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Undergraduate Certificates

Hands-On Information Technology Experience

Online Undergraduate Certificate in Information Technology Essentials

As the technology industry evolves faster and faster, both new and experienced professionals need to regularly expand their knowledge of information technology. You can develop the core skills you need for an information technology (IT) role with DeVry University's 100% online IT Essentials Certificate. This online IT certificate program is designed to expose you to concepts across the broad field of tech, preparing you to pursue roles in a wide variety of organizations.

Gain hands-on experience with Internet of Things (IoT) projects, networking, digital devices, programming, operating systems and more. All these skills and courses can help jumpstart your IT career through our IT Essentials certificate program.

Elements of the curriculum will also help you prepare to pursue industry IT certifications like:

  • CompTIA A+

  • CompTIA LINUX+

  • CompTIA NETWORK+

  • CompTIA Cloud+

Better yet, you can earn your Undergraduate Certificate in Information Technology Essentials in as little as 8 months1—or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits.

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Tech Essentials Grant

This program is eligible for our Tech Essentials Grant, which is available to new and readmit undergraduate students. This grant offers $2,400 toward the cost of your IT Essentials certificate program upon completion.2 Please see the catalog for complete admissions requirements.

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100% Online Information Technology Essentials Certificate classes start every 8 weeks.

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Quick Facts
How long is the Cyber Security Certificate Program?

  • 8 courses

  • 23 minimum credit hours

  • As little as eight months1—or even more quickly with qualifying transfer credits

  • 01 Knowledge & Skills
  • 02 Embedded Programs
  • 03 Career
  • 04 Program Courses
  • 05 FAQs
  • 06 Catalog Download
Knowledge & Skills

Information Technology (IT) Essentials Certificate Program – What You Can Learn

Our IT Essentials program is designed to help you develop the skills needed to find your place in the broad field of IT through projects and coursework. DeVry's IT Essentials Certificate covers the following disciplines and skills:

Networking

Gain working knowledge of the underlying technology of local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs) and the internet. Some of the skills and disciplines you'll explore through networking courses in this program include:

  • Networking media Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model

  • Transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP)

  • Routing and switching

  • Small network configuration and troubleshooting

Problem-Solving and Data Analysis

Learn to apply critical and analytical thinking to identify problems, evaluate options and implement solutions. Courses in this area can help you draw conclusions through pattern recognition and identifying relationships in numerical data.

Digital Devices

Explore digital concepts, devices and connectivity within the realm of the Internet of Things (IoT). Topics include networking, securing and deploying digital devices. These essential courses will help you understand the functionality of different devices and better deploy them within networks and processes.

Technology Principles through Programming

Learn to apply your knowledge of technology principles through programming to solve well-defined technology problems. Python is the primary programming language used. Courses in this area can reinforce your understanding of machine logic, which should help you gain a more holistic and intuitive sense of how devices and networks function.

Information Technology Essentials Admission Requirements

Students must place in MATH062 & ENGL062 or above. To begin program coursework, students may need to complete transitional studies courses first, if applicable.3 Please see the catalog for complete admissions requirements.

Information Technology Essentials and Financial Aid and Grants

When considering your IT Essentials certificate program options, know that we’ve made a strong commitment to making our programs more affordable for you. Through our commitment to affordability, during the 2020-2021 award year, DeVry University has assisted students by awarding  more than $57 Million  in student financial assistance4 through partner tuition savings, institutional scholarships and university grants.

Explore Financial Aid Options
Embedded Programs

Build Skills With Stackable Degrees

Earn a Credential at Every Step

You don’t have to wait four years to show a credential on your resume. At DeVry, several programs are designed to stack.5 You can start with a credential that takes less time in order to save money and build towards any future education you choose to pursue. At the same time, a credential like this can immediately be added to your resume should you choose to take a break in your education after earning it.

Certificates at DeVry are earned through flexible online and on-site classes that help you build your professional skills right away.

How Do Credentials Stack?

This online IT Essentials certificate can be a stepping stone to the Associate in Information Technology and Networking program. If you choose to continue with your education at DeVry after earning this certificate, all credits earned through this program will apply to an Associate in Information Technology and Networking degree, which then stacks into a bachelor’s degree in:

Find Out More
Bachelor's
+60-64
Credit hours remaining
120-124
Total
Associate
+37
Credit hours remaining
60
Total
Certificate
23
Credit Hours
Career

Job Opportunities in the Information Technology (IT) Field

At DeVry, we design our classes to help you gain the confidence you need to hit the ground running in the information technology workforce. Graduates with our online IT essentials undergraduate certificate may consider entry-level opportunities in positions such as:

  • Computer Network Support Specialist

    Also called technical support specialists, these professionals analyze, troubleshoot and evaluate computer network problems. This career path primarily focuses on technical knowledge but can be enhanced by good communication skills that enable you to communicate technical needs to managers and company leaders.

  • IT Help Desk Support Specialist

    The IT help desk support specialist, also known as user support specialists or technicians, will work directly with individual employees – who generally do not have a background in IT – to assist with computer problems. This role also specializes in avoiding jargon to help diagnose computer problems and requires elements of customer service, communication and technical knowledge.

  • Entry-Level Network System Administrator

    The LAN system administrator will deploy and administer wireless infrastructure and supporting network systems. While this is an entry-level position, an undergraduate certificate in IT essentials can communicate the level of knowledge that employers want to see as networks become increasingly vital to company productivity.

  • Computer Systems Analyst

    The computer systems analyst ensures that all of the computer systems impacting organizational goals are supported. This role looks at the strengths and weakness of existing systems to identify areas for improvement. It's an excellent career path for the more analytically minded and is also great for those who are able to clearly communicate issues and solutions to decision-makers at a company.

Program Courses

Information Technology Essentials Courses

Mathematics
MATH114
Algebra for College Students
Tech Core
CEIS101C
Introduction to Technology and Information Systems
CEIS106
Introduction to Operating Systems
CEIS110
Introduction to Programming
CEIS114
Introduction Digital Devices
NETW191
Introduction to Information Technology & Networking
NETW211
Fundamentals of Cloud Computing
Career Preparation
CEIS299
Careers and Technology

IT Essentials FAQs

A certificate in information technology essentials from DeVry can help prepare you for a career by giving you the hands-on experience you need to pursue relevant roles across a variety of industries. By completing our online IT Essentials certificate program, you can also apply your qualifying credits toward these associate degree programs at DeVry:

Every course from your associate degree program then stacks into a qualifying bachelor’s degree program at DeVry:

The importance of having an undergraduate IT certificate will depend on the specific area of IT and the company for which you wish to work. However, a certificate in IT demonstrates your expertise in the discipline to prospective employers.

It's helpful to remember that IT is a cornerstone of any successful business today. Employers have started to implement stricter standards when it comes to the qualifications of those who they hire into this department. A certificate can help you prove to an employer that you're knowledgeable in IT.

Different employers have varying standards when it comes to IT work. In general, a higher level of education, whether that be an undergraduate IT essentials certificate or another technology degree, may help you stand out amongst other applicants. As the IT profession develops more standards and protocols, it's likely that a certificate or degree will become essential for many positions in information technology.

To earn a certificate in IT essentials at DeVry, you will need to complete 8 courses totaling a minimum of 23 credit hours. The program includes classes such as:

  • Introduction to Technology

  • Information Systems

  • Introduction to Operating Systems

Apply here to begin.

Graduates of DeVry’s certificate in information technology essentials program may consider careers such as:

  • Computer Network Support Specialist

  • IT Helpdesk Support Specialist

  • Entry Level Network Administrator

  • Computer Systems Analyst

To begin coursework for DeVry’s online IT Essentials certificate program, you must have a high school diploma or GED and must place in MATH062 & ENGL062 or above. If applicable, you must also complete transitional studies courses.3

Please see Academic Catalog for complete admissions requirements.

The benefits of information technology are broad, but include the ability to protect and store information, automate processes, gain remote access to systems and communicate on a global scale. IT professionals are essential to maintain smooth workflow between departments, help reduce frustration and increase cost savings. The best IT professionals anticipate issues before they arise and can build systems that have a degree of futureproofing to protect companies from costly process breakdowns.

Academic Catalog
2023-2024 Academic Catalog
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Program Guides
Program Overview
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1Not including breaks. Assumes year-round, full-time enrollment.
2Restrictions apply. Please see Scholarships and Grants page for complete details.
3Transitional studies coursework may affect program length and cost.
4Data is inclusive of all partner tuition savings, institutional scholarships and grants for the period for July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021.
5The figures displayed represent the minimum credit hours required for graduation. At the time of application to the next credential level, an evaluation of qualifying transfer credit will occur and the most beneficial outcome will be applied.