Lone Star College–Lone Star College–University Park began offering a faster, more self-directed program for students to earn competency-based IT certificates March 17. The program, which provides a total of 26 credit hours, can be completed online in its entirety.

The program is designed to appeal to students looking for a flexible, customizable means of earning a certificate, said Mark Curtis-Chavez, LSC-University Park dean of instruction.

"By utilizing skill sets students already have, they can work through the modules at their own pace and demonstrate their understanding of the concepts when they are ready to move forward toward earning the certificate at a pace that makes sense to them," he said.

The new program starts with a Certificate in Information Technology Core. Courses include introduction to PC operating systems, PC hardware, fundamentals of networking technologies and computer programming. More information is online at www.lonestar.edu/ait.