Unix System Administration Certificate

Computer systems based on UNIX and/or Linux operating systems are frequently used in businesses and industry as network, database, web servers, email servers, application servers, and high-end workstations.

The UNIX system administration certificate uses concepts based on UNIX operating systems and UNIX-like operating systems, such as Linux, comparing and introducing open source software tools implemented by different distributions. The certificate covers Linux system administration concepts needed to configure system services and manage local and remote devices needed to run tasks.

The certificate gives hands-on experience installing, configuring, running, and maintaining a Linux system while implementing security policies in place. The certificate is suitable if an individual currently administers Linux systems and wishes to gain additional knowledge and experience to keep up with current system administration practices or to gain insight on how multiple systems and servers interact to create an IT infrastructure. As a requirement to complete this certificate, students are given opportunities to create production quality systems for real world tasks that a system administrator would fulfill.

STRENGTHS OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE DEPARTMENT

The strengths of the UW-Parkside Computer Science department include:

High-quality Instruction | The department has continuously proven to produce high quality graduates, as evidenced by the high scores achieved by seniors on international standardized tests, the high placement rate of graduates in industry, and competitive wins or placement in regional programming competitions. High results are attributable to small class sizes, a good curriculum, and faculty interest.
Regional Opportunities | The region, located between the two major cities of Chicago and Milwaukee, provide ample opportunity for student internships, employment, and community-based learning projects. The region is also one of the most populous from which to attract students.
Broad Based Modern Program | The computer science faculty recognizes the need to adapt its curriculum to regional needs and student abilities. The high portion of faculty with industry experience ensures that the content and quality of the program can meet business needs. The high portion of faculty with PhDs ensures that the program is sufficiently theoretical to ensure that students develop critical thinking abilities.
Congenial Department | The faculty members have a good working relationship both with each other and with students. The department culture is one of shared governance and consensus. Faculty members take an interest in the students, and work to build relationships with them.

COMPUTER SCIENCE CAREER FIELDS

Business Analyst | Works as a liaison to analyze and communicate business processes into technical requirements which a programmer or developer can then use to create systems which meet all requirements of the customer.

Database Administrator | This person is responsible for the environmental aspects of a database. The role of a database administrator has changed according to the technology of database management systems (DBMSs) as well as the needs of the owners of the databases. For example, although logical and physical database design are traditionally the duties of a database analyst or database designer, a DBA may be tasked to perform those duties.

Full Stack Developer | Full Stack Developers are computer programmers who are proficient in both front and back end coding. Their primary responsibilities include designing user interactions on websites, developing servers and databases for website functionality and coding for mobile platforms.

Information Systems Auditor | Ensures a company adheres to legislation and best practices to increase efficiency and reduce risk while ensuring legal compliance.

Mobile Developer | Mobile developers are a type of software developer. They specialise in mobile technology such as building apps for Google's Android, Apple's iOS and Microsoft's Windows Phone platforms. For this reason job titles for this type of role also include Android developer and iOS developer.

Programmer | This person writes, tests, debugs, and/or maintains the detailed instructions, called computer programs, which computers must follow to perform their functions. Programmers also conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computer for business, scientific or consumer applications.

Project Manager | Defined as a facilitator. Plans, tracks, and manages computer-orientated projects, communicates with customers, developers, service providers and/or vendors. Directly responsible for making decisions in such a way risk is controlled and uncertainty minimized.

Quality Assurance or Test Engineer | Ensures software products work as specified. Designs, develops and documents test plans.

Security Analyst | Develops and implements plans and configurations to ensure secure data and information resources.

Software Engineer | Applies the principles of software engineering to the design, development, testing, and evaluation of the software and systems which make computers, appliance, machinery, or anything which uses software to work effectively.

System or Network Administrator | Configures, manages and maintains computers and their networks.

Web Developer | Web developers work independently as freelancers or with company teams to create websites. Depending on the job, these professionals may focus on front-end development, which involves designing sites and producing content, or back-end development, which involves writing code to make website features work.

PROGRAM CONTACT INFO

Barbara Hasper | 262-595-2314 | hasper@uwp.edu

Our undergraduate program is based on ACM.IEEE internationally recognized guidelines for Computer Science. This means that our courses contain rigorous content. It also means that students can easily transfer to our program from other universities. Our undergraduate program is highly respected in the region with approximately 99% of our graduates employed in professional positions or furthering their education in graduate school.

Zaid Altahat, Dr.

Assistant Professor

Zaid joined UW–Parkside as an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science department and the director of the App Factory in 2016. He earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science/Software Engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago in 2010. Prior to joining Parkside, Zaid worked in the industry for close to 20 years for companies such as GE Healthcare, Motorola, Baxter, UniquSoft, and ComEd. Zaid’s experience has been in Software Engineering, Mobile and web apps, Cloud Computing, Healthcare, and Telecom.

Read Full Profile

Tim Knautz, M.S.

Lecturer - Computer Science

Prof. Timothy Knautz has over fifteen years of experience as a Software Engineer for high tech companies such as GE Healthcare, Marquette Medical Systems, Merge Technologies and Fluid Dynamics, Intl. Mr. Knautz also has over fifteen years’ experience teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside. Tim joined UW–Parkside as a Lecturer in the Computer Science department in 2001. He teaches the introductory computer, object oriented programming, client and server web programming and web security. Previous to that, Tim worked in industry as a software engineer. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Tim is the Founder and Associate Director of the App Factory and the Director of the Solutions for Economic Growth (SEG) Center. Tim’s technical and programming expertise concentrates mainly on Web and mobile software engineering and programming.

Read Full Profile

Susan Lincke, PHD CISA CRISC

Associate Professor - Computer Science

Dr Susan Lincke received her Bachelor's Degree in Systems Analysis from Miami University in Ohio, and her MS and PhD in Computer Science from Illinois Institute of Technology. She has 17 years of industry experience in data and telecommunications, with Motorola, MCI, and GE, working in development, test, and project management. After earning her MS degree, Dr Lincke switched to a career in academia. She is certified by ISACA for auditing (CISA) and risk (CRISC).

Read Full Profile

Viji Ramasamy, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Vijayalakshmi Ramasamy is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Wisconsin Parkside, Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA. She brings to bear an extensive academic and research experience of over 25 years. Before joining UW-Parkside, she was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and an Associate Professor at PSG College of Technology, Anna University, India. She also held an adjunct position at the University of South Australia (UniSA), received a research grant from Cognitive NeuroEngineering Lab at UniSA, established a Computational Neuroscience Laboratory at Anna University, India, and worked on an NSF research grant in collaboration with Florida International University. She has taught multiple courses in Data Science, Computer Science, and Software Engineering and has supervised several MS and Ph.D. research scholars. Her research interests include graph data analytics as a multidisciplinary domain comprising work from various fields such as Data Mining, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, and Graph Theory applied to different disciplines, including computational neuroscience, computer, biological, social networks, and, most recently, undergraduate STEM Education (educational data mining and learning analytics). She has published over 54 peer-reviewed articles, at top-tier venues in Computer Science, including IEEE, ACM SIGCSE, Neurocomputing, and Journal of Neural Engineering. She has received many teaching grants, including the eLearning Teaching Research Grant for Innovative Learning Space and Center for Teaching Excellence Major Teaching Research Project at Miami University, Ohio, USA.

Read Full Profile

Kamil Samara

Assistant Professor

Read Full Profile