Germanna | Faculty | Gerald Miller

Course Textbook Requirements

These textbooks are those associated with courses Mr. Miller has recently taught or is currently teaching. The student should always check for currency before purchasing.

ITE 115
Computer Concepts and Applications
Microsoft Office 2007 Introductory Concepts and Techniques, XP Edition,Shelly Cashman Series, ISBN-10 1-4188-4327-X

ITN 120
Wireless Administration
Wireless # Guide to Wireless Communications, Olenewa and Ciampa, 2nd Ed, ISBN 978-1-4188-3699- 3

ITN 154
Understanding Networking
Network Fundamentals -- CCNA companion Guide, Dye,McDonald, and Rufi, Cisco Press ISBN 978-1-58713-208-7

ITN 208
Communications and Protocols 2
Guide to TCP/IP, Chappell and Tittel, 3nd Ed, ISBN 0-619-21242-X

ITN 260
Network Security Basics
Information Security Illustrated, Solomon and Chapple, 1st Ed, ISBN 0-7637-2677-X

ITN 261
Network Defense, Cybercrime and Ethical Hacking
Counter Hack Reloaded, Skoudis and Liston, 2nd Ed, ISBN 0-13-148104-5

ITN 262
Network Defense and Authentication
Principles of Information Security, 3rd Ed, Whitman and Mattford, ISBN 978-1-4239-0177-8

ITN 263
Intranet/Internet Firewalls and Ecommerce
Firewalls and VPNs, Richard Tibbets/Edward Oakes, ISBN 0-13-154731-3

ITN 266
Network Security Layers
Fundamentals of Network Security, Eric Maiwald, McGraw Hill, ISBN 0-07-223093-2

ITN 275
Incident Response and Computer Forensics
Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations, Nelson, Phillips, Enfinger, and Steuart, 3rd Ed, ISBN-10 1-4180-6733-4

IST Program Descriptions

Associate of Applied Science Degree (IST)
AAS (IST)
  Information Management
  Network Security

AAS Networking Major

Associate of Applied Science Degree Career Studies Certificates

   Microcomputer Operations and Applications

   Networking

   E-Commerce

Cisco Networking Courses

Discussions with Germanna’s IT Advisory Committee and local IT employers have made it clear that the need for Cisco training remains strong and, in fact, is growing. Germanna has responded to those needs with the establishment of a Networking Major focused on Cisco training.

The Network Major is designed around four VCCS Cisco oriented courses:

ITN 154 - Networking Fundamentals - Cisco

Provides introduction to networking using the OSI reference model. Includes data encapsulation, TCP/IP suite, routing, IP addressing, and structured cabling design and implementation.

ITN 155 - Introductory Routing - Cisco

Features an introduction to basic router configuration using Cisco IOS software. Includes system components, interface configuration, ip network design, troubleshooting techniques, configuration and verification of IP addresses, and router protocols.

ITN 156 - Basic Switching and Routing - Cisco

Centers instruction in LAN segmentation using bridges, routers, and switches. Includes fast Ethernet, access lists, routing protocols, spanning tree protocol, virtual LANS and network management.

ITN 157 - WAN Technologies - Cisco

Concentrates on an introduction to Wide Area Networking (WANs). Includes WAN design, LAPB, Frame Relay, ISDN, HDLC, and PPP.

The VCCS courses align closely with Cisco curriculum as follows:

ITN 154 – Exploration 1 (Networking fundamentals)
ITN 154 – Exploration 2 (Routing Protocols and Concepts)
ITN 155 – Exploration 3 (LAN Switching and Wireless)
ITN 156 – Exploration 4 (Accessing the WAN)

These courses will prepare the student for CCNA Certification if so desired. The student is not required to seek CCNA certification. Certification is not a condition for award of the Germanna AAS(IST) (Networking Major) degree. Having said that, potential IT employers look very favorably on those with CCNA certification.

Network Security Course Transferability

The University of Mary Washington has established a Network Security study concentration in their Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) Program. The following extract from the UMW catalog is currently oriented on NVCC. Germanna has restructured its Network Security curriculum to align with that shown below.

Germanna’s new catalog for 2009-2011 will reflect this alignment. Specifically, ITN 262, ITN 266, and ITN293 have been added to Germanna’s AAS (IST) (Network Security)

“BPS students who complete, with a C or higher, the following 24 credits in Network Security from the Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) and transfer these credits to the College will receive 18 credits required for the concentration in Network Security and 6 elective credits. Students must register through NVCC and provide an official transcript to the Office of the Registrar upon completion of the courses. For more information, students should contact the BPS program codirector.

NVCC NETWORK SECURITY COURSES

ITN 260 Network Security Basics (3 credits)
ITN 261 Network Attacks, Computer Crime, and Hacking (4 credits)
ITN 262 Network Communication, Security, and Authentication (4 credits)
ITN 263 Internet/Intranet Firewalls and E-Commerce Security (4 credits)
ITN 266 Network Security Layers (3 credits)
ITN 267 Cyberlaw (3 credits)
ITN 293 Studies in Network Security: Capstone Course (3 credits)”

Degree Completion Assessment

Adoption and scheduling IST classes requires a continuous dialogue between Germmanna's service area employers and Germanna's IST Department Faculty to ensure that the needs of the service area community are met. The Associate Applied Science Degree is programmed on a 2-year cycle with each IST class being taught at least once during the 2 year cycle. In general, IST classes are not taught in consecutive semesters.

Numerous students have commented that the form of the SIS produced Transcript is confusing and a simpler presentation of their record linked more directly to the appropriate college catalog is needed. The link cited here is designed to address that concern and to assist the student in planning their class registration while concurrently providing information to Germanna to facilitate "fine tuning" of class schedules.(Degree Completion Assessment Form)

Student Actions: Students should download the assessment form and their transcript. They should then complete the basic demographic information on the form and then seek a counseling session with their assigned IT faculty member.

Instructor Background

Mr. Miller is a graduate of the University of Arizona (Mathematics), the University of Rochester (NY) (Operations Research/Systems Analysis), the National Defense University (National Security) and numerous US Army technical service schools.

Mr. Miller retired from the US Army with 24 years of service in the Signal Corps after which he joined a National Defense Contractor serving in various technical and leadership positions. In 1996 he began teaching as an adjunct instructor at Northern Virginia Community College and at Germanna Community College. He became a full-time member of the Germanna Community College in 2004.

Mr Miller has been married for 44 years to his wife Beatrice. They have four children -- all boys and seven grandchildren. They also enjoy the company of a Golden Retriever named Poppy. Mrs. Miller is a paralegal working for Fairfax County.

In his spare time Mr. Miller enjoys the company of his family, landscaping, and researching his family heritage.

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Web page last updated: 22 January 2008