IT Desktop Support Technician Technical Diploma

Add tech know-how to customer service and you get Madison College’s Desktop Support Technician program, which will prepare you to provide first-level technical support to resolve software, hardware and system problems for computer users.

Computer users are everywhere, along with their technical issues, creating a demand for superheroes with people-friendly fix-it skills throughout all industries, locally, nationally and around the world.

Whether you’re looking to start, advance or change your career, this program will give you the training to help you reach your goals. No advanced skills needed—just basic computer navigation knowledge and a passion for learning.

Technical Diploma Goals

The Desktop Support Technician program will train you in hardware and software installation, configuration and troubleshooting; basic network concepts; supporting new technologies; repairing workstations; and performing upgrades. You will gain an understanding of how a help desk or service desk functions and how customer service plays an important role in today’s world of technology. You’ll also learn to ensure that all customer requests and problems are dealt with quickly and effectively.

It Takes More Than Tech

We’ll teach you the technical skills to manage and support technical demands, but a successful desktop support technician is also:

A Critical Thinker

You like puzzles and games in which figuring out one challenge gets you to the next challenge. Instead of an instruction manual, you prefer a toolkit. You know how to combine past experience, problem solving skills, research and a bit of intuition to find solutions. 

A People Person

Much of this work is like customer service, so people in this field must not only be good with computers but also with people. You love to help people and are empathetic. A sense of humor doesn’t hurt either.

Even-Tempered

You are not easily rattled and you see something going wrong as a challenge rather than a problem. You can keep your head when others are losing theirs. 

Flexible

Much of desktop support is fixing broken tech. So, sometimes you’ll need to settle for a quick fix and sometimes you will need to work to find long-term solutions. The ability to be responsive to the need of the moment in a way that makes sense is key to keeping everything and everyone working smoothly. 

A Good Communicator

You’ll need to be able to communicate, verbally and in writing, in both technical and simple terms, what went wrong and how to stop it from happening again. 

Curious

The world of technology changes quickly. To stay on top of the latest advancements, be prepared to continue your education beyond the degree through professional advancement, online user groups and industry publications.

The associate degree curriculum is designed to help you hone these skills.

Real-world, Hands-on Learning

Desktop Support Technician classes are held in lab environments, so you get hands-on experience in every class. You’ll use Madison College’s state-of-the-art online lab environment to simulate the infrastructures various industries and tech companies actually use. That same lab is available to you 24/7 from any computer. All you need is an internet connection to do your work from anywhere. 

Madison College IT program students start coding on Day One.

Core classes teach technical skills in:

You’ll learn how systems work and how they can break and be put back together, but better. The program includes training in:

• Operating systems
• Networking and security
• Cloud Computing Platforms
• Virtualization technologies

Flexible Course Offerings

Students in the Network Systems Administration program can attend full or part time.

The core classes unique to the Network Systems Administration program are offered only online or during the day.

Network Systems Administration classes are offered at our Madison Truax campus.

If you start this program in the spring semester it may take 3 semesters to complete and classes are only offered in the daytime.

Your Credits Allow You to Ladder Up!

This Desktop Support Technician technical diploma is included in our two-year Network Systems Administration associate degree program. As a Madison College Desktop Support Technician student, you'll earn the technical diploma upon completion of the first-year curriculum automatically!

The Desktop Support Technician program also includes first year coursework for Cloud DevOps Specialist, Cybersecurity Specialist and Cyber Compliance Specialist associate degrees. If you choose to continue your education, your credits will seamlessly transfer into the associate degree program.