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Program Transfers
Estimated Program Cost
Financial Aid
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Program Overview
An IT-Systems Administration Specialist associate degree from Madison College provides students with a strong foundation in a variety of computer systems, as well as substantial skills in virtualization, cloud computing and networking. Students will deploy and configure devices and configure virtual switches. Students get experience installing, configuring and managing servers in a virtualized environment. They will promote servers to be domain controllers, create and manage resources in Active Directory, use Group Policy, and configure DNS and DHCP. Students will learn to write scripts, as well as manage and automate on premise and cloud IT Infrastructures.
We are in close contact with Madison area information technology employers, and our graduates are well regarded by employers. The skills students gain in the System Administration program, as well as an internship with an area employer, will prepare students for a satisfying career in information technology.
Students will gain the skills necessary to obtain key IT industry certifications such as:
- VMware VCP
- CompTIAA+
Program Details
Students in the IT-Systems Administration Specialist program at Madison College can attend full or part time.
IT-Systems Administration Specialist classes are offered at our Madison Truax campus, with some courses being available online.
** note that if starting in Spring term, it may take 5 semesters to complete program. Courses core to the IT-Systems Administration Specialist program will only be offered online or during the day for students accepted in the Spring term.
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Careers
IT-Systems Administration Specialist graduates from Madison College are ready for a range of professional positions in the field of IT-Systems Administration including:
- Systems Administrator
- Technical Support Services
- Networking Services and Installation
With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find employment as:
- Network Administrator
- Data Center Manager
- VMware vSphere Administrator
Typical job duties include installing, configuring and administering client and server systems including Microsoft Windows Server, Windows client, Linux and VMware vSphere. Students will also be prepared to:
- Integrate the hardware and software required to support new initiatives.
- Perform technical troubleshooting of computer systems, virtual devices and networks.
- Install, maintain and troubleshoot Internet connectivity for services such as email, web and other Internet applications.
- Be responsible for critical system backups and plan for the restoration of computing services in the event of disasters.
- Demonstrate initiative as a member of an information technology team.
Resources
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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 ElectivesElectives must be associate degree (10-level) or college transfer (20-level) courses. -
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-Systems Administration 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-Systems Administration Specialist program at Madison Area Technical College, you will be able to:
- Manage and support client operating systems
- Manage and support server operating systems
- Manage and support virtualization technologies
- Configure network and directory services
- Solve problems individually and in a team environment
- Develop scripts for IT automation
- Deploy, configure, and support services in a cloud environment
- Manage IT hardware and software
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Graduate Summary
Graduate Report Summary Overview
2021 2022 2023 Number of Program Graduates 31 17 10 Number of Surveys Sent 31 17 10 Number of Surveys Returned 21 12 6 Percent of Surveys Returned Available for Employment 19 11 6 Percent Available for Employment 90.5% 91.7% 100.0% Not in Labor Market Percent Not in Labor Market 9.5% 8.3% 0.0% Available for Employment
2021 2022 2023 Graduates Employed 19 8 6 Percent of Graduates Employed 100.0% 72.7% 100.0% Employed in Related Occupation 15 7 6 Percent Employed in Related Occupation 78.9% 87.5% 100.0% Employed in Unrelated Occupation 4 1 0 Percent Employed in Unrelated Occupation 21.1% 12.5% 0.0% Employed - No Response 0 0 0 Percent Employed - No Response 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% Seeking Employment 0 3 0 Percent Seeking Employment 0.0% 27.3% 0.0% Reaction To Training at Madison College
2021 2022 2023 Student satisfaction Mean (Out of 4) 3.4 3.5 3.8 Number of Satisfaction Responses 21 12 6 Very Satisfied (4) 9 6 5 Percent Very Satisfied 42.9% 50.0% 83.3% Satisfied (3) 12 6 1 Percent Satisfied 57.1% 50.0% 16.7% 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 21 12 6 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 19 8 6 Before Enrollment 6 2 1 Percent Before Enrollment 31.6% 25.0% 16.7% While Attending the College 9 4 3 Percent While Attending the College 47.4% 50.0% 50.0% After Training at the College 4 2 2 Percent After Training at the College 21.1% 25.0% 33.3% Location of Employment (related and unrelated)
2021 2022 2023 Number of Employment Location Responses 19 8 6 In College District 13 8 6 Percent In College District 68.4% 100.0% 100.0% In Wisconsin, Not in District 5 0 0 Percent of In Wisconsin 26.3% 0.0% 0.0% Outside of Wisconsin 1 0 0 Percent Outside Wisconsin 5.3% 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 11 5 6 Average Monthly Wage $4,561 $3,882 $4,359 Average Hourly Wage $26.52 $22.57 $25.35 Average Work Hours per Week 41.1 41.9 41.3 Part Time Employment (Related Job) Part Time Salary Count Average Hourly Wage Average Work Hours per Week -
Graduate Employers
Graduate Employers for academic year: 2023 Employer(s) Job Title City* State** Positions Converge CFD Software Assistant Administrator Dept of Corrections Information Security Analyst Per Mar Security Services Security System Technician UW Credit Union Desktop Support Analyst Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation Desktop Support Technician Wisconsin Mutual Insurance IT Specialist * - 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
