IT Workforce Certificates
Columbus State is offering non-credit IT workforce certificates in data analytics,
cybersecurity, and software development. The certificates are designed to build relevant,
employer-desired skills to prepare individuals for in-demand jobs in IT.
The Columbus State Office of Workforce Innovation collaborated with Nationwide’s IT
leadership to design the certificate programs. The certificates were originally limited
to approved Nationwide employees, but are now open to anyone interested in developing
or expanding their IT skillset through Columbus State’s Extended Business program!
Each certificate includes multiple courses delivered through a mix of online coursework
and virtual, real-time instruction. They are intended for individuals with a background
in technology, but individuals with little to no experience can register to take the
certificates as well. Learn more about each certificate below.
Individuals who complete a certificate are issued a digital badge through Acclaim. Digital badges verify the badge qualifications and the process required to earn them. They can be shared in email signatures, digital resumes, and on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions about the IT Workforce Certificates.
Employers
Employers who are interested in offering these certificates as a professional development option to groups of employees should contact workforce@cscc.edu.
Data Analytics
Data analytics professionals combine qualitative and quantitative techniques to analyze, identify, and predict business trends.
This 35-week program is intended for individuals with little-to-no background in data analytics who are interested in developing the skills that can lead to a job in the area. The program begins with essentials in computer science, followed by coursework with a specific focus on data analytics in relevant business scenarios. This program will equip existing employees with practical, foundation-level skills in data analytics through a hands-on approach.
The program mixes online coursework with virtual, real-time instruction. Participants should expect to spend up to 12-15 hours per week on coursework.
The certificate includes the following courses. Each course is eight weeks long unless otherwise specified. Note that some courses run concurrently.
- Introduction to Statistics (four weeks)
- Statistics Fundamentals
- Database & SQL Fundamentals
- Scripting with Python
- Applied Data Analytics
Results
Individuals who earn the CSCC Workforce Innovation Data Analytics Certificate are able to translate business requirements into analytics needs, perform exploratory data analysis, clean and merge data from multiple sources, use notebooks to manipulate data, identify patterns, trends, and relationships in data, identify, apply and validate appropriate statistical models, and create visualizations and dashboards to present information.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity professionals are the first line of defense in ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of hardware, software, and data.
This 32-week program is intended for individuals with little-to-no background in cybersecurity who are interested in developing the skills that can lead to an industry-recognized certification as a Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP). The program begins with essentials in computer science with some cybersecurity basics, followed by a focused cybersecurity course series that ends with the opportunity to sit for the SSCP exam.
This program mixes online coursework with virtual, real-time instruction. Participants should expect to spend up to 12-15 hours per week on coursework.
The certificate includes the following courses. Each course is eight weeks long unless otherwise specified. Note that some courses run concurrently.
- Database & SQL Fundamentals
- Scripting with Python
- Linux for Security Practitioners
- Networking Fundamentals
- Cybersecurity I
- Cybersecurity II (five weeks)
Results
Individuals who earn the CSCC Workforce Innovation cybersecurity Certificate are able to monitor and administer an organization’s IT infrastructure in accordance with security policies, identify risks and threats to that infrastructure, propose remediation for risk mitigation.
Software Development
Today’s businesses count on highly trained software developers who can keep pace with the company's needs.
This 48-week program is intended for individuals with little-to-no background in software development who are interested in developing the skills that can lead to a job in the area. The program begins with essentials in computer science, followed by a series of application development courses using Java. Students who complete the series will be grounded in the fundamentals of software development in an enterprise environment.
This program mixes online coursework with virtual, real-time instruction. Participants should expect to spend up to 12-15 hours per week on coursework.
The certificate includes the following courses. Each course is eight weeks long unless otherwise specified. Note that some courses run concurrently.
- Requirements Analysis with Agile
- Programming Logic
- Database & SQL Fundamentals
- Introduction to Java
- Java I
- Java II
- Java III
- Java IV
- Special Topics in Application Development
Results
Individuals who earn the CSCC Workforce Innovation Software Development Certificate are able to build software applications using Java in an enterprise environment, use automated testing tools, defect tracking tools, version control and common enterprise tools, work in a team to build complex applications with an understanding of Agile and the software development lifecycle.