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Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Colorado State University Global
Undergraduate
Graduate
Industry Certification & License Prep
Emergency Management
Information Technology
Teaching and Learning
Blog
Recently, we wrote about what you can do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, why IT is such an important field, and how to launch a successful career in the industry.
Here, we’ll explain how getting your degree in IT could help set you up for a successful career in one of IT’s most challenging roles as a computer network architect.
As part of the discussion, we’ll explain why you should consider a career as a computer network architect, what you’d do on the job, and which degree you should get to increase your chances of landing a job in this competitive field.
Once you’ve learned everything you need to know about becoming a network architect, fill out our information request form to learn more about CSU Global’s 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology. Or, if you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.
Yes, this is an excellent career option for anyone looking to launch a lifelong career in a rewarding industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it’s also a lucrative role, as they report the annual median pay for computer network architects was $120,520 per year as of May 2021.
As these jobs are highly competitive, it’s important that you line up the right academic credentials, skills, and abilities to break your way into the field, otherwise you’ll risk failing to get your career off the ground.
Computer network architects are responsible for designing and building data communications networks, including intranets, wide area networks, local area networks, and other niche networks.
They may also be tasked with overseeing or even directly maintaining and upgrading network software, including network drivers, and network hardware, like adapters, routers and other devices, in order to ensure their networks run at maximum efficiency.
To support these objectives, network architects:
As you might imagine, this is not an easy job, and since so many organizations need all their employees to have access to their network at all times, it’s also a mission-critical role.
In fact, for many businesses, especially those operating in technology-driven industries, or even traditional office environments, network architects have become one of the most important members of the entire organization.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career as a network architect, you’ll need to prove that you’re capable of handling these challenges, and one of the best ways to prove you’re ready to do that is to earn an accredited online degree in Information Technology from a respected institution like CSU Global.
Some career fields don’t require a degree to break into the industry, but in this case, it’s likely that you will need not just a degree, but also experience and perhaps even certificates in networking before anyone will be willing to hire you as a network architect.
Before you can become a network architect, you’ll probably first need to gain some experience in lower-level networking positions like working as a network technician, network administrator, or network engineer.
You also may need networking-specific certifications, including one or more of the following:
Why? Because network outages threaten organizational productivity, especially in modern office environments where virtually every employee needs to maintain full access to the network at all times.
And while you may be fully-capable of setting up a home network, odds are that you don’t yet have experience running a network for hundreds or even thousands of users.
In order to gain the foundational knowledge, experience, and industry expertise needed to run a much larger network, you should seriously consider getting your degree in IT before attempting to break into the field.
Once you’ve completed your B.S. in IT and gained some experience in professional networking, you should have a much easier time convincing a hiring manager to take a chance on you.
When it comes to the question of which information technology degree would be best for you, the answer really depends on your work experience, educational background, and professional goals.
If you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree, and you’re just looking to break into the industry as a network engineer or network administrator, then you would probably do best to pursue a B.S. in Information Technology.
However, if you already have a bachelor’s degree and you’re aiming for one of the top roles in networking, like the position of network architect, then you might have an easier time achieving that objective if you were to complete a Master’s program in Information Technology Management.
Bachelor’s programs are perfect for preparing to launch your career with an entry or mid-level job, while a master’s program would be a better option if you’re interested in securing a position in leadership or management.
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, you should consider a B.S. or M.S. in IT online from a widely respected and regionally accredited school like CSU Global.
Our accelerated, 100% online IT program offers much more flexibility and freedom than traditional in-person IT programs, as it was designed to help students juggle work and family responsibilities with their studies.
Benefits of enrolling with us include:
If you’ve got a busy schedule filled with other responsibilities, then you should certainly think about studying online with us.
CSU Global’s online IT programs are regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and they’re the perfect way to develop the skills and education credentials you need to launch or advance your networking career so you can become a computer network architect.
Reasons to Choose our IT Bachelor’s Degree Program
Our online B.S. in IT program is a great way to break into the networking industry and the perfect option for anyone without a degree who wants to become a network administrator, network manager, network security expert, and eventual network architect.
This program has an excellent reputation for preparing graduates to get jobs in networking, as network engineer is one of the top three reported job titles held by alumni.
It’s also widely respected by industry professionals, having won several top rankings, including:
Finally, program alumni report excellent results from the job market, with an average annual starting salary of $77,010 just a year after graduating from CSU Global.
Reasons to Choose our IT Management Master’s Program
Our online M.S. in IT Management program is perfect for anyone who already has a B.S. degree, but wants to develop the leadership skills required to advance their career in networking and secure a management-level role in the industry.
This program has also won several top rankings, including:
And Master’s program alumni also report great results from the job market, including a median annual salary of $96,375, which is 23% higher than the national average income for all master’s degree holders.
Finally, you can trust that your degree from CSU Global will be respected when it comes time to hit the job market, as we recently won several important awards, including:
To ensure affordability, we also offer competitive tuition rates and a Tuition Guarantee that promises your rate won’t increase a single cent between enrollment and graduation.
For additional details about our online Bachelor’s Degree in Information Technology, or our online Master’s Degree in Information Technology Management, please give us a call at (800) 462-7845, or fill out our Information Request Form.
Ready to get started today? Apply now!
