Education Track for Network Architect

Could you guys share the education track for a Network Architect? This is strictly from a traditional education stand-point involving college degrees from public universities. It would seem at first glance that you need something like B.S. Computer Science, MS Computer Information Systems, then MBA, however it was something I thought to share on the board. thoughts, comments, questions...

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jibbajabba

Experience - probably higher rated than any traditional education when it comes to network architecture ...

EdTheLad

Get a bachelors, study and lab the different protocols using IOS from either cisco and juniper. Get afew years experience in the trenches, study different OSs windows, linux etc, study security and then think about becoming an architect. Forget about an MBA, unless you want to get into management.

egrizzly

EdTheLad wrote: »

Get a bachelors, study and lab the different protocols using IOS from either cisco and juniper. Get afew years experience in the trenches, study different OSs windows, linux etc, study security and then think about becoming an architect. Forget about an MBA, unless you want to get into management.

that's interesting. Finding a college degree with a focus in network security is another animal. Anyway, I'll see into it.

filkenjitsu

In my opinion, this would be an excellent education for a future network architect:

Bachelors of Science in Telecommunications Engineering - Telecommunications Engineering - Bachelor of Science - UT Dallas

Master of Science In Computer, Information and Network Security - MS In Computer Information and Network Security

The Bachelors Curriculum:

Major Core Courses (52 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum)
CS 3340 Computer Architecture CS 4141 Digital Systems Laboratory CS 4341 Digital Logic and Computer Design ECS 3361 Social Issues and Ethics in Computer Science and Engineering⁷ ECS 3390 Professional and Technical Communication² EE 3150 Communications Systems Laboratory ENGR 3300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics EE 3350 Communications Systems EE 4360 Digital Communications EE 4361 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing TE 3101 Electrical Network Analysis Laboratory TE 3102 Signals and Systems Laboratory TE 3301 Electrical Network Analysis TE 3302 Signals and Systems ENGR 3341 Probability Theory and Statistics TE 3345 Data Structures and Introduction to Algorithmic Analysis TE 4348 Operating Systems Concepts TE 4365 Introduction to Wireless Communication TE 4367 Telecommunication Networks TE 4388 Senior Design Project I TE 4389 Senior Design Project II TE 4390 Computer Networks

Masters Curriculum:

TDC 411 Introduction to Computer and Network Systems

TDC 413 Introduction to Lan and Wan

TDC 405 Voice and Data Network Fundamentals

CNS 418 Introduction to Host Security

TDC 563 Protocols and Techniques for Data NetworksAdvanced topics in TCP/IP including IPv6, TCP traffic control, routing protocols, multicast routing protocols, and upper layer protocols supporting Quality of Service (QoS) in the new generation of the Internet; compression techniques; introduction to SNA and APPN, SNA and TCP/IP integration. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 463

TDC 560 Advanced Network Technologies and DesignThis course introduces advanced network technologies and design, including Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), MPLS Virtual Private Networks, IP storage networks, content distribution, capacity planning and traffic engineering. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 460, TDC 463

TDC 562 Computer-Communication Network Design and AnalysisThis course provides an in-depth study of Internet protocols from the perspective of network planning, simulation and troubleshooting. The course includes in-depth study of Internet traffic, traffic measurement techniques, network planning and simulation using simulation tools, and packet management techniques. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 463

TDC 460 Foundations of Network TechnologiesAn introductory course on network technologies for local and wide area networks. The course examines in detail the core concepts fo network architectures, Ethernet systems including wired, wireless, and Metro, virtual local area networks, storage area networks, optical networking, and the more traditional network services such as T-1, frame relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), and SONET. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 405 and TDC 413

TDC 463 Computer Networks and Data SystemsA detailed discussion of the upper layers of network architectures. Network protocol organization will be discussed using TCP/IP as an example. IP addresses, subnetting, supernetting, and CIDR. Routing algorithms. Transport layer protocols. Application layer protocols. Introduction to IPv6. PREREQUISITE (S): TDC 405 and TDC 413

TDC 477 Network SecurityNetwork infrastructure security issues, including perimeter security defense, firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, Intrusion Detection Systems, wireless security, network security auditing tools and ethical considerations. Strategies for the deployment of "Defense-In-Depth" mechanisms in an enterprise computing environment. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 463 or CSC 435

TDC 460 Foundations of Network Technologies

TDC 463 Computer Networks and Data Systems

TDC 477 Network Security

CNS 477 Legal Issues in Information Assurance

CNS 440 Security Management

TDC 511 Telecommunications Practicum

TDC 563 Protocols and Techniques for Data Networks

TDC 577 Network Security II

TDC 468 Network Programming

TDC 562 Computer-Communication Network Design and Analysis

TDC 567 Telecommunication Systems Design and Management

TDC 560 Advanced Network Technologies and Design

TDC 568 Network Management

filkenjitsu

There are also a lot of great masters degrees in telecommunications out there!

egrizzly

ok that's pretty good academia. DePaul is extremely expensive. Do you not have any public schools that are less costly? tuition at DePaul is $770/credit hour. It's an insane thought to ponder.

filkenjitsu wrote: »

In my opinion, this would be an excellent education for a future network architect:

Bachelors of Science in Telecommunications Engineering - Telecommunications Engineering - Bachelor of Science - UT Dallas

Master of Science In Computer, Information and Network Security - MS In Computer Information and Network Security

The Bachelors Curriculum:

Major Core Courses (52 semester credit hours beyond Core Curriculum)
CS 3340 Computer Architecture CS 4141 Digital Systems Laboratory CS 4341 Digital Logic and Computer Design ECS 3361 Social Issues and Ethics in Computer Science and Engineering⁷ ECS 3390 Professional and Technical Communication² EE 3150 Communications Systems Laboratory ENGR 3300 Advanced Engineering Mathematics EE 3350 Communications Systems EE 4360 Digital Communications EE 4361 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing TE 3101 Electrical Network Analysis Laboratory TE 3102 Signals and Systems Laboratory TE 3301 Electrical Network Analysis TE 3302 Signals and Systems ENGR 3341 Probability Theory and Statistics TE 3345 Data Structures and Introduction to Algorithmic Analysis TE 4348 Operating Systems Concepts TE 4365 Introduction to Wireless Communication TE 4367 Telecommunication Networks TE 4388 Senior Design Project I TE 4389 Senior Design Project II TE 4390 Computer Networks

Masters Curriculum:

TDC 411 Introduction to Computer and Network Systems

TDC 413 Introduction to Lan and Wan

TDC 405 Voice and Data Network Fundamentals

CNS 418 Introduction to Host Security
X
TDC 563 Protocols and Techniques for Data NetworksAdvanced topics in TCP/IP including IPv6, TCP traffic control, routing protocols, multicast routing protocols, and upper layer protocols supporting Quality of Service (QoS) in the new generation of the Internet; compression techniques; introduction to SNA and APPN, SNA and TCP/IP integration. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 463
X
TDC 560 Advanced Network Technologies and DesignThis course introduces advanced network technologies and design, including Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), MPLS Virtual Private Networks, IP storage networks, content distribution, capacity planning and traffic engineering. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 460, TDC 463

X
TDC 562 Computer-Communication Network Design and AnalysisThis course provides an in-depth study of Internet protocols from the perspective of network planning, simulation and troubleshooting. The course includes in-depth study of Internet traffic, traffic measurement techniques, network planning and simulation using simulation tools, and packet management techniques. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 463

X
TDC 460 Foundations of Network TechnologiesAn introductory course on network technologies for local and wide area networks. The course examines in detail the core concepts fo network architectures, Ethernet systems including wired, wireless, and Metro, virtual local area networks, storage area networks, optical networking, and the more traditional network services such as T-1, frame relay, Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM), and SONET. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 405 and TDC 413

X
TDC 463 Computer Networks and Data SystemsA detailed discussion of the upper layers of network architectures. Network protocol organization will be discussed using TCP/IP as an example. IP addresses, subnetting, supernetting, and CIDR. Routing algorithms. Transport layer protocols. Application layer protocols. Introduction to IPv6. PREREQUISITE (S): TDC 405 and TDC 413

X
TDC 477 Network SecurityNetwork infrastructure security issues, including perimeter security defense, firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, Intrusion Detection Systems, wireless security, network security auditing tools and ethical considerations. Strategies for the deployment of "Defense-In-Depth" mechanisms in an enterprise computing environment. PREREQUISITE(S): TDC 463 or CSC 435

TDC 460 Foundations of Network Technologies

TDC 463 Computer Networks and Data Systems

TDC 477 Network Security

CNS 477 Legal Issues in Information Assurance

CNS 440 Security Management

TDC 511 Telecommunications Practicum

TDC 563 Protocols and Techniques for Data Networks

TDC 577 Network Security II

TDC 468 Network Programming

TDC 562 Computer-Communication Network Design and Analysis

TDC 567 Telecommunication Systems Design and Management

TDC 560 Advanced Network Technologies and Design

TDC 568 Network Management

Dieg0M

CCENT > CCNA > CCNP > CCDA > CCDP > CCIE > JNCIE > CCDE . Could be in any discipline, R&S , Voice, Security, Wireless but the prefered is obviously R&S. Good luck.

SteveO86

The term 'network architect' may vary depending on the place of employment.

For example:

A network architect for a large enterprise may need to be experienced with all the different technologies, not just the network. Such as network, VMWare, Storage, load balancing technologies, certain server technologies. From my experience many larger enterprises look for someone who can actively participate in almost every project not just network related ones.

On the flip side, my experience with service providers you will be expected to be networking god at the CCIE/JNCIE level, being very well versed in just about different networking vendor/technology within the infrastructure more so from a design perspective.

Solutions architects or more on the high end sales/designs/customer facing positions like highly experience pre-sales engineers. (Not very implementation based unless its a very small company)

---

Best you can do get all the experience you can, no one is going to a pick an architect with less than 5-8 years of experience. Also depending on the place of employment and you environment a degree may be mandatory, however after 5-8 years your experience will speak for itself. Definitely have good public speaking & communication skills. (Sometimes it's not all about the technology, just throwing this one out there)

egrizzly

Dieg0M wrote: »

CCENT > CCNA > CCNP > CCDA > CCDP > CCIE > JNCIE > CCDE . Could be in any discipline, R&S , Voice, Security, Wireless but the prefered is obviously R&S. Good luck.

Diego, I'm going to put you on the spot and ask where you got that sequence of certification path from. Could you shed some light on the source and the benefits of following such a path?

filkenjitsu

Screen-Shot-2013-01-24-at-11.04.21-AM.png

SteveO86

There are very few CCDE's (compared to IE's) out there, and much fewer CCAr's out there. I think it will take some more before the CCDE & the CCAr start becoming requirements on the job descriptions.

egrizzly

Thanks for the effort however the IT Cert Track screenshot from the Cisco website just shows certifications and not a peer recommended path to Network Architect. It certainly does not show traditional education like Bachelors or Masters in IT.

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