Applied Computing

Information Technology BS with Network Administration Concentration

Build, secure, and lead the networks shaping tomorrow’s digital frontier.

Michigan Tech’s network administration concentration in information technology prepares you for a career with boundless opportunities. Graduate with a skill set in demand across industries. Build a strong foundation in the design, implementation, and administration of modern networks. Get both the theoretical principles and practical skills necessary to maintain secure, efficient, and scalable networks—and do it at a school where connections to helpful resources and a caring community are as abundant as the beauty of the Keweenaw Peninsula and nearby Lake Superior.

What is Network Administration?

Network administration is the secure design, installation, configuration, management, monitoring, and troubleshooting of networks. Depending on an organization’s size and structure, network administration can also involve aspects of system administration or network engineering.

What Will I Learn?

The network administration concentration builds on our IT degree program’s hands-on curriculum and the well-established strength of Michigan Tech’s faculty, staff, and resources. You’ll learn to effectively and securely apply network tools and technologies across a wide range of active industry scenarios.

  • Learn networking fundamentals — Study concepts such as the OSI model, TCP/IP protocols, IP addressing, subnetting, and DNS.
  • Configure network hardware — Install, configure, and maintain routers, switches, firewalls, hubs, and other network devices.
  • Administer operating systems — Develop proficiency with Windows Server and Linux/Unix.
  • Implement network security — Identify vulnerabilities, apply security solutions, configure firewalls and intrusion detection systems, and monitor networks for cyber threats.
  • Design network infrastructure — Design efficient and scalable network architectures.
  • Manage cloud-based networks — Deploy, configure, and manage network resources in cloud environments such as AWS or Google Cloud.
  • Troubleshoot network issues — Develop troubleshooting skills to diagnose and resolve network problems.
  • Apply wireless system administration and security — Understand the design, configuration, and security of wireless networks.
  • Understand virtualization technologies — Work with virtual machines and networks.
  • Practice network monitoring — Apply tools for monitoring network traffic. Analyze performance data and optimize network efficiency.
  • Comply with standards — Understand the legal, ethical, and privacy considerations inherent with data and network access.
  • Communicate effectively — Document network configurations, write technical reports, and communicate complex information clearly and concisely to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
  • Participate in project teams — Build teamwork and project management skills by participating in group-based network design and implementation projects.

Tomorrow Needs Specialists in Network Administration

Modern business runs on connectivity, making skilled and confident network administrators indispensable. Demand is steady for IT specialists ready to secure, scale, and optimize next-generation networks. While theoretical knowledge is important, industries want professionals who are ready to apply network tools and technologies. They’re actively seeking talent who can navigate the entire infrastructure lifecycle—from legacy systems to cloud integration. Tomorrow needs professionals in applied network administration.

A Great Job with a Great Salary

Network administrators have a mean entry-level salary of $70,000 (Payscale) with a mean annual wage of $101,190 (BLS) and the top 10 percent making $150,320 (BLS). Nationally, employment of information security analysts is projected to have 29% growth from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

See additional computing salary information.

Figures from payscale.com, accessed April 2025.

Figures from US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), dated May 2024.

Be Career Ready

At Michigan Tech, you’ll prepare for an in-demand career with limitless opportunities, from maintaining and upgrading legacy systems to cloud integration and beyond. Employers are seeking professionals who possess deep, end-to-end infrastructure competencies. Stand out from the pack.

Explore Career Opportunities for Applied Network Administration

Network administration roles are an integral part of most industries, with a median income of $96,800 in 2024. While automation is reshaping the IT landscape, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook  job outlook for network and computer system administrators projects an expected 14,300 job openings annually. Because artificial intelligence cannot replicate the critical problem-solving and adaptability required to manage real-world infrastructure, human expertise remains an indispensable backbone for every major industry, making skilled, adaptable administrators more valuable than ever.

Career Opportunities

  • Banking and financial services

  • Cloud services

  • Computing and cybersecurity

  • Education

  • Energy and utilities

  • Government and military

  • Healthcare

  • Manufacturing

  • Media and entertainment

  • Retail and e-commerce

  • Telecommunications

  • Transportation

 

Ready to take the next step?

Learn more about information technology with a concentration in network administration at Michigan's flagship technological university.

The Department of Applied Computing

In Michigan Tech’s Department of Applied Computing, students learn by doing, building skills and knowledge in state-of-the-art labs, like our mechatronics playground. They work with real clients to deliver industry-standard deliverables, including penetration testing reports that rate cybersecurity vulnerability. Our College of Computing Learning Center, regular access to faculty, and strong commitment to a community where everyone feels welcome give our Huskies the resources they need to succeed. Take your place at the forefront of the in-demand, next-generation, life-changing disciplines that create fulfilling careers and answer the call for what tomorrow needs.

In the Tech's applied computing department, you can:

  • Lead the regional surge in advanced manufacturing through our mechatronics program.
  • Compete in national hackathons, RedTeam challenges, and robotics competitions.
  • Access our vast virtual cluster to apply IT coursework in real-time scenarios wherever you are.
  • Work with faculty who get to know you and care about your success.
  • Expand your options with a sought-after advanced degree in health informatics.

MTU engineering

Tomorrow won’t wait. Neither will we.

Computing is for everyone, everywhere. Artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, and other forms of digital connectivity are ingrained in nearly every aspect of life. Cybersecurity has never been more important. These transformational technologies require intrepid problem-solvers, bold leaders, and fearless visionaries. You can be one of them.

Founded in 2019, Michigan Tech's College of Computing is one of the first colleges in the nation and one of the few institutions of its kind to focus solely on computing. Digital transformation has morphed every discipline into a computing discipline, reinventing industries like manufacturing, criminal justice, marketing, and healthcare. At Tech, we are making sure employers have the computing talent they need to thrive—and that our students are equipped for fulfilling careers now and for all the tomorrows to come.

The world needs Computing[MTU]. The world needs you.

Supercharge your future.

Study, do research, and build a future-forward career at a flagship R1 public research university powered by STEM. Get the theoretical knowledge and practical experience you need to succeed in a high-tech world.

Our students work alongside faculty on meaningful research, like helping to detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier and making machine learning more user-friendly. They connect at the intersection of engineering and computing in our mechatronics playground. They teach middle schoolers coding and cybersecurity basics, assist older generations with digital literacy essentials, and help each other persist through academic and life challenges through SAM, our unique peer mentoring program. Computing Huskies also partner with national entities like the US Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency as well as local businesses to analyze security and safeguard sensitive data. And, from robotics to the MTU RedTeam, Huskies train, run, and win national competitions.

Find your jam at Tech—whether it's competing in Esports, joining an Enterprise team, or working with a group of Huskies to build a robot in three days. Here, you’ll find opportunities to connect with what clicks. And when it’s time to blow off steam, the Keweenaw Peninsula’s trails, forests, and Lake Superior beaches await, along with Michigan Tech’s Mont Ripley Ski Hill.

When it comes to preparing for life after graduation, our Career Fair offers more than a one-day event—it’s a series of workshops and meetups, leading to co-ops, internships, and full-time, well-paying positions. If you want to be ready for what tomorrow needs, your future starts now, in the Michigan Tech College of Computing.

College of Computing Undergraduate Majors

Not sure which major is the right fit? Explore Michigan Tech majors and minors.
Or, start with our General Computing program and give yourself time to decide.

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