M&IS 44293, "Workshop in Professional I.S. Certification"

Introduction

This is a credit-for-exam course offered in the form of a workshop. The sole purpose of the course is to set up conditions that enable you to prepare for and pass one or more Microsoft or other vendor's professional certification exams. Here are the key aspects of the workshop.

• Passing at least one of the appropriate Microsoft certification exams qualifies you as a "Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist" (MCTS). MCTS status can help you get a better job, may lead to higher income, and will mark you as a standout professional while still in school; most importantly, one exam passed will start you on the road to higher level certifications. Once you pass one exam, the rest of the exams will seem much easier.
• You may choose instead to take an exam for this course that counts toward your eventual certification as a Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD). This process begins with one of the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) exams.
• Not everyone in the workshop will take the same exam; your selection will depend on your technical experience, whether you have passed any other exams, your personal interests, and your long-term career goals.
• Each person in the workshop will select an exam to prepare for in the first two days of class; I'll guide you on obtaining study materials and books, and we'll construct a plan of study for you. See this certification master overview guidance panel for the complete list of Microsoft exams from which you could choose. 
• The function of the workshop will be to provide you with a block of concentrated time for certification exam preparation, with support from an instructor and from other students, and in a situation where you are receiving credit hours in exchange for your efforts. Busy people might never take the time to prepare for an exam, but in this format it is worth it because it counts as a course.
• You will be doing primarily self-study but will have access to electronic assistance from the instructor.
• The workshop a certification exam fee of $83 (student pricing) per each Microsoft exam taken, whether you pass or fail. The non-student price is $150. Other vendor exams, such as VmWare carry different fees. Exams are taken at a Prometric testing center  -- you pay the exam fee directly to Prometric.
• Your exam fee will be reimbursed at the student price of $83 by the Center for Information Systems if you are one of the first 10 people in the section to pass a certification exam during the duration of the Fall course.
• For best results, you should all plan to take a first certification exam no later than the end of September.
• Course grading is straightforward: If you pass one or more certification exams on or before December 7, you get an "A." If you take but do not pass a certification exam on or before December 7, you will get a "B" in the course. No exam attempted means a "C," unless you can show extreme financial hardship associated with the cost of the exam. Blatant failure to show for class could result in a course grade of "D."
• If you pass an exam on the first try you need not stay for the rest of the workshop unless you wish to use the opportunity to prepare for a second certification exam.  
• You also may want to look into obtaining a VMware VCA certification. This certification is acceptable for our course, but does not carry as much weight in the IS/IT industry as a Microsoft or a Cisco certification. Please read this article as you consider whether it would benefit your career and your resume to pursue a VCA certification. http://blog.pluralsight.com/vmware-vca-certification  As of June 2014 the cost of a VMware VCA exam is $120.00 and the CIS will not reimburse this fee because the exam is non-proctored.