Network Engineering Specialization FAQs
- What certificate programs are offered in network engineering that compliments the associate degree programs?
- There are three career studies certificates related to the network engineering area. Information about each certificate is available by clicking on the link below.
- What if I want to transfer to a four-year institution to complete a bachelor’s degree?
- LFCC is in the process of completing articulation agreements with George Mason University and Radford University so that the majority of the IST credits earned at LFCC will be applied toward a degree at the participating institution without requiring students to repeat courses. Students interested in attending another institution in Virginia or out of state, need to work closely with LFCC and the institution of choice to determine which LFCC credits may be transferable. More information about the Transfer process and participating instituations is available in the LFCC Transfer Guide.
- Does LFCC offer internships for network engineering students or assist with job placement after completion of a degree?
- LFCC faculty and staff in the Career Services Office assist students interested in acquiring academic internships, which are designed to carry academic credit toward a certificate or degree program. Such internships provide a valuable opportunity for students to gain on-the-job experience in their particular area of study. Depending on the business, student internships may be paid or unpaid.
- The Career Services Office also offers students free job search counseling and access to the College Central job posting Web site (http://www.collegecentral.com/lfcc). It is simple to upload your resume, enhancing your job search opportunities in the region. This Web site also offers students the ability to review and apply for jobs posted by many local businesses actively seeking employees.
- For more information about internships, job search counseling or College Central, please contact Mark Mitchell at mmitchell@lfcc.edu or (540) 868-7236 or Doug Cumbia at dcumbia@lfcc.edu or (540) 868-7235.
- What is the future outlook for network engineering jobs?
- The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook lists network engineers as a subcategory of computer support specialists and systems administrators. Employment of computer support specialists is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. Job growth will continue to increase as organizations adopt increasingly sophisticated technology and integrate it into their systems. The information technology sector is projected to remain one of the fastest-growing industries in the U.S. economy. For more information about job outlook, visit http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm.
- What kind of salary could I expect to earn as a network engineer?
- Salaries vary widely depending on several factors such as location, experience and the overall job market. However, as an example, the median expected salary for an experienced network engineer in Richmond, Va., is $57,771. For more information about job salaries, visit http://www.salary.com.
- What does a network engineer do?
- There are a wide variety of jobs for network engineers, ranging from managing a help desk to designing, installing and maintaining a network. According to Info~Tech, “the network engineer’s role is to ensure the stability and integrity of in-house voice, data, video and wireless network services. This is achieved by planning, designing and developing local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) across the organization. In addition, the network engineer will participate with the installation, monitoring, maintenance, support and optimization of all network hardware, software and communication links. This individual will also analyze and resolve network hardware and software problems in a timely and accurate fashion and provide end user training where required.”
- Additional insight into current job openings can be found by reading the job descriptions and responsibilities of various positions found at http://www.dice.com.
- What are some of the professional associations for network engineers?
- There are several associations that relate to network engineering. Following are a list of a number of associations:
