Is a Computer Networking Degree Worth It?

Your knowledge should never stop growing! A lot of your professional growth will take place on the job, as you advance within your company, but the foundation is your continuing education. If you’re into computers more than most, then you should seriously consider doing something you love. (It’s true: choose a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life!). Computer networking could be exciting, fulfilling and offer daily challenges.

Reasons more students are exploring your options as computer networking professionals include above-average pay, a diversity of job options, and a great job outlook. The better-than-average job outlook for computer networking is because of a shortage in one particular area of computer fields: cybersecurity. The Cybersecurity Conundrum: Worker Shortage acknowledges that while cybersecurity has quickly become a worldwide problem, the current lack of trained professionals who work in cybersecurity is itself a security problem.

The reality is, “. . . A demand that currently far exceeds the talent pool.” New students and workers interested in moving up should be aware that employers are seeking computer networking specialists as never before!

Some of the jobs you’ve probably seen advertised are:

• Information security analyst
• Information technology solutions provider
• Network administrator
• Network applications supervision/management
• Network implementation specialist
• Network infrastructure support
• Network security analyst
• Technical support and help desks

Computer Networking Offers Solid Salary Opportunity

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

Day-to-day network operations are critical to almost every U.S. organization, private enterprise, and certainly local, state, and federal government infrastructure; systems administrators may be singularly responsible for smooth operations or work as part of a team. Every day, cybersecurity plays a part in maintaining efficient network operations. The median annual salary in 2014 was $75,790 and the job outlook through 2024 is right above the national average at 8%.

Information Security Analysts

Information security analysts can plan and deliver security measures to protect a company’s computer networks and/or systems operations. “Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases,” says the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics). The median annual pay in 2014 was $88,890, and the job outlook through 2024 is expected to increase 18%, much faster than average.

Computer and Information Systems Managers

These computer networking professionals are sometimes called IT (information technology) administrators, and their primary goal is to manage the computer-related activities within an organization or business. The median annual salary in 2014 was $127,640/year, and the job outlook through 2024 was “Much faster than average,” at 15% growth. The security of your company’s network and protecting confidential information is one of many interesting and varied IT jobs.

In addition to enjoying a job with competitive salary, professionals with a computer networking degree can make a difference. Computer networking specialists are not only in-demand, they are respected for the important contribution they make toward keeping our information accurate and secure. Some of the functions for which you may be responsible include:

• Analyzing numerous aspects of business operations
• Demonstrating a working knowledge of the professional and ethical responsibilities of your job
• Designing basic relational database management applications
• Evaluating information systems’ impact on business operations
• Identifying uses for and maintaining organizational data, applications, computers, and network operating systems security
• Installation of basic network hardware and software using industry-standard networking knowledge
• Utilizing
  • PC operating system concepts
  • PC productivity applications and concepts for presentation purposes using various software programs (word processing, spreadsheets, and/or presentation graphics; flow charts, process diagrams)
  • your company’s or organization’s customer service plans

A Computer Networking Degree – You’re Worth It!

With ECPI University’s year-round degree program, you could earn your Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer and Information Science with a concentration in Cyber and Network Security in just 2.5 years! If you feel an investment in time – in yourself – is worth it, join other Computer and Information Science students at ECPI University and begin the process that can make a difference in your life and others! It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

Keith graduated with a degree in network security from ecpi

— May-May (@MaysonVanSickle) December 22, 2015

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For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya.