CompTIA a+ Network syllabus

Course outcomes and preparation

• Use authorized client and system tools to explain and verify basic support tasks.
• Document safe configuration, access, diagnostic and recovery decisions with evidence.
• Demonstrate readiness for the next certification-preparation course; this foundation block does not award a certification.

CompTIA a+ Network is one eight-week beginner foundation block. Plan 6–9 hours of independent reading, lesson review, handouts, practice questions, lab evidence and remediation weekly, plus the three-hour meeting (9–12 total). This college-style example expands the vendor's core topics with supervised practice and professional documentation; the estimate is not a vendor duration or a college credit-hour determination. No prior networking or cybersecurity job experience is assumed, but basic computer use and reliable access to the authorized lab environment are needed. Read before class, spread practice across the week and reserve weekend lab time. Taking both foundation examples at once would mean 18–24 total hours weekly and requires a conflict-free schedule arranged by the instructor.

Class meets Mondays, January 11–March 1, 2027, 5:45–8:45 PM Central. These sample offerings share a calendar; only 107 and 108 are arranged as a concurrent pair.

Prepare → Quiz → Chapter labs → Closeout

Read assigned material, review authorized slides and submit the completed graded handout before class at 5:45 PM. Include reading references, original explanations, lab planning and two questions. Opening quiz: 5:45–6:00. Supervised labs: 6:00–8:10, including a 7:00–7:10 break. Closeout: 8:10–8:45 lecture, corrections, Q&A and announcements.

Outside class, complete at least 45 instructor-approved foundation practice questions each week, submit results and remediate three weak concepts. Complete every approved matching NETLAB or licensed remote-lab title with a separately documented section in the graded weekly portfolio. Submit a reflection and professional handoff.

Hybrid deadlines are the following Sunday at midnight, end of day, Central (12:00 AM the next day). Preparation and supervised classwork retain their earlier deadlines. Eight-week study requires substantial dedicated outside time, reliable lab access and attendance.

Unique weekly reading and lab plan

Assessment and grading

Items share their category equally. A 90–100; B 80–89.99; C 70–79.99; D 60–69.99; F below 60. Missing/ungraded items count zero provisionally. Pre-final coursework is normalized over the combined 70%. At least 70% pre-final coursework and a passing final guarantee at least 70% overall, or the higher weighted result.

Lab rubric: correct result/procedure 40%, reasoning/evidence 30%, permissions/safety/data handling 20%, documentation 10%. Handouts: accuracy 50%, completeness/references 30%, explanations/questions 20%. Practice: verified minimum count 50%, result evidence 25%, remediation 25%. Reflection: technical reasoning 50%, evidence 30%, handoff 20%. Quiz prompts share credit equally.

College policies govern accommodations, integrity, late work, absences, withdrawal and final grade approval. Arrange supervised make-ups and any extensions with the instructor. Use only authorized environments and submit original work. Do not upload exam questions, dumps, live credentials or private customer data. Exact licensed chapter/page assignments, slides and installed remote-lab titles must be approved before delivery; this portal does not provide vendor licenses.

FOUNDATION COURSE FINALE / TWO SEPARATE ASSESSMENTS

Comprehensive lab → Instructor final

1. Comprehensive lab — 30%

Monday, March 1, 2027, 5:45–8:45 PM America/Chicago, is one comprehensive lab day. After the opening readiness quiz, complete the two assigned integrated stations independently under supervision; each station contributes half of the 30% practical category.

Demonstrate the course's beginner client, network, system, automation and data-handling skills. Record baseline observations, authorized scope, hypotheses, procedure, verification and a professional handoff. Preserve disposable or supplied evidence and explain when to escalate. The assigned station prompts define the course-specific tasks.

Practical rubric: correct procedure/result 40%; reasoning/evidence 30%; safety, permissions and data handling 20%; documentation 10%.

2. Instructor final assessment — 30%

Complete a separate instructor-scheduled final after the practical and by Sunday, March 7, 2027 at midnight, end of day. The instructor announces the supervised session and access arrangements. This example does not administer or require a separate CompTIA certification exam for the foundation course.

The final assesses terminology in context, interpretation of supplied settings or logs, selection of a safe support/control action, verification and escalation. It is scored 0–100 by the instructor. Submit the assigned responses and evidence privately as FinalAssessment; no scaled certification score or vendor pass claim is used.

Final rubric: technical accuracy 40%; evidence interpretation and reasoning 30%; appropriate safe action and escalation 20%; clear documentation 10%. Review your lesson checks, handouts, lab corrections and remediation log before the scheduled session. Exact final prompts are supplied by the instructor for the assessment.

C-or-better guarantee

At least 70% in pre-final coursework, including the comprehensive lab and normalized over the combined 70% non-final weight, plus at least 70% on the instructor final guarantees a final course grade of at least 70% (C), or the higher weighted result. Missing/ungraded work counts zero in provisional totals. A portal course grade is not a CompTIA credential or a vendor-issued completion award.

Next step: CompTIA Network+ training when ready. Foundation completion does not replace the requirements or official exam of that separate certification pathway.