- An undergraduate course
in
Computing and IT
and
Engineering, Technology and Design.
Cisco networking (CCNA)
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| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | T216 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
Cisco Systems are market leaders in supplying networking equipment for the internet. They also have a well-established educational programme for network professionals. As a Cisco Academy, The Open University offers the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Exploration curriculum, which provides the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to configure a LAN/WAN using Cisco equipment. You’ll also gain hands-on experience of configuring networks at four compulsory day schools. When you’ve completed the course you should be well prepared for the industry-standard CCNA certification examination. You’ll need to make your own arrangements to sit this – there are exam centres all over the world.
Modules at Level 2 assume that you are suitably prepared for study at this level. If you want to take a single module to satisfy your career development needs or pursue particular interests, you don’t need to start at Level 1 but you do need to have adequately prepared yourself for OU study in some other way. Check with our Student Registration & Enquiry Service to make sure that you are sufficiently prepared.
Register for the course
What you will study
Cisco qualifications are highly regarded in the networking industry and their position at the leading edge of network development means that their academy program is right up to date.
You’ll study this course using an online virtual learning environment provided by Cisco, and develop practical skills, using real networking equipment, at the four compulsory day schools. View a sample ‘chapter’ of the CCNA curriculum.
Pearson VUE offer the CCNA certification exam – visit their website to find the locations of their centres.
The day schools are essential for gaining a full understanding of how to configure network equipment. You’ll be expected to configure routers and switches as part of the practical activities carried out at the day schools. The activities will be carried out in groups, and you’ll need to prepare for these day schools using simulation tools provided as part of the online curriculum. Cisco insist that day schools are included in this course, which reflects the importance they place on the practical component.
The course is structured into four parts:
1) Network Fundamentals covers network protocol models and layering; IP addressing and masking; basic cabling and network design; and basic router, workstation and switch configuration.
2) Routing Protocols and Concepts covers configuration of router interfaces and routing protocols, and classless IP addressing schemes.
3) LAN Switching and Wireless covers troubleshooting TCP/IP layers; switch configuration including VLANs; manage IOS configuration; and basic wireless networking.
4) Accessing the WAN covers voice over IP, DHCP and DNS; access control lists and network security; and WAN technology and protocols.
Each part includes a Cisco final examination which is taken at the day school. On successful completion of each final examination you will be awarded a Cisco completion certificate (these are different to the overall CCNA certification exam).
Full details of the Cisco Academy Program are available on the Academy website.
Day schools
T216 includes 4 compulsory day schools. You must attend all four day schools if you want to pass this course and gain the completion certificates from Cisco.
Day schools will be held on Saturdays (and occasional Sundays at specific venues) and there will be a choice of dates (usually 2 different weekends, per venue, per day school). The cost of attendance at the day schools is included in the course fee but you’re expected to make your own travel arrangements. In exceptional circumstances an alternative learning experience (ALE) can be provided. Exceptional circumstances include students who are registered disabled, the carer of a registered disabled person, members of HM Forces (or their dependants) serving abroad or HM Government employees (or their dependants) working abroad. Other applications will be considered on an individual basis.
Unless you need to study T216 as part of an OU qualification, do not choose this module if you think that you will be unable to travel to the day school. Students outside of the UK and Ireland may prefer to study for Cisco CCNA at a local academy.
Venues for day schools will depend on student numbers and are likely to be in Luton, Kingston-upon-Thames, Birmingham, Sunderland, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Camborne (Cornwall), Glasgow and Dublin.
Vocational relevance
On completion of the Cisco CCNA® Exploration curriculum, you’ll be in a position to take the CCNA certification exam, a widely recognised work-based qualification. This is available at Pearson Vue venues and is not organised by The Open University (OU).
The CCNA is an internationally sought certification, equally recognised by the IT and Telecommunications sectors as the starting point for career progression and development for network engineers. Taking the CCNA at the OU, enables you to gain essential academic credit as part of the qualifications listed below, which enhances your long term career prospects.
The OU also offers the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) programme using the latest CCNP curriculum. This comprises a set of four 30-credit modules at postgraduate level and leads to the award of an OU Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Networking.
Entry
This 60-credit course is studied over nine months. Please be aware that you will need to spend 16-20 hours per week studying this course over the nine-month period.
This is a Level 2 course, but no skill or knowledge in this area is assumed. Basic numeracy is expected. Because all of the study material is online, you should be confident in the use of a computer to access the web, and you should be prepared to spend most of your study time online. Broadband access is essential. The study material contains active content, which means that you will need to set up your firewall to allow pop-ups from the Cisco and OU sites.
The study material is provided by Cisco; see their website for an example.
Cisco amongst other industry leaders promotes diversity in their workforce and are working with The Open University to support women entrants into the CCNA program.
If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Module Regulations and the Student Regulations which are available on our Essential documents website.
If you have a disability
The study materials are available online. Some components may not be fully accessible using a screen reader. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Services for disabled students website for more information, including:
- help to determine your study requirements and how to request the support that you need
- Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)
- using a computer for OU study
- equipment and other support services that we offer
- examination arrangements
- how to contact us for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Study materials
What's included
Access to the Cisco study material and additional supplementary material supplied via the website. Four hands-on compulsory day schools (please ensure you budget for travelling to these day schools).
You will need
You must have a broadband connection to the internet as the study material is only accessible online.
Computing requirements
You will need a computer with internet access to study this course as it includes online activities, which you can access using a web browser.
- If you have purchased a new desktop or laptop computer since 2007 you should have no problems completing the online activities.
- If you’ve got a netbook, tablet or other mobile computing device check our Technical requirements section.
- If you use an Apple Mac you will need OS X 10.6 or later.
You can also visit the Technical requirements section for further computing information including the details of the support we provide.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material, mark and comment on your written work and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. Your tutor is the first point of contact for any queries on the course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).
At the end of each of the four parts of the Cisco curriculum, there is also a Cisco final self-assessment exam which is taken at the day schools. The mark you gain for this does not directly contribute to your overall OU course result, however in several TMAs there will be marks awarded according to your Cisco final examination results.
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2013. We expect it to be available once a year.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button.
Student Reviews
“This is not a course to take on lightly; it has a fairly heavy work load and is very demanding ...”
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“This was a very enjoyable and rewarding course. It is probably best to start with some sort of IT background ...”
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“We’re delighted you found T216 enjoyable and rewarding. T216 is delivered online to make use of the Cisco academy materials. ...”
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Distance learning
The Open University is the world’s leading provider of flexible, high quality distance learning. Unlike other universities we are not campus based. You will study in a flexible way that works for you whether you’re at home, at work or on the move. As an OU student you’ll be supported throughout your studies – your tutor or study adviser will guide and advise you, offer detailed feedback on your assignments, and help with any study issues. Tuition might be in face-to-face groups, via online tutorials, or by phone.
For more information read Distance learning explained.
Undergraduate
| Course facts | |
|---|---|
| About this course: | |
| Course code | T216 |
| Credits | 60 |
| OU Level | 2 |
| SCQF level | 9 |
| FHEQ level | 5 |
| Course work includes: | |
| 5 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | |
| Examination | |
| No residential school | |
Your questions
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