Track: Network Management
Focus: Connectivity, Hardware, Infrastructure
Est. Cost: $379 Time to Complete: ~6-9 Months
Target Degree: B.A. in Liberal Arts, Specialization in Business Administration
Why: This track is designed to build an “IT Director.” It leans heavily on Management, Law, and Strategy to complement the Cisco technical skills.
Specialty Core (30 Credits)
Strategy: Cisco CCST is the anchor. Saylor provides the theory.
| Course / Certification | Provider | Est. Cost | Credits | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco CCNA | Cisco (Exam) | $300 | 3 | Cert #1: Router/Switch configuration |
| Google IT Support Cert | Google (Coursera) | ~$49 | 15 | Cert #2: IT Baseline (High Credit Yield) |
| CS402: Computer Comms | Saylor | $5 | 3 | Deep networking theory |
| BUS206: Mgmt Info Systems | Saylor | $5 | 3 | Infrastructure Mgmt |
| BUS303: Strategic IT | Saylor | $5 | 3 | IT Planning |
| BUS402: Project Management | Saylor | $5 | 3 | Network Rollouts |
Recommended Electives (15 Credits)
| Course Name | Provider | Cost | Credits | Relevance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intro to Business Law | Modern States | $0 | 3 | Vendor Contracts/SLAs |
| Principles of Management | Modern States | $0 | 3 | Team Leadership |
| Intro to Business | Saylor | $5 | 3 | Department management |
| Precalculus | Modern States | $0 | 3 | Technical math (subnetting) |
| BUS200: Business Ethics | Saylor | $5 | 3 | Compliance |
Capstone Certification
Note: Capstone certifications are not generally ACE credit eligible and do not transfer as college credit. However they are included as career-focused credentials that build your “Shield”—backing up your academic credentials with industry-recognized proof of technical competence that employers trust.
Recommended Capstone (Choose Your Specialization):
Option 1: Hardware Focus — CompTIA Network+
| Provider | CompTIA |
| Cost | $349 |
| ACE Credit | ❌ Not Eligible |
Why this certification?
CompTIA Network+ is vendor-neutral and validates your ability to work with physical infrastructure, cabling, and hardware troubleshooting. It complements your CCNA’s Cisco-specific content by proving you can work across any vendor’s equipment. Ideal for roles focused on on-premise infrastructure and data center operations. This is your Shield—vendor-neutral proof of networking fundamentals.
Option 2: Cloud Focus — AWS Cloud Practitioner
| Provider | Amazon Web Services |
| Cost | $100 |
| ACE Credit | Eligible |
Why this certification?
AWS Cloud Practitioner is the lowest-cost, highest-demand option. It proves cloud networking awareness and opens the door to the AWS ecosystem. With 60% retention from the track, this is the easiest capstone to pass. Best for hybrid infrastructure roles where you’ll manage both on-premise and cloud resources. This is your Shield—entry into the dominant cloud ecosystem.
Option 3: Virtualization Focus — VMware VCP-DCV
| Provider | VMware |
| Cost | $250* |
| ACE Credit | ❌ Not Eligible |
Why this certification?
VMware VCP-DCV is the gold standard for datacenter virtualization. Enterprise environments run on VMware, and this cert validates your ability to manage virtual infrastructure at scale. *Note: VMware training is technically required, but self-study workarounds exist via vSphere home labs. This is your Shield—the enterprise virtualization credential.
Recommended Association
| Organization | IEEE Communications Society |
| Cost | $29/year (IEEE member add-on) or $114/year (standalone) |
| Website | comsoc.org |
Why join? World’s largest technical professional organization for networking and communications. Access to journals, conferences, and a global network of engineers. Student memberships available at reduced rates.
Go Further. Pursue a Masters Degree at a fraction of the cost of traditional school. Save more money and time if you can speak spanish
Network Management Track
| School | Program | Target Cost | High End Cost | Accreditation | NACES Eval? | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNED (Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia) | Master in Communication, Networks & Content Mgmt | €1,200 | €2,500 | Spanish Public University - Official Master | Yes - WES or ECE | Network infrastructure; Spanish language |
| Western Governors University | MS in Information Technology Management | $4,080 | $8,160 | NWCCU (US Regional) | No - US Regionally Accredited | General Information Technology with focus on managing IT Teams |
| UNISA | Master of Science in Computing (98961) | ~$2,500 | ~$2,500 | South African Public University - Research/Dissertation | Yes - WES or ECE | Online distance learning; research focus areas include networks |
Notes
Spanish Programs (UNED): UNED programs require Spanish language proficiency and are taught entirely in Spanish. Degrees may require NACES member evaluation (WES or ECE) for U.S. government jobs and some employers. Application process can be challenging due to language barriers and documentation requirements.
WGU: U.S. regionally accredited with competency-based education (CBE) model for faster completion. Strong focus on IT management and team leadership.
UNISA: South African institution offering research-focused master’s programs at low cost. Online distance learning format with dissertation requirement. Network specialization available within the Computing program.