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Program Transfers
Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
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Program Overview
The Information Technology-Network Specialist program will prepare you to install, troubleshoot, and maintain computer networks.
The IT-Network Specialist program is designed in on-going collaboration with local hiring managers and the Cisco Networking Academy.
You will gain a working knowledge of networking devices such as routers and switches, as used in deployments for both Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs). Additionally, you will gain first-hand experience planning, troubleshooting, and implementing wired networks, wireless networks, perimeter networks, Voice over IP (VoIP), and Software Defined Networking (SDN).
Network Specialists are involved in all facets of network installation and management. Typical duties might include:
- Evaluation and design of products/technologies to scale the network
- Capacity management
- Creation of software programs or scripts that aid in network automation, analysis and troubleshooting utilities
- Securing the enterprise from the Internet
- User administration and event log monitoring
Program Details
Students in MATC's IT-Network Specialist program can attend full or part time.
IT-Network Specialist classes are offered at our Madison Truax campus.
If you start this program in the spring semester it may take 5 semesters to complete and classes are only offered in the daytime.
Careers
Madison College's IT-Network Specialist graduates are ready for a range of professional entry-level positions in the field of Network Specialist including:
- Cable Installer-Voice/Data
- Network Control Operator
- Network Support Technician
- Network Support Services
- Network Technician
- Network Specialist
- Network Professional
- Networking Services
- Assistant LAN Manager
- Assistant LAN Administrator
- Assistant Network Administrator
Resources
- Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified DevNet Associate
- Cisco CCNA-Voice
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Curriculum and Experience
Prospective program students, the information below reflects the basic requirements for students admitted for the 2024-2025 academic year. To learn more about Madison College, visit us.
Current and newly admitted program students, go directly to your Degree Progress Report to view:
- Progress toward your specific requirements
- Alternative (in lieu of) courses to meet specific requirements
If you have questions after reviewing your degree progress report (advisement report), please see Advising Services.
First SemesterSecond SemesterThird SemesterFourth SemesterElective3 creditsRecommended Electives -
Admission
To Apply
Earning a degree is a great way to advance your career development opportunities, so apply today!
International students who wish to apply for, maintain, or transfer their F-1 student visa status to Madison College are required to complete the International Admission Process.
Application Dates
Spring 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is January 15, 2025
Fall 2025
- Application open
- Application completion deadline is August 31, 2025
Admission Requirements
All materials must be submitted by the application deadline.
1. Admission Application
The online application allows you to save your work as you complete it and ensures fast, secure delivery to our office.
2. Education Completion
Official transcripts must be sent from the institutions you attended and indicate one of the following:- High school transcript (current high school seniors may submit an in-progress transcript)
- GED/HSED transcript
- College transcript(s) showing:
- Completion of an associate degree or higher, or
- At least 30 credits completed with a minimum GPA of 2.0 on a 4-point scale
- The credits must be completed at a single college and cannot be combined with other transcripts
- Any transfer credit listed on a transcript does not count toward the 30-credit minimum
All high school and/or college transcripts are recommended to be submitted for Credit for Prior Learning evaluation.
Additional Notes
- Class capacity is limited and is available on a first come, first served basis.
- Course prerequisites differ from admission requirements; admission into a program does not guarantee eligibility to enroll in courses or success in the program. Refer to program curriculum for details.
After Acceptance
Once you are admitted into your program, review the Start of Semester Checklist to prepare for your first day of classes at Madison College.
Questions?
Contact the Enrollment Center at EnrollmentServices@madisoncollege.edu or 608.246.6210.
Get Started!
Apply to Madison College and take the first step towards your IT-Network Specialist career.
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Transfer Opportunities
UW System Schools
The terms of the B.S in Leadership & Org Studies agreement are limited to students who complete selective A.A.S or A.A.A. degrees and are admitted to the Organizational Studies emphasis at UW-Oshkosh. Students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higherStudents will be required to meet UW Stout general education and major requirements. Up to 72 may transfer. Courses that have been completed with a D or better may be acceptable to meet program requirements unless UW Stout major requires a higher grade.This agreement establishes a cooperative relationship between the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W) and Madison College studentsin the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Cybersecurity-Cyber Operations Emphasis, in or after the fall 2022 termUniversity of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UW-W) and Madison College effective for students starting the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)- Computer Science-Applied Computing Emphasis, in or after the fall 2022 termWisconsin Private Schools
Students witn an AA, AS or AAS are Advanced Core. Advanced Core requires students to have earned at least 60 credits. Students transferring prior to completion or with less than 60 credits are standard core and credits are evaluated course by course.Student who earn an Associate Degree from Madison College can transfer a minimum of 60 credits and a maximum of 72 credits to Lakeland College to be applied to the requirements of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.Completion of an A.A.S. Degree at Madison College after 2015, and meeting admission requirements for the Rader School of Business (RSOB) at the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) can earn a B.B.A degree in Technical Sales at MSOE.Bachelor of Science in Business Management and LeadershipOut-of-State Schools
Students who complete any associate degree at Madison Area Technical College will have no additional general education core curriculum requirements to meet but must satisfy the Kirkpatrick Signature Series requirement.Per the agreement, students must complete the associates of arts, associates of science or associates of applied science with an overall GPA of a 2.0 prior to transferring.Students graduating with an associate degree from MATC with a 2.0 GPA or higher are guaranteed admissions into CSU-Global and can transfer up to 64 semester credits from MATC to be applied toward earning a Bachelor’s Degree at CSU-Global.Franklin University will guarantee acceptance of Madison College graduates with an AA, AS, or AAS. Madison College graduates will have junior standing at Franklin University and may transfer up to 94 additional credits toward their baccalaureate degree. -
Career Outcomes
After completing the IT-Network Specialist program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Implement computer networks
- Implement client systems
- Implement server operating systems
- Implement network security components
- Develop technical documentation
- Troubleshoot network systems
- Implement programmability and flexibility on networks
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2021 2022 2023 Number of Program Graduates 22 17 16 Number of Surveys Sent 22 17 16 Number of Surveys Returned 16 13 14 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 15 13 13 Percent Available for Employment 93.8% 100.0% 92.9% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 6.3% 0.0% 7.1% Available for Employment
2021 2022 2023 Graduates Employed 15 11 12 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 84.6% 92.3% Employed in Related Occupation 15 10 9 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 100.0% 90.9% 75.0% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0 1 3 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 0.0% 9.1% 25.0% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 2 1 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% 15.4% 7.7% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.7 3.7 3.3 Number of Satisfaction Responses 16 13 14 Very Satisfied (4) 11 9 4 Percent Very Satisfied 68.8% 69.2% 28.6% Satisfied (3) 5 4 10 Percent Satisfied 31.3% 30.8% 71.4% Unsatisfied (2) 0 0 0 Percent Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Very Unsatisfied (1) Percent Very Unsatisfied 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Primary Reason for Attending Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Number of Primary Reason Responses 16 13 14 Preparation for Getting a Job Percent Preparation for Getting a Job Career Change Percent Career Change Improvement of Existing Skills Percent Improvement of Existing Skills Preparation for Further Education Percent Preparation for Further Education Personal Interest Percent Personal Interest Other Percent Other 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% When Employment was Obtained
2021 2022 2023 Number of When Employment Obtained Responses 15 11 12 Before Enrollment 2 1 2 Percent Before Enrollment 13.3% 9.1% 16.7% While Attending the College 9 7 4 Percent While Attending the College 60.0% 63.6% 33.3% After Training at the College 4 3 6 Percent After Training at the College 26.7% 27.3% 50.0% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2021 2022 2023 Number of Employment Location Responses 15 11 12 In College District 14 10 11 Percent In College District 93.3% 90.9% 91.7% In Wisconsin, Not in District 1 1 1 Percent of In Wisconsin 6.7% 9.1% 8.3% Outside of Wisconsin 0 0 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Employer Location Unknown 0 0 0 Percent Location Unknown 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Salary Trend 2021 2022 2023 Full Time Employment (Related Job) Full Time Salary Count 13 10 8 Average Monthly Wage $4,049 $5,080 $5,264 Average Hourly Wage $23.54 $29.53 $30.60 Average Work Hours per Week 40.4 40.9 41.3 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count 1 1 Average Hourly Wage $20.00 $47.12 Average Work Hours per Week 30.0 30.0 -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Educational Communications Board IS Network Services Technician Electronic Theatre Controls Inc DevOps Engineer Middleton Gencomm Network Engineer Kwik Trip Inc IT Retail Services Field Technician Singlewire Software Technical Support Specialist State of Wisconsin Help Desk 2 Technician Middleton Teel Plastics Inc Network Administrator Baraboo UW - Madison VoIP Engineer UW - Madison Division of Information Technology Network Operations Engineer * - Only cities outside of Madison will display.
** - Only states outside of Wisconsin will display.
*** - If you have a position to post, please contact Career and Employment Services at jobpostings@madisoncollege.edu
