Network Administration Degrees

Overview

Network administration forms the backbone of most businesses taking care of communication, security, and the overall functionality of networks. Designing, deploying, monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting of network parameters are the major roles of a network administrator. Their ability to work with computer hardware and software, managing the router, and the associated infrastructure that systems use to communicate with each other make them indispensable for a business. This course is designed to provide the skills and knowledge required by a network administrator to monitor and manage the different terminals of a network, the associated switches, and routers in both LAN and WAN.

Benefits

Every business has a network of systems that has to be managed and therefore, there is a heavy demand for network administrators. Network administrators are the highest paid personnel in the entire technology arena. Telecommunication and mass communication service providers are always on the lookout for network administrators. A network administrator's duties can include managing networks, router configuration, and devise new security protocols, besides monitoring network traffic and troubleshooting hardware and software. Database management and network engineering are the other career options available to network administrators.

Costs

The cost of an associate's degree in network administration depends on the location of the school. The traditional degree is a two-year course (94 weeks) and costs $15,120, on an average. The requirement of the online degree is 67 credit hours and the tuition fees are relatively less expensive. The technical diploma in networking extends for 53 weeks and costs around $8,640, while certificate programs in information technology is a 26-week long course costing $4,320 and a 35-week course of desktop publishing costing around $5,760.

Schools

The different schools that offer network administration degrees in the United States are DeVry University, Kaplan University, Strayer University, and University of Phoenix . Most of these universities offer an online Bachelor of Science degree, which is relatively less expensive. The associate of computer network degree in administration is a two-year course and is offered in technical schools and community colleges.

Testing & Preparation

The eligibility criterion for the network administration degree is a high school diploma or an equivalent degree. The requirement for a bachelor's degree is an associate degree in network administration, relevant certifications, and the master's degree requires a corresponding bachelor's degree. For a traditional bachelor's or an associate's degree, candidates are required to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) and TOEFL (Test of English as a foreign language). They may further be required to take the appropriate levels of SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) tests.

Financial Aid

Most universities offer financial aid under the following categories: Federal Stafford Loans, Federal Pell Grants, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), SEOG (Supplement Educational Opportunity Grant) and Academic Competitiveness Grant. Aside from the financial assistance schemes, scholarships and fellowships are available for deserving students.