Specialty: Computer administration of software applications
Education and qualification degree: PROFESSIONAL BACHELOR
Form of education: FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, DISTANCE
Training duration: 3 years
Area of higher education: 5. TECHNICAL SCIENCES
Professional Field: 5.3. COMMUNICATION AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY
Qualification: PROFESSIONAL BACHELOR OF COMPUTER ADMINISTRATION OF SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS
Credits according to ECTS: 180
I. SPECIALTY PROFILE
The Bachelor’s program in the “Computer Administration of Software Applications” specialty corresponds to professional field 5.3. “Communication and computer technology”.
The program is offered in full-time, part-time, and distance learning forms. The subjects in the curriculum are divided into three areas – mandatory, mandatory elective, and facultative. Professional bachelors are trained according to the credit system, which provides quality training, following EU requirements and directives. The education is based on theoretical education and practice in software systems administration, Internet and web technologies, computer networks, etc. The specialty is consistent with international standards in software systems administration and provides basic broad-profile training for the design, configuration, and administration of modern software systems and services. The education aims to prepare qualified specialists for the IT sector.
II. GOALS AND TASKS OF THE SPECIALTY
Objectives of the specialty
The goal of the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” for the “Professional Bachelor” is to respond to global challenges in the IT field by acquiring knowledge about modern IT technologies and building practical skills for independent or team-based problem-solving in the field of software systems administration.
Major goal
The goal of the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” for the “Professional Bachelor” is to respond to global challenges in the IT field by acquiring knowledge about modern IT technologies and building practical skills for independent or team-based problem-solving in the field of software systems administration.
Additional goals
Additional goals of the education in the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” are building skills for creative thinking, independence in solving problems, and the ability to work in a team.
Tasks:
1. Acquisition of modern knowledge, skills and competencies that are relevant to new trends in the field of software systems administration;
2. Creation of appropriate conditions for an educational environment that motivates students to develop skills for independent problem solving through research and application of scientific methods, tools and platforms;
3. Stimulating a creative attitude towards the tasks set by tolerating non-standard thinking and using alternative approaches.
4. Supporting the development of teamwork skills by stimulating the implementation of joint projects based on roles;
5. Building skills for independent acquisition of knowledge and skills in accordance with the rapidly changing requirements of the labor market.
III. QUALIFICATION STANDARD
III.1. Structure and organization of the learning process
The curriculum is structured into semester blocks based on mandatory, mandatory elective, and facultative subjects.
The compulsory block includes the disciplines that build the theoretical preparation of the students and the knowledge and competencies acquired by them in the professional field. Three compulsory main disciplines provide: general educational groups of knowledge about the scientific field; fundamental knowledge about the scientific field; specialized knowledge and skills in the subject area of the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications”.
Compulsory elective courses enrich students’ preparation in the specialty, allowing them to deepen their knowledge and skills in a chosen branch of software design or to acquire additional competencies in related areas, such as communication and presentation skills, management competencies, etc., facilitating their career realization.
Facultative subjects provide students with general knowledge following their interests, goals, and needs. These subjects in the curriculum play a supporting role in the educational process, and their list is updated according to trends in the scientific and social spheres, the preferences of students, and the specifics of their education.
The compulsory and elective subjects are accompanied by hours of extracurricular work during which students develop their skills for independent problem-solving and initiative and creativity.
The methodology of teaching, training and assessment is in line with the European forms and directives for quality education and lifelong learning. The specialty applies cutting-edge and effective forms of training, combining theory and practice. Multimedia technologies, use of web-based platforms for e-learning, assignment of individual and group tasks are widely used. Various forms are used in assessment in order to improve student motivation and minimize the subjective factor. Current and final electronic and paper tests, project development, solving tasks and cases are applied.
II.2. Acquired knowledge, skills and competencies
Area and scope of knowledge
The graduate of the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” possesses:
◦ general knowledge of: presentation and communication skills, organizational behavior; basics of economics, digital economy, basics of management, corporate social responsibility;
◦ basic knowledge of: electrical engineering, electronics, computer architectures; operating systems, basics of cryptography;
◦ in-depth knowledge in the field of: programming languages and approaches; databases; information technology processes; cloud technologies and serverless computing, networks and protocols, administration of database management systems, administration of operating systems, administration of application servers.
Area and scope of skills
The graduate of the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” has skills in:
◦ configuring and administering operating systems;
◦ designing and managing software applications and databases;
◦ administering database management systems;
◦ administering application servers;
◦ administering local networks;
◦ independently acquiring new knowledge;
◦ working independently and in a team.
Competencies:
▪ Communication and social competencies
◦ communicative and empathetic skills for working with people;
◦ management of software projects, including their teams and resources;
◦ correct vocabulary for communicating with colleagues, partners and stakeholders, including the use of a foreign language at a good level;
◦ accurate and accessible presentation of ideas for solving professional problems;
▪ Professional competencies
◦ decisiveness in making decisions in complex conditions, under the influence of various interacting and difficult to predict factors;
◦ performing a business analysis of the assignment, identifying requirements;
◦ preparing a specification of requirements for information systems;
◦ collecting, classifying, evaluating and interpreting data from the IT field in order to solve specific practical problems;
◦ tracking and troubleshooting problems;
◦ applying the acquired knowledge and skills in new or unfamiliar conditions;
◦ using new strategic approaches to solving unforeseen problems arising in the work process.
IV. MAIN LEARNING OUTCOMES
Graduates of the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” possess the necessary knowledge, skills and competencies for successful professional realization in the field of programming, database design and specialized software, local network administration, server administration, expert and consulting services, etc. They have a solid theoretical base that allows them to continue their education at a higher educational and qualification level in the direction (master) 5.3. “Communication and computer technology”.
V. STANDARD CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION AND PROCEDURE FOR RECOGNITION OF PREVIOUS TRAINING.
During the course of study (after successfully passing exams), students of the specialty may transfer to another higher education institution or be accepted by one in the country and abroad, as the disciplines in which they were trained:
• are equated as mandatory (or are similar), according to the curriculum;
• are recognized as elective, if they correspond to the professional field;
• are accepted as optional, if they correspond to those set out in the curriculum.
The conditions and requirements for admission and the procedure for recognizing previous education are regulated on the basis of national regulatory bases and European directives, internal regulatory acts of the University of Applied Sciences, Regulations on the organization and activities of the University of Applied Sciences, Regulations on the educational activities at the University of Applied Sciences..
VI. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
The entire course of study ends with the defense of a diploma thesis or a comprehensive state exam in the specialty. Students who complete the full course of study in the specialty “Computer Administration of Software Applications” receive the educational and qualification degree “Professional Bachelor” in professional field 5.3. “Communication and Computer Engineering”, professional qualification “Professional Bachelor in Computer Administration of Software Applications” following the National Classifier of Higher Education Fields and Professional Fields, and following the state requirements for acquiring higher education in the Republic of Bulgaria.
VII. STUDENT IMPLEMENTATION OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates of the Computer Administration of Software Applications major find career opportunities as:
◦ programmers;
◦ specialists in process automation, cloud architectures and applications in software engineering;
◦ network administrators;
◦ database administrators;
◦ web administrators;
◦ IT specialist in small, medium, and large enterprises in industry and trade.