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Certificate Program in UNIX/Linux Operating Systems

Expand your knowledge of UNIX and Linux operating systems with UMass Lowell's flexible and affordable online certificate.

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UNIX and Linux Online Certificate Students
Alarm Clock Next Start Date: January 21

UNIX and Linux Online Certificate

Upgrade your skills with UMass Lowell's online UNIX/Linux certificate. This 6-course program is ideal if you have basic computer literacy and want to enter this fast-growing field or if you already work with computers and want to expand your abilities. The program curriculum emphasizes practical applications, building skills that are immediately applicable in the workplace and C Programming, the most common networking software language.

Many of the courses in the UNIX/Linux certificate program satisfy the requirements for the Associate's Degree in Information Technology or the Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology.

Just 6 Courses

Just 6 Courses

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One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation

Career Outlook

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% Change (2020-2021)
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Median Earnings
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Annual Openings
Learn more about specific IT career paths that align with your skills and interests at Navigating a Career in Information Technology.
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One Success Leads to Another

Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:

Curriculum Outline

Required Courses (6 / 18cr)

Note: Some of these courses are also offered on campus. See our current course listings on this site.

Course Descriptions

INFO.2670 C Programming (3cr)

Introduces students to the techniques of programming in C. The language syntax, semantics, its applications, and the portable library are covered. This course is an introductory course in programming. It does not assume previous programming experience.

Notes:

Students may not receive credit for both the INFO.2110/INFO.2120 sequence and INFO.2670
This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

INFO.2680 C++ Programming (3cr)

This course will cover the C++ language and show the student how to use the language. We will cover class construction, operator overloading, virtual functions, templates, and introduce the student to the IO streams. Inheritance and its use in creating extendible libraries will be presented. Object-oriented concepts will be presented in the context of the C++ language and its support for object-oriented programming.

Notes:


This course qualifies for free MSDNA software!

Requirements:

P: INFO.2670 or INFO.2120; requires C++ compiler software

INFO.3110 Introduction to the Linux/Unix Operating System (3cr)

Addresses manipulating and maintaining files within the UNIX file system; creating and editing text files using the vi and ed editors; using pipes, redirection, and filters; using advanced text processing utilities; using electronic mail; writing and debugging shell scripts; submitting and executing processes.

INFO.3120 Shell Scripting (3cr)

Teaches the students the techniques of programming in the high-level programming language of the Bourne, Korn, and BASH Shells. The course covers the building blocks necessary to create portable shell scripts that can be used as new utilities for computers running either UNIX, Linux, or the Cygwin environment on Windows.

Requirements:

INFO.3110, and INFO.2670 or INFO.2120

INFO.3210 Linux/Unix System Administration (3cr)

The course will start by exploring the booting and setting up stand-alone system. Students will learn how to set up and manage user accounts, how to manage other resources such as disk space, CPU usage and user access to shared resources with maximization of security in mind. Since virtually all systems are networked today we will proceed to learn about e-mail (POP and SMTP protocols), Web servers and networking services. The course will present the following Internet services: DNS, FTP, telnet, HTTP (Apache Web Server), SSH. The intranet topics will be discussed including Network File System (NFS), Network Information Services (NIS) and interoperability with Windows system via Samba. At the conclusion of the course students will explore topics in networking: network configuration, security and interoperability.

Requirements:

Shell Scripting experience; required software with tex

INFO.3600 Intro. to Data Structures with C (3cr)

This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of data structures such as stacks, queues, linear and linked lists, trees, graphs, hashing, etc., using the C programming language. Algorithms for manipulating these structures, such as sorting and searching techniques, will also be covered.

Requirements:

INFO 2670 C Programming or INFO 2120 Intro to Programming with C- part II.

Undergraduate Certificate Requirements

Students enrolled in UMass Lowell certificate programs must complete all courses and maintain a grade point average of 2.000 or better to earn the certificate. All certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period.

Certificate Completion

Students who successfully complete the certificate program should submit a Certificate Petition Form to have their certificate mailed to them.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.

Spring 2025 Tuition

Cost Per Credit Cost Per 3-Credit Course*

Undergraduate

Online and On Campus $385 $1,155
*Tuition is priced on the listed credit hour unless the contact hour is different. Tuition is then based upon the listed contact hour.

Additional Costs

Cost
Term Registration Fee $30
Returned Check Fee $30

Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Tuition Calculator

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Looking for Financial Assistance?

UMass Lowell offers a variety of financial aid and scholarship options.

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Applying into an Undergraduate Certificate Program

Apply to an undergraduate certificate program using the Online Application Form or by printing and completing the Undergraduate Certificate Application Form in .pdf file format. Applicants will be required to have either their official high school transcript, HiSET®, GED® or their most recent college transcript if applicable, sent to Graduate, Online & Professional Studies at the address below. Applications, transcripts, and other correspondence should be sent to:

University of Massachusetts Lowell
Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies
Undergraduate Admissions
839 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Lowell, MA 01854

Undergraduate certificate applications are accepted on an ongoing basis and there is no fee to apply. You will be notified upon acceptance.

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Questions Regarding Your Undergraduate Application?

Email OCE_Admissions@uml.edu or call 978-934-2474.

For General Assistance:

Call the Advising Center at 978-934-2474 or 800-480-3190. Our academic advisors are here to help!

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