Introduction to Systems Architecture  

About this course

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 12-13% job growth for computer systems and network architects in the coming years. This course is your first step toward entering the field of IT systems architecture. You’ll begin looking at systems and solutions architects’ roles, responsibilities, and skills, and exploring career paths with certifications to enhance your expertise. You'll then explore systems thinking, identify key system components, and learn how they interact within an organization. You'll also analyze business processes and apply the systems development life cycle (SDLC) to guide project planning. Next, you’ll analyze systems/software architecture and design principles to visualize system structure with tools like UML, apply object-oriented analysis, and grasp architectural patterns such as layered, client-server, and microservices. Plus, you’ll examine deployment models and production environments to learn how real-world systems are delivered. You’ll work with tools like data flow diagrams (DFDs), entity-relationship diagrams (ERDs), and prototyping software to support documentation and stakeholder communication. Through hands-on labs and a project, you'll start to design scalable, maintainable systems tailored to business needs.  Enroll today to kickstart your journey to becoming a successful systems or solutions architect!

Course objectives

• Introduce the field of IT systems architecture
• Explore career paths and certifications
• Teach the analysis of systems interaction within organizations
• Guide students in designing scalable systems