Computer Technology Preparing for the Future

Piedmont Technical College has long prepared technicians to work in the continually advancing field of computer technology. The computer technology program is expanding that reach through its club activities. The computer club recently hosted guest speaker Wesley Allen, a 2010 computer technology networking graduate who is employed in the IT department at Self Regional Healthcare.

“It’s not unusual for us to bring in guest speakers to give the students a glimpse of what is going on right now in the field,” said Lesley Price, department head of computer technology. “It is an effective way to put what they are learning in the classroom into real-world perspective.”

In addition to speakers, the club visits local businesses to see IT departments in action. They also provide computer diagnostic and repair services to faculty, staff and the community for a small donation, providing the students with hands-on training.

The program offers a wide range of occupational areas through associate degree and diploma curricula. Within the associate degree program, the concentrations in programming, networking, information technology and Internet offer the potential for national certification.

The major in computer technology programming concentration includes elective courses in Visual Basic, C++, JAVA and database platforms. The network concentration focuses on elective courses in administration of both Microsoft and UNIX based operating systems and introduces students to PC repair and wide area network courses. The Internet concentration prepares students to become Web site designers and application developers. The information technology concentration provides fundamentals in all areas including program management, wireless and virtualization.

“Computer technology is a rapidly changing field,” Price said. “We are doing everything possible to ensure that our students are prepared.”

Photo Caption: The Piedmont Technical College computer technology club recently hosted guest speaker Wesley Allen, a 2010 computer technology networking graduate who is employed in the IT department at Self Regional Healthcare, to speak to students on preparing to enter the field.