Best WGU Degree for Network Engineering?

I'm starting at WGU IT college in February and can't decide between the network admin and security track. I would eventually like to work as a network engineer, but I don't have any experience. I had been thinking of going the security route, but it seems like the network admin track has more well rounded set of certs for someone who will have to start at the bottom. The marketable certs in security are CCNA, CCNA:S, A/S/P+. The network admin track offers all those except CCNA:S, but does give you MCSA and MCTIP (unless that cert is expiring). The combo of Cisco and MS certs seem like they might be more helpful when trying to get entry level jobs. That being said, the security track seems to teach you more in general. What would those of you with experience recommend?

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Comments

phaneuf1

Hi, I would go for the security track. If network engineering is your goal, the Microsoft certifications will not be that important, and you can always pass them later.

BTW MCITP is not included in the network track. Only MCSA is. Both ccna and ccna sec will look better on your resume than only ccna and an unfinished microsoft certification (you're only half way with the MCSA). Most employers will only consider MCSE or MCITP.

The CCNA certs will get you the entry level job youre looking for anyway and then, when you are employed, you can ask your manager to pay for you microsoft certifications if you really need to.

I have the same goal and this is what I'm doing and what I think will help me land a networking job. Ho and with the security degree, you have a windows 7 certification to pass, so you will be fine if your first is job is going to be helpdesk.

eansdad

I agree, I've suggested that they split into systems admin and network engineer tracks instead of the network admin and network design. Of course I still think the security track should have more security related courses.

spiderjericho

eansdad wrote: »

I agree, I've suggested that they split into systems admin and network engineer tracks instead of the network admin and network design. Of course I still think the security track should have more security related courses.

I agree. Security, Network Engineering, System Admin and IT Management.

Network Engineering should have CCNA, Net+, Project+, Sec+ and WGU classes geared toward network.

System Admin should have the MCSA 2012 (sorry, I think the MCSE is overboard), project+, A+ and Net+ and some WGU courses.

Security should have CCNA, CCNA Sec, Sec+, Net+, A+, CASP, Linux+, MTAs and others.
But see that's where you run into a problem. How do you pad the other tracks.

Spaced

Thanks phaneuf1! That's helpful. I have been waffling between the two for a while now. I thought the MS certs would help with HD positions, but not if it ends up being just a partial MCSA and CCNA. Someone on the board was also mentioning how insanely difficult it is to land a HD job without experience and that it might be easier to land some sort of entry level networking position instead. Don't know if that is accurate, but I would much rather start there than in HD.

I am actually already enrolled at WGU, but in the business IT management degree. When I first started and tried to enroll in the IT college, the enrollment counselor pretty much made it seem like the odds were higher that I get into MIT than the IT college at WGU. At the end of my first semester I tried again and got in touch with the IT college program manager. He didn't see any big obstacles. He had also told me that they are working on retooling the degrees, but did not say anything about a network engineer track unfortunately, which is a shame. They plan to have a database track, but focused on business intelligence in place by middle of next year. They are changing the other degrees to some degrees as well.