College Catalog

The Information Technology; Network Specialist Concentration major prepares students for a variety of careers related to network design, installation, and maintenance. Specifically, students gain proficiency in the technical aspects of a network, including monitoring, resource management, user management, and performance issues. The curriculum provides a working knowledge in common operating systems, including installation, configuration, scripting, user and resource management, troubleshooting and common system utilities. Graduates should be able to evaluate, analyze, design, manage, administer, and troubleshoot networks. Covered topics include networking basics and protocols, advanced networking protocols, wireless networks, transport and application protocols, programming languages, and operating systems. In addition, advanced platform skills in virtualization and unified communications, project management, and network optimization techniques and best practices are covered.

Career Opportunities

Depending upon the concentration, graduates will have an opportunity to pursue positions as Web administrators, website developers and specialists, database developers or analysts, systems administrators or analysts, network architects or engineers, data communications analysts or information systems administrators, operating systems programmers/analysts, software development engineers, information technology engineers, network administrators or analysts, cyber security specialists and antivirus software managers and related positions that continue to emerge in the information technology field. Exact titles and responsibilities relate to the academic and experiential requirements of the specific positions.

Recommended High School Subjects

A strong background in English, mathematics through at least algebra, and science is desired. A familiarity with computer equipment and software is also desired.

Special Equipment Needs

A laptop computer is required for enrollment in IT majors (BIS, BNW. BSI, BGS, and TU).

Remediation Strategies

Students should remediate any deficiencies prior to enrollment. Students must remediate English, mathematics and reading deficiencies within the first academic year. Mathematics remediation should be the highest priority. Eligibility to enroll in CIT 160 or higher is determined by placement test results.

Transfer Procedures

All transfer credits will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis to determine where they would fit into the curriculum sequence. Students must have earned a grade of 'C' or better in courses transferred into the major.

Program Goals

Graduates of this major should be able to:

• apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to networking.
• assess the needs of an information technology (IT) related problem and select, develop, integrate, deploy, secure, and administer an appropriate solution to address users' interests.
• demonstrate proficiency in the core information technologies such as programming, networking, web development, database, and security.
• demonstrate proficiency in the technical aspects of a network, including installation, maintenance, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, resource management, and user management.
• apply necessary problem-solving, collaborative, organizational, and project planning skills to accomplish a common goal.
• identify and explain the professional, social, ethical, and legal issues of IT and the associated responsibilities of IT professionals.
• communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, using language appropriate for the intended audience.
• identify, evaluate, and explain how changes in the IT discipline affect business, industry, and the work environment.
• identify and explain the need for continuing professional development in the IT discipline.
• provide basic technical support using appropriate communication, diagnostic, and customer relation skills.
• understand the basic financial principles of business and how it affects the IT industry.

Performance Standards

Students must complete all required courses in the Information Technology: Network Specialist Concentration major (those courses with the alpha-designators EET, LAS, MIS, CIT and MTH) with a grade of 'C' or above.

Curriculum

Directed Network Specialist electives must meet these conditions. 1. Two directed elective courses must be at the 200 level or higher. 2. Directed electives can be any Information Technology (CIT) 200 level or higher course. 3. Directed electives can also be selected from the following courses: CIT 291, EET 220 & EET 221, EET 222 & EET 223, EET 240, ENL 301, SPC 301, SPC 302, MTH 250 and MTH 255. If EET 220 or EET 222 are chosen as Directed Network Specialist electives, the corresponding lab courses, EET 221 or EET 223, must be taken to fulfill the elective. In these cases, 4 credits are needed to fulfill the Directed Network Specialist elective.