Computer Networking and Systems Administration program prepares TSTC students for world of IT

(MARSHALL, Texas) - Joshua Schier, team lead for Texas State Technical College's Computer Networking and Systems Administration(CNSA) program, recently described the program's graduates as the backbone of today's digital society.

"This is the information age, and we are the technology that provides that, whether it be the transmission of the data to the end, the use of the data, or the format that it's displayed to the user," Schiersaid.

The CNSA program covers the world of information technology (IT), which is in need of professionals throughout Texas. Graduates have gone on to work anywhere from web services to banks to digital forensics.

Schier noted that several past and present CNSA students joined the program to integrate it with their other professional experience.

"You'll find that any other previous life experience you have can be combined with this technology," he said. "And now, all of a sudden, you're a rare and special talent to these different industries because you understand more than just the IT side. You understand the everyday side of what they're doing."

Students in the CNSA program are encouraged to hold internships between their third and fifth semesters. Although they can substitute an internship with an additional course, Sherri Ruble, a senior CNSA instructor, said internships are more beneficial.

"Getting students out into positions where they're going to have a supervisor walk them through the job and give them on-the-job training will make that shoe fit much better," she said.

CNSA instructor Clint Pate called his favorite part of teaching the "lightbulb effect," when students understand what they are doing.

"We see the progression of a student from beginning to end, and we feel accomplished," Patesaid. "It's that simple for me."

After graduating from the program in 2011, Robert Maldonado held several IT positions before opening his own IT consulting firm, We Can Change IT.

"TSTC is not just a college to me, it's the foundation of my career," he said. "I owe my professional journey to TSTC and its exceptional teaching staff."

According to onetonline.org, computer network architects earn a median salary of $132,400 in Texas, where the number of these jobs was projected to grow 17% between 2020 and 2030.

Computer Networking and Systems Administration is available at TSTC's Abilene, East Williamson County, Marshall, North Texas and Waco campuses. The program is also available 100% online.

At TSTC, students can pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Computer Networking and Systems Administration, certificates of completion in IT Support Tier 1 and IT Support Tier II, and an advanced technical certificate in Cloud Computing.

Registration for TSTC's fall semester is underway. For more information, go to tstc.edu.

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