Location: Ore Valley
Course code: TBC
Timetable: Wednesday 3pm – 9pm
Duration: 10 weeks
Start date: 9.3.11
End date: 11.5.11
Fee: £392
Concession Fee: Not applicable

In this information-hungry age, networking provides the world with instant access to online information, entertainment and social networking at the touch of a button. This course provides ‘real world’ networking skills, ideal for those who want to develop their ability to install, configure, operate and maintain a small to medium size enterprise network. Using the latest Cisco products, the generic networking skills learned will apply to any network. This course is based on the latest CCNA 1 Exploration curriculum. It is the first of four modules in the College’s degree-level Cisco Networking Programme, preparing you for industry-recognised Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification.

Employers choosing to train staff on this course will see immediate skills benefits and save on external network support costs. Plenty of practical experience is provided, based on the types of network environments students may encounter. The course also helps develop critical thinking, decision making, teamwork and problem solving skills.

Sessions are one afternoon and evening a week over ten weeks, with additional self-study of around 40 hours. Up-to-date Cisco online training material and skills tests will be provided. This programme is subsidised.

What will I get from the course?

Successful completion entitles you to a Cisco certificate and a CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certificate with 20 credits from the University of Brighton which can contribute towards a degree award, a unique benefit for a stand alone Cisco course.

What does it cost?

£392 per module (includes a Government subsidy of over 40%), with a further 10% discount for those enrolling on all four modules. The cost of recommended text books e.g. Cisco Exploration Companion Guides, is not included.

What will I study?

This course includes lectures, demonstrations, hands-on labs and simulation-based learning. It covers network components and services, cabling options, and networking media requirements. It uses the OSI and TCP layered models to examine protocols and services.

Principles and structure of IP addressing are explored, along with the fundamentals of ethernet concepts, and a ‘model internet’ is used to analyse real data. You will perform basic configurations of network devices such as routers and switches, and build and carry out tests on basic networks.

For more information on the Cisco CCNA Exploration Curriculum, visit:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/course_catalog/CCNAexploration.html
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/course_catalog/docs/CCNA_Exploration_DS.pdf

How will I be assessed?

Online tests and practical assessments range from multiple choice questions to building and testing a network using simulation software. Tests and practicals may occasionally be held on Saturdays.

What do I need?

Level 2 qualifications (e.g. GCSEs) in relevant subjects are needed for this course, along with an understanding and/or experience of basic networking (e.g. planning, configuring and maintaining a network). You should be familiar with MS Windows and will need analytical and problem-solving skills. You may be asked to attend an interview. NB. Internet access is required to log on to the online curriculum.

Where does it lead?

Successful completion of Networking Basics can lead on to Routing Network Traffic (course code: 8841) based on the CCNA 2 Exploration Curriculum.

It can also lead to networking-related degrees and entry-level careers as well as the globally recognised CCNA certification.

To be prepared for the CCNA certification exam, students must complete all four modules in the College’s Cisco Networking Programme: Networking Basics, Routing Network Traffic, LAN Design and Management and WAN Design and Management. The exam is optional and the cost is not included in the course fee. It can be taken at a Pearson Vue test centre for an additional fee of £123 + VAT (may be subject to change), visit: http://www.pearsonvue.com/cisco

Need more help?

Enquiries from local employers who would like their staff to study this course are welcome.

For more information, or to discuss your specific needs, contact Sarah Watson, Higher Education Engagement Manager. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 01424 458560.