CIS Professional Certificate in Cloud Computing for Amazon Web Services

The Cloud Computing program prepares students to design solutions for Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) architectures by provisioning computing instances, establishing virtual private networks, managing databases and storage within a secure online environment. Students produce dynamic solutions responsive to information and computing technology workloads with on-demand pay-as-you-go pricing allowing flexibility for small business, entrepreneurship and enterprise adoption. Industry certifications are embedded to prepare for occupations in Cloud Architect, Cloud Support Associate, Cloud Engineer or Cloud Technicians. Some preparation in information technology or computer programming is recommended.

Based on CIS plans, we will initially have 1-3 cohorts per year or 36 - 100 enrolled students with about 25 - 75 completions. As of this submission, there are 12 Los Angeles County Community Colleges (El Camino, ELAC, Glendale, Harbor, Mission, Pierce, LATTC, LA Valley, Mt SAC, Rio Hondo, SMC, WLAC) pursuing the program with a projected enrollment of 1500-1800 and a completion rate of 75% or approximately 1,238. This value is tabulated by the approximation of the courses below with current enrollment levels in Fall 2018 (510) and the potential enrollment of upcoming colleges. With the inclusion of Orange County which is approximately ½ of Los Angeles in enrollment, an additional 619 completers are expected for a total of 1,857 which would be an 91% increase in completion numbers for this general field of study. The completers would represent 38% of the annual job openings specific to AWS cloud technology and only 18% of the total openings in the field of information and computing technology within the Los Angeles/Orange County regions.

The Cloud Computing program develops skills for the occupations of cloud architect and cloud technician using Amazon Web Services (AWS), the leading cloud computing provider. The program bridges traditional on-premises data center skills of server installation, database management, and networking set-up and cabling into virtualizations of these information and computing technologies over online services. Job preparation will include industry certifications of AWS Cloud Practitioner and AWS Solutions Architect Associate mapped to course work.

The Cloud Computing program consists of four (4) core courses with a minimum of one (1) elective course to accumulate the total certificate units. The core courses lay the foundational cloud technology knowledge with the initial course (Introduction to Cloud Computing) being a prerequisite for the other three. Colleges offering the program would select the elective emphasis with a minimum additional two courses.

Course	Title	Units	Semester
CISN 71	Introduction to Cloud Computing	3.0	1
CISN 72A	Cloud Computing Database Essentials in Amazon Web Services	3.0	1
CISN 73A	Compute Engines in Amazon Web Services	3.0	2
CISN 74A	Security in Amazon Web Services	3.0	2
	Required Electives 3.0 – 3.5
CISW 17	HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Programming	3.0	1 or 2
or CISW 24 & 24L	Secure Web Server Programming in Python & Lab	3.5	1 or 2
or CISW 31 & 31L	Secure Web Server Programming in PHP & Lab	3.5	1 or 2
or CISP 21 & 21L	Programming in Java & Lab	3.5	1 or 2
or CISW 71 & 71L	Python Programming	3.5	1 or 2
or CISW 21 & 21L	Web Server Programming with ASP.NET & Lab	3.5	1 or 2
	Recommended Elective 3.5
CISB 11	Computer Information Systems	3.5	1

The Cloud Computing program is complementary to existing Information Technology Technician Pathways where skill sets and background translate to cloud methods and allow for students to help companies with existing on-premises data centers transition to the cloud. Although complementary, many companies are cloud native especially in the start-up and small business utilizing web services. In addition, the Cloud Computing program assist the practical implementation of computer science students’ skills set to provide tangible coding packaged within a cloud infrastructure. Although students in computer science programs may transfer, leveraging a certificate to a part-time job to enter a position as a software developer with cloud implementation skills will increase job prospects.

As of this submission, there are 12 Los Angeles County Community Colleges (El Camino, ELAC, Glendale, Harbor, Mission, Pierce, LATTC, LA Valley, Mt SAC, Rio Hondo, SMC, WLAC) pursuing the program.

We will initially have 1-3 cohorts per year or 36 - 100 enrolled students with about 25 - 75 completions.