NT exams). You need not have taken "Small Systems Technology" in order to succeed in this workshop, but it will be easier if you have NT or Windows 2000 pre-knowledge.

PREREQUISITES: There are no express prerequisites in the current catalog for this course. To do well, you need to have a fundamental understanding of Windows, and very good study habits.

COURSE MATERIALS: There are 20 of us in the course, and each person will select a Microsoft exam to study for. Thus, there is no prescribed set of study materials. Click here for the list of suggested materials. After you have selected your "target" exam, you'll need to go to a commercial bookstore and buy the materials appropriate to your particular exam.

TEST FEES: You will be taking the certification exam at a Sylvan Learning Center. KSU is not authorized to administer the exams. There is a $100 fee for each test you take, whether you pass or fail. If you have to take a test twice to pass, you will be paying $200 out of pocket.

CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR: I'll be easy to find on the Intersession schedule, as we have class daily. After hours, I'm very responsive to e-mail -- ghoward@kent.edu .

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is required. It is in the fundamental nature of a workshop course that you have to be here to assure that the required study regimen is enforced.

TEXT: Varies -- we'll discuss in class on the first day. If you have not yet done so, click here for text suggestions.

WHY MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION ? There is high demand in the employment marketplace for people who possess formal industry skills certifications. You earn these by taking a test or a series of tests that prove the depth of your conceptual and practical knowledge. The most important of these are the two main certifications available from Microsoft: the MCSE ("Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer") and the MCSD ("Microsoft Certified System Developer.") Passing one of the required exams gives you a significant edge in the job market. You may wish to read this paper on newest Microsoft philosophies about MCSE certification. 

DELIVERABLES: There are no papers, projects, homeworks, or tests except for the certification exam itself.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: In accordance with University policy, if you have a documented disability and require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact your instructor at the beginning of the semester or when given an assignment for which an accommodation is required. Students with disabilities must verify their eligibility through the Office of Student Disability Services (SDS) in the Michael Schwartz Student Service Center (181 MSC) (672-3391). We're happy to help!

GRADING: Course grading is easy: if you pass one or more certification exams during the period of the course, you get an "A." If you take a certification exam, do not pass, but have shown good attendance and good effort, you will get a "B." No exam attempted means a "C," unless you can show extreme financial hardship associated with the cost of the exam.