Computer System AdministrationAS DegreeCertificate of Achievement

Share my plan
Community of interest
Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Award
AS Degree
Program code
31306.02AS
Department
Comp Sys Admin/Info Sys
CIP code
11.0103: Information Technology.
TOP code
0702.00 - Computer Information Systems*
The Computer System Administration program prepares students for industry-standard certification exams and entry-level positions as computer support technicians and jr. computer system/network administrators. The core curriculum covers server and network installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and maintenance. No prerequisite skills are required for students to enroll in the program. The program offers courses that prepare students for many industry certification exams, including Cisco CCNA, CompTIA A+, Linux+, Network+, Server+, Cloud+, and Security+.
Program detailsAward, code, department, CIP/TOP

Program Snapshot

Community of interest
STEM Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Award
AS Degree
Program code
31306.02AS
Department
Comp Sys Admin/Info Sys
CIP code
11.0103: Information Technology.
TOP code
0702.00 - Computer Information Systems*

Next Steps

Map Class Schedule

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

Program Schedule ReportMeet with a counselor
Computer System Administration
AS Degree — expand to learn about this award

The Associate of Science is typically awarded for Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. Like every Butte College associate degree, it has two parts: a general-education curriculum that gives you a broad base of knowledge, and an academic program where you specialize.

About General Education. GE is an integrated program of learning designed to foster intellectual curiosity, cultural understanding, critical thinking, creative reasoning, oral and written communication, and the capacity for ethical reasoning. By graduation, you'll have developed the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, apply quantitative reasoning, understand how the major academic disciplines ask their questions, comprehend diverse cultures and historical periods, and assess ethical problems — alongside the depth you build in your major.

See the 2025-26 Catalog for official program details

Semester-by-Semester Map

Term 1

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15–16 units
CSCI 4
Introduction to Programming Concepts and Methodologies
3 units
course details

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of programming. Students will learn about the software development life-cycle, algorithms, and the design, implementation, and testing of programs using an object-oriented programming language. (C-ID COMP 112).

CSCI 40
Cisco Networks Level I
3 units
course details

The first course in the globally recognized Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) curriculum introduces the architectures, models, protocols, and networking elements that connect users, devices, applications and data through the Internet and across modern computer networks - including IP addressing and Ethernet fundamentals. By the end of the course, students can build simple local area networks (LAN) that integrate IP addressing schemes, foundational network security, and perform basic configurations for routers and switches.

CSCI 49
PCs and Peripherals/A+
4 units
course details

This course provides an introduction to the computer hardware and software skills needed to help meet the growing demand for entry-level Information & Communication Technology (ICT) professionals. The fundamentals of computer hardware and software as well as advanced concepts such as security, networking, cloud computing, and the responsibilities of an ICT professional will be introduced. A special emphasis is placed on software, hardware, and network troubleshooting techniques. This course is intended to help students prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exams. (C-ID ITIS 110).

General Education: Area 1A

about Area 1A

English Composition

Baccalaureate-level academic writing — expository and argumentative. The foundation for every other course you'll write in.

Graduation Requirement Choice (See GE Guide)

Term 2

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15–18 units
CSCI 41
Cisco Networks Level II
3 units
course details

The second course in the globally recognized Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) curriculum focuses on switching technologies and router operations that support small-to-medium business networks and includes wireless local area networks (WLAN) and security concepts. Students learn key switching and routing concepts. They can perform basic network configuration and troubleshooting, identify and mitigate LAN security threats, and configure and secure a basic WLAN.

Prerequisite: CSCI 40

CSCI 50
CompTIA Cloud+
3 units
course details

This course will give students the skills necessary to evaluate and implement standard cloud deployments. Students will use cloud technologies, including network, storage, and virtualization components, to create cloud solutions. Students will also manage workload migrations, manage cloud vendors to control costs, use automation and orchestration to bring business value from cloud solutions, and ensure cloud security. This course provides full coverage of the objectives for the CompTIA Cloud+ certification and will help prepare students to take the exam.

CSCI 52
IT Support Professional
3 units
course details

This is a 5-module industry certification program to prepare for an entry-level customer support job in IT. It will provide an understanding of the soft skills required for customer service and technical support fundamentals, computer networking, being an operating systems power user, basics of systems administration and supporting infrastructure services, and IT security.

General Education: Area 2

about Area 2

Mathematical Concepts and Quantitative Reasoning

College-level mathematics or quantitative reasoning — the toolkit behind science, business, and informed citizenship.

General Education: Area 3

about Area 3

Arts and Humanities

How people and cultures, across time, respond to themselves and the world through artistic and cultural creative production. Visual and performing arts, art history, foreign languages, literature, philosophy, religion.

Term 3

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15–17 units
CSCI 25
Linux 1
3 units
course details

In this course students learn the fundamental concepts of the Linux operating system and the basic skills needed to work productively on a Linux system. Topics covered include installation, basic configuration, and package management, fundamental command-line tools, text editing with the vi (visual editor), the File Hierarchy Standard (FHS), processes, and permissions. Students will configure, script, and work exclusively in a shell (text-based, command-line) environment. This course prepares students for the globally recognized LPIC1-101 Certification test.

CSCI 42
Cisco Networks Level III
3 units
course details

The third course in the globally recognized Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) curriculum describes the architectures and considerations related to designing, securing, operating, and troubleshooting enterprise networks. This course covers wide area network (WAN) technologies and quality of service (QoS) mechanisms used for secure remote access along with the introduction of software-defined networking, virtualization, and automation concepts that support the digitalization of networks. Students gain skills to configure and troubleshoot enterprise networks, and learn to identify and protect against cybersecurity threats. They are introduced to network management tools and learn key concepts of software-defined networking, including controller-based architectures and how application programming interfaces (APIs) enable network automation.

Prerequisite: CSCI 41

CSCI 65
Microsoft SQL Database Administration
3 units
course details

This course addresses database management, both on-premises and cloud-based, along with different approaches for storing data. In the course, students define, develop, operate, and scale both Structured Query Language (SQL) and noSQL data storage solutions and basic related applications. This course considers strategic, operational, and ethical factors that should be balanced during the design of a storage solution. Students will apply principles using a common Relational Database Management System and SQL to create and fill tables, and to retrieve and manipulate data. Object-based APIs and noSQL solutions will be covered. Topics include automated backups, transaction logs, restoration, and retention. (C-ID ITIS 180).

Prerequisite: CSCI 49

Select one:

Required

3 units
Choose one of 2 choices
Choose one of 2 choices

General Education: Area 5

about Area 5

Physical and Biological Sciences

The physical universe, its life forms, and its natural phenomena — astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, oceanography, physics — taught alongside the scientific method that makes them work.

Term 4

Class Schedules

Pick a term:

Fall 2026Winter 2027Spring 2027Summer 2027

This will open the term course schedule not including GE requirements.

15–17 units
CSCI 17
Computer and Network Security/Security+
3 units
course details

This is an advanced course in computer and network security. This course will prepare students to evaluate, secure and manage network information assurance, and take the CompTIA Security+ certification exam. Course topics include threat management, security standards and protocols (including public key infrastructure and cryptography), intrusion detection and prevention, forensics, system recovery, and disaster planning. The principles of data integrity, user accountability, and policy management will be explored in detail. Students will develop and demonstrate intrusion detection skills utilizing a virtual network to configure and test security procedures.

Select one:

Required

1–3 units
Choose one of 2 choices
Choose one of 2 choices

General Education: Area 1B

Only necessary if not already met.

about Area 1B

Oral Communication and Critical Thinking

Baccalaureate-level oral communication and/or critical thinking — speaking with structure to a live audience, analyzing arguments, identifying assumptions.

General Education: Area 4

about Area 4

Social and Behavioral Sciences

The systematic study of people as members of society — cultural anthropology, cultural geography, economics, history, political science, psychology, sociology — and the methods these disciplines use to ask their questions.

General Education: Area 6

about Area 6

Ethnic Studies

The histories, experiences, and contributions of the four autonomous disciplines: Black / African American / Africana studies, Native American studies, Chicano/a/x and Latino/a/x studies, and Asian American studies.

Elective (any course numbered 1-99 or C1000-C199)

Only necessary if the 60 units needed to graduate have not been completed. Consider taking a Cal-GETC General Education course. Visit www.assist.org to see options.

Career Connections

2-Year Degree Paths

Entry points students may pursue after associate-level study, technical preparation, or licensure pathways.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset point cleanly to an immediate 2-year outcome for this program.

4-Year Degree Paths

Roles that more often open up after transfer and a bachelor's degree.

Example roles: 2

  • Information Security Analysts
  • Computer Systems Analysts

Graduate School Paths

Advanced roles commonly associated with graduate, professional, or post-baccalaureate study.

No locally mapped occupations in the current dataset are grouped into the graduate-school pathway for this program.

Local Job Market

Information Security AnalystsSOC 15-12121 nearby opening

Search keyword used: information security analyst · Search window: last 60 days, 50-mile radius

Top employers in sample

  • DecisionPoint Corporation 1

Where the postings are

  • Marysville, Yuba County 1

Sample current postings

  1. IT Security Analyst with Security ClearanceDecisionPoint Corporation · Marysville, Yuba County · 2 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Computer Systems AnalystsSOC 15-12112 nearby openings

Search keyword used: systems analyst · Search window: last 30 days, 25-mile radius · Avg listed salary: $82,388/yr

Top employers in sample

  • City of Chico 1
  • Enloe Health 1

Where the postings are

  • Butte Creek, Butte County 1
  • Chico, Butte County 1

Sample current postings

  1. Epic Application Analyst (Full-Time, Exempt)Enloe Health · Chico, Butte County · 2 days ago
  2. Geographic Information Systems AnalystCity of Chico · Butte Creek, Butte County · 2 weeks ago

See all openings on Adzuna

Posting counts come from Adzuna's index of US job boards, covering the last up to 60 days within up to 50 miles of ZIP 95965. Coverage and salary visibility vary by employer. Empty searches expand the radius and posting window before the section gives up.

Source Notes

Course sequencing is generated from the Acadia Program Mapper cache. Career groupings use local CIP-to-SOC mappings and BLS occupation data when available. Confirm education plans with Counseling and Advising.

Career Connections used a same-family CIP fallback because this exact CIP was not in the NCES/IPEDS crosswalk (11.0101).

Live wage data was not available from the BLS helper for the mapped occupations, so some pay fields may be blank.

Last generated 2026-06-12T23:21+00:00