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Recently, we explained what you can do with an online B.S. in Information Technology, what makes IT such an important industry, and how to get into the field without any experience in IT.
Today, we’re going to explain how to get a job in one of IT’s most important positions, teaching you how to become a network engineer.
This article will explain what you need to do to set yourself up for success in the industry, including what you need to know to get hired, what you’ll be responsible for doing on the job, and how to ensure you’ll be taken seriously by hiring managers.
After you’ve learned everything you need to know about launching a career as a network engineer, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our online Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, which is the perfect program for honing and refining your networking skills.
If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.
Yes, computer networking is a great career field full of opportunities for launching a lifelong career where you’ll serve an important role in ensuring the stability and reliability of computer networks.
Network engineers are needed by virtually every company that runs a computer network, and according to PayScale, they’re also relatively well-paid professionals, earning a base annual salary of $74,744.
Becoming a network engineer could also allow you access to a series of other interesting roles, including jobs like:
As a network engineer, you’ll have options to work at organizations operating in virtually any industry, and at organizations of nearly any type, including private companies, public corporations, nonprofit organizations, and state or federal government agencies.
Jobs in this field can be extremely competitive, which is why you should consider earning your Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology before attempting to apply for any networking positions.
Getting your IT Degree will help ensure you develop the skills and abilities you need to succeed in a challenging networking role, while also improving your marketability with potential hiring managers when it comes time to start applying for open positions.
Network engineers are the professionals responsible for designing, implementing, monitoring, and managing computer networks.
As a network engineer, you could be asked to handle all sorts of different parts of the networking process, including:
While you may have experience setting up small networks, you’ve probably never designed, built or run a network capable of handling hundreds or thousands of users at one time, which may be necessary in a network engineering position.
This is why it’s so important that you spend the time developing your knowledge and skills of industry best practices before attempting to break into the field, and the best way to gain that experience is to enroll in an accredited Bachelor’s Degree Program in Information Technology.
Yes, to get a good job as a network engineer, you’ll probably need to hold both a Bachelor’s Degree in IT, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or a related field, and you may even need to hold some networking-specific certifications too, like:
Hiring managers looking to employ new network engineers will certainly be looking for these sorts of credentials when choosing applicants, so if you’re serious about becoming a network engineer, it’s important that you take these credentials seriously.
Fortunately, CSU Global’s online Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology program was designed specifically to provide you with the foundational knowledge you need for a number of IT certifications, making it an excellent stepping stone for becoming a professional network engineer.
If you’re serious about breaking into this competitive, challenging field, then you should think about completing a degree with us first.
CSU Global offers several different online degrees that could help you launch your career in networking, including a:
When choosing which degree will work best for your specific needs, think about your educational background, your industry experience, and your professional goals.
Many students would do well to choose the B.S. in Information Technology program, as it provides an extremely wide breadth of instruction that prepares you for nearly any job in the IT industry, including roles in networking.
However, if you’re thinking about specializing in a networking niche, like security, for example, then you might want to choose to study cybersecurity with us.
And if you’re interested in the programming side as you want to work on building networking applications, then you may want to consider enrolling in our computer science program instead.
Finally, if you’re thinking about long-term career goals and want to land a more senior networking position, like the role of network architect, then you should think about completing both a B.S. in IT degree, as well as an M.S. in IT Management, which will further develop your leadership and management skills.
If you need help deciding which degree would be best for you, please consider contacting an enrollment counselor who can help you make the right decision.
Yes, no matter which degree you choose to pursue, you can and should consider getting it online with us.
To ensure that you can enjoy as much flexibility and freedom as possible while completing your academic credentials, all of our online degree programs were designed to be completed entirely remotely.
To streamline your studies, our online programs also offer:
If you have existing work or family responsibilities, studying with us is the best way to ensure that you can continue to meet them without compromising on your academic goals.
CSU Global’s IT-focused degree programs offer you the opportunity to develop an array of foundational IT knowledge and skills that you can apply towards becoming a professional network engineer.
Whether you’re looking to develop your skills in general IT concepts with our B.S. in Information Technology program, programming skills in our B.S. in Computer Science program, or security skills in our B.S. in Cybersecurity program, you’ll find real-world value from our programs that are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Finally, if you’re looking for more than an entry or mid-level network engineering role, you may want to consider completing our M.S. in Information Technology Management program, where you’ll focus on developing the leadership skills you need for a management role in networking.
Reasons to Choose our B.S. in Information Technology Program
Our online B.S. in IT program is the perfect option for developing skills you can apply towards becoming a professional network engineer.
This program was recently awarded several top rankings, including:
Program alumni also report excellent results from the job market, with an average annual starting salary of $77,010 just one year after graduation, and a 15% pay increase one year after completing their degree.
Reasons to Choose our B.S. in Computer Science Program
Our online B.S. in Computer Science program is an excellent option if you’re looking to develop programming-specific skills that you can apply towards becoming a network engineer.
This program is sure to deliver excellent value for the job market, as it was recently awarded the #1 ranking for Best Computer Networks Degree Programs in 2021 by Best Value Schools.
To prepare you to achieve success as a network engineer, the program’s curriculum is aligned with criteria for industry-leading certifications, including the Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer, and the C++ Certified Associate Programmer from the C++ Institute.
Reasons to Choose our B.S. in Cybersecurity Program
Our online B.S. in Cybersecurity program is the perfect way to develop relevant, useful cybersecurity skills that you can use as a security-focused network engineer, giving you an edge on niche industry roles.
This program is the perfect place to develop your cybersecurity abilities, as it was recently awarded the #1 ranking for Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Systems Security Degrees for 2021 by Cyberdegrees.org
The program’s curriculum is also designed to align with professional certification exams that employers demand for cybersecurity professionals, including:
Reasons to Choose our M.S. in IT Management Program
Our online M.S. in IT Management program is ideal for anybody who already holds a B.S. degree and is looking to develop leadership and management skills needed for more senior-level network engineering positions.
This program also recently won several top rankings, including:
Our IT Management Master’s program alumni also report excellent success from the job market, with a median annual salary of $96,375, which is 23% higher than the national average income for all master’s degree holders.
Whichever IT-based program you choose to complete, you can rest assured that your degree from CSU Global will be respected by hiring managers, as we recently won several important higher education awards, including:
Finally, to ensure you’re able to get your degree as affordably as possible, we offer competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee that ensures your affordable tuition rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation.
To get additional details about our fully-accredited IT programs, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.
Ready to get started today? Apply now!