Network infrastructure is the behind-the-scenes technology keeping our world digitally connected. It’s made up of hardware devices, software applications, network services, and facilities.
It helps us do things like share files and data, sync our devices, and collaborate efficiently. Overall, network infrastructure is pretty important in maintaining technological advances. Network infrastructure professionals work with both hardware and software infrastructure.
Curriculum Made to Help You Succeed
As a student in the Network Infrastructure (NETI) program at Ivy Tech, you will:
Learn how to install, configure, maintain, troubleshoot, and secure network devices and protocols.
Get comfortable with networking equipment and components, including routers, switches, cabling, connectivity, and mounting.
Receive industry certifications that will prepare you for work in network infrastructure.
Gain an understanding of advanced network services, including access control lists, routing and switching concepts, QOS, NAT, VPN concepts, SDN, network automation, and network security.
Complete the Cisco Networking Academy official CCNA preparation curriculum.
Take courses on infrastructure, wireless, cloud technologies, and cybersecurity.
Hone your knowledge of and practical skills in the design, installation, configuration, and secure administration of digital networks.
Figure out an organization's essential network infrastructure requirements and develop an implementation and maintenance plan.
No prior computer experience or knowledge is required.
Career Options
High-Wage, High-Demand
Thanks to the increased use of Internet-based apps for communication and collaboration, there's a growing demand for network infrastructure professionals.
The Network Infrastructure program will prepare you to work in the following roles:
Junior Network Engineer
Network and Computer Systems Administrator
Network Architect
Network Deployment Specialist
Network Operations Center Technician
Network Security Analyst
Network Support Engineer
Network Support Specialist
Network Technician
Server Administrator
Wireless Network Technician
NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE TOOLKIT
Leverage our Toolkit to access resources and information related to educational opportunities, competitions, certifications, programming languages, tools, blogs, forums, projects, volunteering, freelancing, events, professional associations, and jobs in Network Infrastructure.
Note: Program availability varies by location and not all program tracks are offered at each campus/location.
Affiliated Partners
Network Infrastructure is an important part of keeping businesses and people's everyday lives moving given our reliance on technology. To make sure our students are as successful as possible, Ivy Tech teaches on some of the most relevant systems in the industry, including:
Associate Degree – Transferable or Career-Ready
The Associate of Applied Science in Network Infrastructure will get you ready for a career in the industry. You'll graduate ready to start working as a Computer Systems Analyst, Network Engineer, or other related role.
You may also choose to transfer to a four-year university following completion of your associate degree, which will make you eligible for higher-level positions and even higher pay. Please reach out to your transfer advocate if you're interested in learning more about one of our two transfer partners for this program:
Students must take 60 credit hours to graduate from the AAS in Network Infrastructure program. This typically takes four semesters to complete.
Earn a Certificate on the Way to Your AAS
A recommended path to the associate degree in Network Infrastructure is to complete one or more of the two certificates offered by Ivy Tech while working toward the degree. The certificates are designed to provide gateways toward entry-level network infrastructure careers, so you can begin working quickly. You may then choose to pursue a credential that requires more credits and time in order to learn more and move up in your professional career. You can apply the credits from your certificate to your higher-level credential at Ivy Tech to make the most of your time and tuition.
Required Courses
AAS Network Infrastructure graduates must complete a total of 60 credit hours:
Long-Term Certificate
known as a Technical Certificate (TC)
In this program, you'll have the chance to earn industry certifications such as the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification and the CompTIA A+ Certification.
The Network Infrastructure Technical Certificate (TC) program can be completed in two semesters, or about one year.
FREE Through Next Level Jobs
The Network Infrastructure TC is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free credential. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelor's, master's, etc.)*
*Note: Students who are admitted to the Next Level Jobs program to pursue the Network Infrastructure TC are required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing, and physical exam.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Network Infrastructure, you can earn this certificate on your way. The certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level network infrastructure careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate, if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 33 credit hours.
Short-Term Certificate
known as a Certificate (CT)
As a Routing and Switching Certificate (CT) student, you'll earn industry certifications, including the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Certification.
The Routing and Switching CT program can be completed in two semesters, or about one year.
FREE Through Next Level Jobs
Routing and Switching CT is part of Indiana’s Next Level Jobs degree program, funded by the Workforce Ready Grant. You may be eligible for a free credential. You are eligible to be a part of Next Level Jobs at Ivy Tech if you fulfill all of the following requirements:
Are an Indiana resident
Have a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency
Have not previously received a certificate in a Next Level Jobs eligible program
Have not previously received an associate degree or higher (bachelor's, master's, etc.)*
*Note: Students who are admitted to the Next Level Jobs program to pursue the Routing and Switching CT are required to pay for and submit to a criminal background check, drug testing, and physical exam.
Building on Your Certificate
If your goal is to earn an associate degree in Network Infrastructure, you can earn this certificate on your way. The certificate is designed to provide a gateway into entry-level network infrastructure careers. That means you may be able to enter the workforce in your desired field even before you graduate, if your plan includes working while you’re in school.
Required Courses
Graduates must complete a total of 16 credit hours.
Network infrastructure professionals work across several industries including finance, educational services, telecommunications, and computer systems.
These careers offer some flexibility as there are a few ways you can work as a network infrastructure professional. They’ll often work in-house at a company.
They could also work for a large agency or organization that helps businesses with technical support. In other cases, these professionals work remotely and help people via live chat or phone. Others spend their time traveling to customers’ homes or offices to provide in-person support.
Curious if a career in network infrastructure could be right for you? These careers often require:
Being a team player
Problem-solving
Technical skills
Organization
Multi-tasking
Sound Like You?
If you identify with the traits above, network infrastructure may be the path for you! Take the next step to get started or speak with your local advisor to learn more.
All Network Infrastructure students must demonstrate competency through appropriate assessment or earning a grade of “C” or better in at least one course from each of the following categories:
There is no expiration date for course credits that were earned in previous years from Ivy Tech Community College.
Transfer Credit for Prerequisite Courses
Prerequisite courses completed at colleges other than Ivy Tech will only be considered for general education selection points if transfer credit has been awarded and courses appear on the Ivy Tech transcript prior to the application deadline.
TR grades are not recognized by the online application. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that transfer credit has been awarded and that TR grades are updated to transfer letter grades (TA, TB, TC) on their Ivy Tech transcript.
It is recommended that college transcripts be submitted to the Registrar’s office for evaluation and transfer credit at least 4 weeks prior to the program application deadline to ensure adequate time for processing.
Network Infrastructure Courses
Descriptions of Network Infrastructure courses can be found in our online course catalog. View required classes and course descriptions for:
See when specific courses will be offered by searching our course list in Schedule Builder. First, select the semester you’re looking for and then enter the name of the course in the search bar.
If you’re a current student, upcoming courses are easy to find in Schedule Builder in MyIvy.
Course Formats
Due to the hands-on nature of the material, Network Infrastructure courses are taught in person.
Applying to Ivy Tech is Free & Easy
The Ivy Tech application is free and easy—you don’t need a certain test score, GPA, or class rank to get started at Ivy Tech. Applying takes about 10-15 minutes and can be completed entirely online.
No Application Deadlines
Ivy Tech does not have a deadline for admission. Our 8-week class sessions start throughout the year—in January, March, June, August, and October—and there is no hard deadline for applying for any of the start dates. It's important, though, to apply early enough that you'll be able to complete all the degree planning, financial aid, and registration activities that need to happen before your first day. We recommend you apply about one month before you intend to start classes. See upcoming start dates
Steps to Apply
(1) Apply to Ivy Tech
If you’ve never applied to Ivy Tech Community College before (or if it’s been two years since you last attended classes here), your first step is to apply to Ivy Tech. You can apply online or in person. To apply in person, reach out toyour local admissions team and arrange a meeting. Or, stop by any campus on any Tuesday for Tuesdays@TheTech to receive personal assistance with applying and registering for classes.
After you submit your application, you'll be asked to upload documentation—such as SAT/ACT/PSAT scores or high school and college transcripts—that can assess your readiness for college-level coursework and help us make sure you are taking classes that are the right fit for you. How to upload assessment documents
If you don't have your scores or transcripts at your fingertips, don’t worry. Go ahead and submit your application. You can go back to upload assessment documents at any time until the end of the term for which you applied.
(3) Look for a Confirmation Email
Once your application is processed, you will receive a confirmation email at the email address provided on your application. Typically the email will arrive within 1-2 business days of submission, but during peak processing periods (April-June) could take up to 5-10 business days.
The email will contain instructions on how to register for classes, as well as important information regarding your Ivy Tech student portal (MyIvy account), tuition, payment options, and more.
(4) Create an Account in MyIvy
MyIvy is Ivy Tech's online student portal. Students use MyIvy to check e-mail, register for classes, pay tuition, manage financial aid, get the latest news and announcements, and much more. MyIvy also contains "QuickLinks" to the Ivy Tech websites and online tools you will use most often. Learn more about MyIvy
Before you can register for classes you will need to submit documentation or complete an assessment test. Your test scores can help us determine the best English and math starting classes for you. See the Test Score Course Placement Chart
If you submitted assessment documentation during the application process, your advisor will likely be able to work with those documents to determine course placement and you won't need to take any further steps. If you don't have any of those documents or the scores don't meet minimum thresholds, don’t worry! Your advisor will direct you to complete our freeKnowledge Assessment to help develop your customized learning path to better prepare you for courses.
(6) Register for Classes
Once you have completed the steps above, you may register for classes. Ivy Tech students register for courses using the Schedule Builder tool which can be accessed withinMyIvy. If you are a new, first-time Ivy Tech student, we recommend that you meet withyour advisor who will help you develop your Academic Completion Plan and help you sign up for courses that are the best fit for you.
For a complete list of registration steps, including detailed registration steps, deadlines, and information about holds, withdrawals, waitlists, and refunds, visit our Registration 101 page.
(7) Pay Your Tuition
After registering for your courses, your bill can be viewed in yourMyIvy account > Student Dashboard- > View/Pay Balance. Payments can also be made in your MyIvy account. For complete information about payments, including payment options, payment plans, how to make immediate payments, due dates, information about refunds, and more, visit our Payments page.
Alf Sanford III Faculty Advisor & Professor Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Network Infrastructure, Cloud Technologies asanford3@ivytech.edu (574) 830-0375 ext. 5415
William (Bill) Ruben Program Chair & Professor Computer Science, Informatics, Information Technology Support, Software Development wruben@ivytech.edu (574) 289-7001 ext. 7374
Angela Boembeke Department Chair & Professor School of Information Technology & Visual Communications aboembek@ivytech.edu (574) 289-7001 ext. 5409
Alf Sanford III Faculty Advisor & Professor Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Network Infrastructure, Cloud Technologies asanford3@ivytech.edu (574) 830-0375 ext. 5415
William (Bill) Ruben Program Chair & Professor Computer Science, Informatics, Information Technology Support, Software Development wruben@ivytech.edu (574) 289-7001 ext. 7374
Kevin O'Neill Department Chair & Professor School of Information Technology & Visual Communications koneill16@ivytech.edu 574-830-0375 ext 4413
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, and Statewide Vice Chair
Hieu Tran
Assistant Professor
Matt Gull
Assistant Professor and Department Chair
Benjamin Marrero
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, and Statewide Vice Chair
Hieu Tran
Assistant Professor
Matt Gull
Assistant Professor and Department Chair
Benjamin Marrero is the Statewide Vice Chair for the Network Infrastructure program. He is also the Department Chair and Assistant Professor at the Valparaiso campus. Benjamin earned his Bachelor's in Electrical Engineering Technology and Master's in Education-Instructional Technology at Purdue University Northwest. He has previously worked at ITT Technical Institute and Purdue University Calumet.
He is also certified in CompTIA Network+, CompTIA A+, Cisco Certified Network Associate, Cisco Network Academy Instructor Trainer, Microsoft Certified Application Specialist, and Microsoft Certified Professional. Benjamin has volunteered at Foodbank of Northwest Indiana, Purdue University’s Upward Bound Program, and Mill Creek Community Lions Club. He also received the Cisco Networking Academy “Instructor Excellence” award in 2017 and 2019. Benjamin is a board member of Indiana Harbor Lighthouse Church and serves on the State of Indiana Governor’s Council Advisory Committee on Cyber Security.
Hieu Tran is the Assistant Professor at the Lafayette campus. He earned his Bachelor's in Telecommunications Technology/Technician and Master's in Telecommunications at the Aston University. Hieu has previously worked at Monroe County Community School Corporation and Ericsson Vietnam.
He is also certified in Cisco Certified Network Associate, Cisco Certified Network Professional, AWS Cloud Practitioner, and Project Management Professional. Hieu is currently managing MinhDuc Charity Foundation that provides access to education for underprivileged children and young adults in Vietnam.
Matt Gull is the Department Chair and Assistant Professor at the Warsaw campus. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Political Science at the United States Naval Academy and his MBA at Purdue University Krannert School of Management. He has previously worked at Amazon.com and served in the US Navy.
He holds a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification and is a Cisco Networking Academy Instructor Trainer.
Find Local Admissions Contact Info
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Madison Advising Center
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Madison, IN 47250
Fax 812-265-4028
Zoom Video Calls Available by appointment only. Call 812-256-2580, ext. 4502 to make an appointment.
Advising Team Tricia Miracle 812-265-2580 ext. 4137 tmiracle2@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 812-510-3844 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Wednesdays 9:00-1:00pm & Thursdays 2:00-5:30pm Zoom Link
Lisa Kelley 812-265-2580 ext. 4163 lkelley3@ivytech.edu Text during business hours 502-414-1597 Virtual Drop-In Advising Hours: Tuesdays 1:30pm-5pm & Thursdays 8:30am-12pm Zoom Link
Starting Oct. 28th Tuesdays: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. All other days by appointment from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. **Special Saturday December 7 @ 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
1 Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage estimates: Indiana.(2023). Lightcast™, lightcast.io. Occupational Overview for Indiana, 2023-2024
2 Associate degree cost is determined by tuition for an in-state, full-time student. Certificate and technical certificate costs are determined by tuition for an in-state, part-time student. Additional fees may be applied. Visit the Tuition & Fees page to learn more.
