Does a career in the Information Technology (IT) industry sound right for you?
You’re comfortable with computers, and excited about new technology. You like figuring out how things work.
You are a continual learner – as soon as you master one thing, you want to move on to the next level.
You want an education that teaches you how to solve problems and apply your skills through hands-on experience, not just listening to lectures and taking tests.
Does this sound like you? If so, an IT degree could be the path to a successful and rewarding career. In Ranken’s IT associate degree program, you’ll choose between four track options to specialize in one area, focusing on hardware, software or internet technology.
Why choose Ranken for your computer hardware and networking degree?
Network Architecture and Design Technology
In this hardware-centered program, students will work with Cisco® equipment, program and configure routers and switches, study wireless local area network (LAN) configurations and security and firewall issues, and virtual LANs (VLANs). Students will be prepared for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification and CompTIA Security+ certification. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Design, configure and troubleshoot networks using Cisco routing and switching protocols
- Install, configure and troubleshoot desktop operating systems, PCs and peripherals
- Implement IPv6 addresses on new/existing networks
- Explain the importance of policies, plans and procedures related to organizational security
- Install, configure and troubleshoot Cisco ASA security devices, secure existing networks with ACLs
This program is offered as a day school program at Ranken’s St. Louis campus.
Interested in seeing more of our Information Technology facilities? Take an interactive 360° virtual tour of Ranken Techncial College’s INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY department.
Network and Database Administration Technology
Software-centered, this track focuses on Microsoft Server for network services, network infrastructure and Active Directory, Microsoft Structured Query Language (SQL) for database configuration and services and network virtualization. Students will be prepared to achieve the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification. Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Install, configure, maintain and troubleshoot Microsoft enterprise-level servers and databases
- Install, configure and troubleshoot desktop operating systems, PCs and peripherals
- Support data centers by implementing high availability and disaster recovery technologies
- Maintain group policies by configuring, monitoring and troubleshooting Active Directory configurations
- Implement and manage enterprise-level virtual environments
This program is offered as a day school program at Ranken’s St. Louis campus.
Network Systems Management Technology
Featuring elements of network and database administration and network architecture technology, this track will focus on configuring Cisco routers. Students will also study Microsoft Server, including Active Directory services and network infrastructure. Students will be prepared for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification test. Upon completion of this program students will be able to:
- Implement static and dynamic routing protocols using Cisco routers
- Implement switching technologies such as VLANs, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), Inter-VLAN routing and VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP)
- Install/configure Small Office/Home Office wireless networks
- Implement Inter-VLAN routing using Cisco switches and routers
- Expand small to medium-sized networks with WAN connectivity
- Configure basic networking security strategies to protect corporate networks
- Implement IPv6 addresses on new/existing networks
- Install and configure enterprise-level servers
- Implement high availability and disaster recovery
- Support data centers
- Create and maintain group policy
- Configure, monitor and troubleshoot Active Directory configurations
This program is offered as a day school program at Ranken’s St. Louis campus and Ranken Southeast, and at Ranken-West (Wentzville, MO) in both the day and evening.
Interested in seeing more of our IT facilities? Take an interactive 360° virtual tour of Ranken Techncial College’s INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY departments.