Network engineers play a critical role in maintaining a company’s vital information network. It is well understood that any company’s productivity and success is directly contingent on the availability and integrity of its IT infrastructure. Three major facets of the job include installing and configuring network hardware and software, testing new or upgraded services, and troubleshooting problems at levels ranging from datacenter issues to individual user issues.

1. Networking is integral to every company’s IT operations. Skilled technicians are needed to maintain and support this vital component of the industry.
2. Entry-level technicians often progress rapidly in the business to become network engineers, analysts and designers.
3. Our Networking program of study was recently updated to offer a unique combination of programming, hardware, design and system administration courses.

Students will:

• install and configure networking equipment and configure network protocols
• assemble a PC and troubleshoot PC hardware and software
• identify and summarize security threats and appropriate actions to minimize those threats
• install, configure and manage a Network Operating System
• analyze an existing system and determine appropriate systems design and implementation strategies

Because of the criticality of networks to any business, coverage must be provided 24x7, often requiring evening and weekend shifts. Network technicians should expect to work various shifts.

All of our networking teachers are Cisco Academy certified instructors.

Our Networking degree program includes a required one-semester internship. Students are placed by the College with area businesses in order to gain experience and learn in the workplace. Students must provide their own transportation.

It is important that students stay in close touch with their advisors and remain in sequence with the course of study because some of the classes are only offered once per academic year.

While the intent is to prepare the graduate for entry-level employment, some students do transfer to a four-year college or university to earn a higher degree in Networking or Data Center Operations.

Admission to this program requires that students be high school graduates or have high school equivalency diplomas (HSEs). If students are home schooled, they may be eligible for admission.

While the A.A.S. degree leads to immediate employment, SUNY Orange CIT-Networking students and graduates have successfully transferred to:

• Marist College
• Mount St. Mary College
• St. John’s University
• SUNY Institute of Technology

Career opportunities:

• banks
• law firms
• medical offices
• hospitals
• small businesses
• government agencies
• corporations
• schools
• colleges
• consulting firms

Browse careers at Career Coach

This program is available during the daytime on the Middletown campus. Some required courses, but not all, can be taken in the evening.