The future of Computer Networking and Information Technology has tremendous growth and multiple career opportunities for those with the right skills and experience. UW-Stout's Computer Networking and Information Technology program (formerly Information Technology Management) program will provide you with the strong technical, communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills you need to succeed.
Our IT industry-experienced faculty will challenge you with hands-on experience in our cutting-edge computer network laboratories. CNIT classes with embedded industry certification examinations will prepare you for rewarding, high paying careers as a:
- Network engineer
- Security analyst
- Network consultant
- Network and systems administrator
- IT project manager
Our local, national and international internships will provide you with real-world experience to design, implement, and administer local and wide-area networks. You will take courses in emerging fields such as:
- Cybersecurity and Cyber defense
- Enterprise Network Infrastructure Setup, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
- Server Installation, Configuration and Administration
- Network System Design
- Ethical Hacking and Network Security
- Virtualization
- Unified Communication
- Information Security
- IP Telephony
- Wireless Networking
- Linux/Unix Network Administration
Use the Request Information form to receive a program summary and learn more about the Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Networking and Information Technology.
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More than 50% of all U.S. economic activity is information technology (IT) related
Careers in IT offer high-paying jobs with tremendous job growth and multiple career paths, including network engineer, security analyst, and network consultant. ZDNet reports that there is a huge shortage of trained people to fill the needs in the IT industry. CNN Money lists Network Systems and Data Analysts, and Network and Computer Systems Administrators as the first and the fifth fastest-growing jobs in the nation. IT is and will remain one of the most dynamic and rewarding careers available.
The CNIT program follows UW-Stout's unique hands-on, active learning approach. As a CNIT student, you will gain real-world experience as you design, implement, and administer local and wide-area networks. You will take courses in emerging fields such as virtualization, unified communication, information security, IP telephony, and wireless networking.
The CNIT program focuses on:
- Cybersecurity and Cyber defense
- Enterprise Network Infrastructure Setup, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
- Server Installation, Configuration and Administration
- Network System Design
- Ethical Hacking and Network Security
- Linux Systems and Network Administration
- IP Telephony (VoIP)
- Wireless System
- Virtualization and Cloud Computing
- Unified Communication and Collaboration
“Dynamic” is a word that defines today's telecommunications industry. Information technology is expanding and growing rapidly. Telecommunications is a progressive, innovative and creative field, and the opportunities are endless. It’s our goal to prepare graduates who can easily accept the challenges presented by the telecommunication industry.
The Computer Networking and Information Technology program will prepare you to:
- Communicate clearly, ethically, and responsibly, both verbally and in writing.
- Apply business and management techniques and processes.
- Evaluate emerging information technologies and their impact.
- Design, implement, administer, and analyze information technology systems.
- Integrate network security into the installation of networks, as well as business practices, policies, and user education.
- Solve business problems and enhance productivity using information technology.
CNIT Students Can Earn Certifications
Certifications are a great way to show IT industry employers that you are up to date and knowledgeable on the current topics. CNIT is a Cisco Certified Networking Academy and a Microsoft Certified IT Academy. We are an authorized Pearson VUE and Thompson Prometric Testing Center. Numerous classes are embedded with industry certification examinations. The courses are taught by CNIT faculty members holding advanced IT industry certifications. As a CNIT student, you have the opportunity to earn the following certifications:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate – Voice (CCNA-Voice)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate – Security (CCNA-Security)
- Cisco Certified Network Associate – Wireless (CCNA-Wireless)
- Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)
UW-Stout Graduates Get Great Jobs
Graduates of UW-Stout’s Computer Networking and Information Technology program are currently employed at leading companies nationwide with job titles such as:
- Network Engineer
- Network Architect
- Network Administrator
- Network Consultant
- Systems Administrator
- Systems Analyst
- Information Security Analyst
- Information Technology Manager
Employers Seek UW-Stout Graduates
The employers who hire ITM graduates include:
- Cisco
- Netflix
- Dell
- Lockheed Martin
- 3M
- AT&T
- Menards
- Sentry Insurance
- Target
- Marshfield Clinic
- Wisconsin Independent Network
- 3KeyLogic
- Spanlink
- Enventis
- CDW
- Heartland
- And many others
2018 CNIT Advisory Board
| Holly Yuan | Yuan | Program Director | |
| Per | Austren | Harris Corporation | |
| Justin | Bodie | Professional in the Field | Consolidated |
| Derek | Brost | Professional in the Field | JAMF Software |
| Robin | Buck | Professional in the Field | WWT |
| Brandon | Cross | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department | |
| Jeff | Dirks | Dirk Groups | |
| Craig | Dolezal | Senior Director | Target |
| Justin | Douglas | Professional in the Field | |
| Renee | Dunderson | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department | |
| Michael | Engelmann | Professional in the Field | Lead SRM Engineer, NMCI |
| Bob | Franks | Professional in the Field | Cisco |
| Troy | Hittner-Bennet | Enventis | |
| Scott | Hoffmann | Professional in the Field | WINS |
| Steve | Holm | professional un the Field | Dell Compellent |
| Jason | Hotujec | Professional in the Field | WINS |
| Tyler | Jensen | Professional in the Field | Cisco Meraki |
| Ben Kools | Kools | Professional in the Field | WWT |
| Allen | Larson | Renaissance Learning, Inc. | |
| Cody | Lewandowski | Professional in the Field | Target |
| Matt | Liversey | Program Director | English & Philosophy |
| Jake | Lube | Senior Openstack developer | Target |
| Mike | Maden | Professional in the Field | Dell Compellent |
| Andrew | Malecha | Dell Compellent | |
| Terry | Mason | UW-Stout | |
| Sue | May | Avastone | |
| Jacob | Medford | Professional in the Field | Dell Compellent |
| Douglas | Mell | Director | Communications |
| Alex | Myrman | Professional in the Field | Cisco |
| Alysse | Nockels | Professional in the Field - Senior Competitive Analyst | Secure Computing |
| Tricia | Oberdas | Professional in the Field | Securian Financial Group |
| Kevin | Olson | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department | |
| Scott | Paetzold | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department | |
| David | Peterson | 3KeyLogic | |
| Randy | Pickering | Professional in the Field | AT&T |
| Richard | Rothaupt | Associate Dean | |
| Darik | Rude | Professional in the Field - Sales Manager | Enventis |
| Steven | Schlough | Program Director - Department Chair | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department |
| Mike | Schultz | Professional in the Field | Consolidated |
| Tom | Seiberlich | Professional in the Field | Cisco |
| Casey | Shields | Professional in the Field | WINS |
| Ed | Simson | 3KeyLogic | |
| Elliott | Stephens | Professional in the Field | Target |
| Jordan | Sussman | Senior Developer | Target |
| Evan | Sveum | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department | |
| Kevin | Tharp | Apparel & Communication Technologies Department | |
| Terry | Thornton | Professional in the Field | Harris Corporation |
| Nick | Utrie | professional in the Field | |
| Andy | Wagner | CDW | |
| Douglas | Wahl | Chief Information Officer | Learning Information Technologies Department |
| Joe | Wrzosek | Professional in the Field | Aertae |
| Matt | Yach | Professional in the Field | WINS |
The Information Technology Laboratory in Micheels Hall provides access for students to develop, apply and research contemporary strategies involving voice, data and graphical technologies which constitute the foundation for the areas of telecommunications and media.
The 4,000-square-foot laboratory focuses on current and emerging telecommunication software and hardware systems. Many telecommunications-related business and industry organizations are promoting and sponsoring the new laboratory.
Three laboratory areas are under development including extensive data communication, telephony and video/multimedia system labs. The laboratory will also serve as a "working model," showcasing technical innovations and integration for regional business and industry.
High-speed wire and fiber-based networks in the laboratory support a variety of voice, data and multimedia systems. Several communication systems will be available, including both wired and wireless links.
2019 USICC Collegiate Conference
At the U.S. Information Technology Collegiate Conference held April 4-6, 2019 in Galveston, Texas, the team of Luke Bednar and Karl Carey won the network design competition, topping 33 other teams. UW-Stout also took third place in network design, with the team of Nikki Ruf and Derek Muck.
Faculty & Student Achievement
As Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, UW-Stout works closely with business, industry and other educational institutions to benefit students and grow the economy. Read more about the CNIT program partners below:
Capstone Sponsors
Dell | Compellent
Dell has sponsored the following capstone projects:
- A Disaster Recovery Plan for Planned and Unplanned Outages
- SAN-Server iSCSI Performance Testing
- Enterprise Manager 6.3 LDAP Integration
- SMI-S Provider Exploration
- IO Latency Testing
- PY-IP Skimmer
- Migration from Windows to open-source networking and Linux
- Deploying and Optimizing Virtual Desktop Infrastructure Using VMWare Horizons
- Automated Deployment of Virtualized Environments
- Software-Defined Data Center with VMWare NSX
Visit them at: http://www.dell.com/us/business/p/dell-compellent
Wisconsin Independent Networks
Wisconsin Independent Networks has sponsored the following capstone projects:
- Log Analysis for Wisconsin Independent Network
- Metro Ethernet SLA Compliance, Monitoring, and Reporting
- Software Defined Networking
- Layer 2 Internet Service Provider WAN Implementation
- Software Defined Networking on a Carrier Ethernet Network
Visit them at: http://www.wins.net
Enventis
Enventis has sponsored the following capstone projects:
- Wisconsin Mall “Next Generation Shopping Today”
- Bring Your Own Device
Visit them at: https://www.consolidated.com
Heartland Business Systems
Heartland has sponsored the following capstone projects:
-
Cisco Voice and Video Collaboration Solution for AB Construction
Visit them at: http://www.hbs.net/home
Menards
- Application Centric Segmentation with Cisco ACI and Fortinet
- Migrating and Implementing Cisco Virtual Switching System
Visit them at www.menards.com
Cisco Meraki
Cisco Meraki has sponsored the following capstone projects:
- Evaluating and Evolving a Mobile Device Management (MDM) Solution
- Deployment & Management of IT Infrastructure for ACME with Cloud Computing
Visit them at: https://meraki.cisco.com
Target
- Implementing an Open Source Software-Based Network Infrastructure
- Developing and Evaluating DevOps Automation Tools
Visit them at www.target.com
Heartland Business Systems
- Deploying and Managing Cisco Collaboration and Microsoft Cloud Systems
- Take Your Business to New Heights with Amazon Web Services
Marshfield Clinic Health System Information Services
- Implementing a HIPAA Compliant Network for Stark-Dental Clinic’s Remote Site
- Building a HIPAA Compliant Network for Marshfield Clinic
Visit them at: https://www.marshfieldclinic.org/mcis
UW-Stout
- Protecting Our Students: Expanding Stout Surveillance
WWT
WWT has sponsored the following capstone project:
-
Substation Connected GRID Design
Visit them at: https://www2.wwt.com
Harris
Harris sponsored the following capstone projects:
- Data Center Infrastructure Management
- Identity Management
Visit them at: http://harris.com
Spanlink
Spanlink has sponsored the following capstone project:
-
ACME Anvil Company UC and UCCX Deployment
Visit them at: http://convergeone.com
Jamf Software
Jamf has sponsored the following capstone project:
- “An Apple A Day”--Apple Device Administration with the JAMF Casper Suite
- Building a Secure JamfPro Experience
Visit them at: http://www.jamfsoftware.com
Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
- Do you want to pursue a challenging profession in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance?
- Do you want to work for the Department of Defense and help defend our nation's cyber space?
- Do you want to have your education paid for?
The University of Wisconsin Stout, a recently designated National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, is now participating in the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program.
In 2018-19 our first student received the full tuition and $25,000 stipend scholarship. Two new students were awarded the scholarship in 2019-20, and the previous student was renewed for a third year.
Scholarship Benefits:
- An undergraduate student will be paid a stipend of $25,000 per academic year (BS degree) and a graduate student will be paid a stipend of $30,000 per academic year (MS/Ph.D. degree).
- The scholarship will pay for full cost of tuition, required fees, books, and a stipend to cover room and board.
- The DoD will also provide sponsors who will maintain contact with the student during the scholarship period, and who will facilitate the student's entry into internships and eventual DoD employment.
Requirements and Eligibility:
- You are a citizen of the United States at the time of application.
- You are 18 years of age or older.
- Your present GPA is 3.2/4.0 - undergraduate; 3.5/4.0 - graduate.
- You have completed (or by August 2018 will have completed) the first two years of an undergraduate degree program and be eligible to begin either the third or fourth year of an undergraduate degree program; or by August 2018 you will begin the first or second year of a Master's degree program. Online programs included. Undergraduates must attend full-time.
- You are pursuing a course of study at UW-Stout and have a declared major in one of the scientific, technical, or managerial disciplines related to cybersecurity or a concentration in cybersecurity (BS-CNIT, BS-ICT, MS-ICT, BS-CS, BS-AMCS, PSM-IAM are natural candidates).
- You agree to one year of service to the DoD, upon graduation, for each year of scholarship.
- You agree to accept internships arranged by the DoD to occur during the summer or other breaks between school terms.
Application Process:
- Complete the application form found HERE.
- Provide a statement of purpose and description of goals and motivations to pursue a career in cybersecurity and information assurance.
- Provide transcripts of all college work.
- Provide two recommendation letters.
Deadline for applying is February 4, 2018.
Full application materials must be received by February 4, 2018. Send your application package through email to:
Dr. Holly Yuan
Re: IASP Program Application
Email: yuanh@uwstout.edu
For more details on the program see the DoD website.
