Program Description
Certificate Curriculum
AAS Curriculum
ACC offers two Network Administration & Cyber Security program options: a one-year vocational certificate or an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree. Either choice provides you with a solid base of knowledge and practical skills necessary for working with computer network systems.
Certificate
The certificate in Network Administration focuses on the technical and communication skills you would need to provide “helpdesk” diagnosis support or manage a small office local area network (LAN). Through case scenarios, simulations, and process mapping, you’ll gain a basic understanding of the maintenance and administration of a LAN system and the communications skills needed to help others resolve computer-related problems.
AAS Degree
The AAS degree in Network Administration & Cyber Security will also prepare you for work in a LAN environment, but as a network administrator. You’ll take courses dealing with project management, information security and Microsoft network management, as well as required AAS degree coursework. This program builds on the technical knowledge and communication skills emphasized in the certificate program.
Preparation
Before starting any program at ACC, a student’s academic background, assessment scores or testing results are reviewed to determine the right courses to take. Review classes are also available to prepare students to meet the academic requirements of these programs.
Career Options
Your job as a network administrator is to plan, install and maintain networks. You will perform basic PC repair, manage security, install and configure applications and databases, and support network users. You will learn to use a variety of diagnostic and software tools to accomplish these tasks.
There are great career opportunities for network administrators. With computer technology becoming more and more sophisticated, businesses and industries of all types and sizes are recognizing the need for employees who have the professional skills and technical background to work with computer networks and translate these complex systems into understandable terms for the rest of the staff.
Employment of computer support specialists is expected to grow 10% through 2028, faster than the average for all occupations, while the employment of network and computer systems administrators is expected to grow 5% for the same time period. Growth in these fields will be highest at companies that provide cloud computing technology. Growth is also expected in healthcare industries as their use of technology increases.
Applicants with a strong technical background and who are up to date on the latest technology will have the best job prospects. Your average hourly wage will depend on the size, type, and location of your employer, as well as your skill and experience level. In 2018, the median hourly wage was $26.33 for computer support specialists and $40.15 for network and computer systems administrators.*
* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018-19 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh (visited July 20, 2020).
Program Facilities
You’ll learn in our modern Lafarge-Alpena Plant Computer Center with seven state-of-the-art computer labs equipped with a variety of information technology hardware and software resources. A video uplink system connects students from our Oscoda campus, and computer stations are designed to accommodate both hands-on and theory styles of learning.
Certification
The curriculum for the certificate and AAS programs meets the instruction criteria of various software and hardware vendors. Testing services are provided on campus for many network administration certifications, including CompTIA, A+, Network+, Security+, Microsoft MCP, Microsoft MCSA and Cisco CCENT.
Additional Resources
As members of the Microsoft IT Academy program, ACC can provide you with access to the MSDN Academic Alliance software repository, which allows you to download dozens of technical titles to your home computer to practice skills learned in the classroom. Software packages are full versions that are available to you for the duration of your enrollment in the Network Administration program. We can also provide significant certification exam discounts.
Contact the Network Administration ProgramMatt Gallarno
Instructor
CTR 110E
gallarnm@alpenacc.edu
989.358.7290