The Blue Ridge Community and Technical College computer network engineering technologies degree is a solid choice for students considering an advanced technology career. The program offers a flexible environment where students can develop the skills to enter a rapidly changing networking workforce. Designed for students with an in-depth knowledge of Cisco or Microsoft networking, the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College program develops network fluency and troubleshooting skills. The emphasis on networking technology complements a variety of certification training choices.
Program Overview
The Computer Network Engineering program offers an associate of applied science degree, incorporating vendor certification training, for students preparing for entry-level employment or advancement in a variety of occupations, courses, and professional certificate programs within the networking field. The program will offer students a solid background in networking technology complemented by an array of certification training choices. All courses leading toward certification are taught by certified instructors.
The program offers a flexible environment where students can develop the background necessary to enter a rapidly changing and growing networking workforce and/or transfer to a four-year institution for further undergraduate education. Students in the Computer Network Engineering Technologies Program are subject to the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Catalog requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.
Students in this program will complete hands-on activities that will help to develop network fluency and troubleshooting skills. They complete project-based activities which will incorporate Internet research skills and electronic presentation skills to prepare for the work environment.
An internship in a networking or information technology related area is required for graduation. Students are expected to locate their internship site. Detailed information of the internship requirements and expectations is available from the student’s advisor.
Program Outcomes
Students completing the Associate of Applied Science Degree in Computer Network Engineering will:
- Understand various physical and software technologies that allow modern networks to share not just data, but video and voice communications as well over the same, single network.
- Understand technical Focused aspects of security to varying degrees, depending on their desired path of study.
- Develop knowledge and hands-on skills central to core networking concepts, such as a router and switch configuration and operations, network traffic path selection, networking best practice, troubleshooting techniques, and developing rationally designed networks and supportive reasoning.
- Develop the necessary communication skills to coordinator working on a team project, how to troubleshoot logical and design errors along with technical errors, and be able to provide clear and effective documentation of a project to aid future work such as maintenance and upgrades.
- Possess the necessary knowledge and experience to sit for varying industry-recognized certifications, at a minimum the core CCNA certification, potentially the CCNA specialization certifications, core CCNP level certification, or MCSA certification, dependent on their desired path of study.
Career Opportunities
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College will equip graduates with the skills to design, administer, and maintain network systems in a variety of settings. With completed degree and certifications, graduates may earn $40,000–$50,000 annually in entry-level network support positions with a future potential of earning more than $80,000.
Note: All salary estimations are based on current position and educational trends. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College cannot guarantee that the projections given will be the salaries students or graduates will ultimately receive.
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