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 |
9-Month Roadmap
| Month | Focus |
|---|---|
| Month 1 | Google IT Support Cert (Coursera) |
| Month 2 | CS402 (Saylor) - Aligns with networking theory |
| Month 3 | Cisco CCST Networking Exam |
| Month 4 | MIS & Strategic IT |
| Month 5 | Project Management |
| Month 6-9 | Modern States Electives (Self-paced) |