B.S. Computer Networking & Information Technology

The future of Computer Networking and Information Technology has tremendous growth and multiple career opportunities for those with the right skills and experience. UW-Stout's Computer Networking and Information Technology (CNIT) program will provide you with the strong technical, communication, teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills you need to succeed.

You’ll receive hands-on training in network configuration, ethical hacking and network security, network automation, and cloud computing. / UW-Stout

Our IT industry-experienced faculty will challenge you with hands-on experience in our cutting-edge computer network laboratories. CNIT classes with embedded industry certification examinations will prepare you for rewarding, high paying careers as a:

Network engineer
Security analyst
Network consultant
Network and systems administrator
IT project manager

Program Overview

View program plans, credit requirements and course descriptions.

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Our local, national and international internships will provide you with real-world experience to design, implement, and administer local and wide-area networks. You will take courses in emerging fields such as:

Cybersecurity and Cyber defense
Enterprise Network Infrastructure Setup, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Server Installation, Configuration and Administration
Network System Design
Ethical Hacking and Network Security
Virtualization
Unified Communication
Information Security
IP Telephony
Wireless Networking
Linux/Unix Network Administration

As a CNIT student, you will gain real-world experience as you design, implement, and administer local and wide-area networks.

"UW-Stout offers hands-on degrees that train you for the career you want, which definitely worked out well for me. I was very interested in the small class sizes and the focus on getting started on your major right away."

-- Tanner Vass
B.S. Computer Networking & Information Technology

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Objectives & Outcomes

The CNIT program follows UW-Stout's unique hands-on, active learning approach. You will take courses in emerging fields such as virtualization, unified communication, information security, IP telephony, and wireless networking.

The CNIT program focuses on:

Cybersecurity and Cyber defense
Enterprise Network Infrastructure Setup, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Server Installation, Configuration and Administration
Network System Design
Ethical Hacking and Network Security
Linux Systems and Network Administration
IP Telephony (VoIP)
Wireless System
Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Unified Communication and Collaboration

The Computer Networking and Information Technology program will prepare you to:

Communicate clearly, ethically, and responsibly, both verbally and in writing.
Apply business and management techniques and processes.
Evaluate emerging information technologies and their impact.
Design, implement, administer, and analyze information technology systems.
Integrate network security into the installation of networks, as well as business practices, policies, and user education.
Solve business problems and enhance productivity using information technology.

CNIT Students Can Earn Certifications

Certifications are a great way to show IT industry employers that you are up to date and knowledgeable on the current topics. CNIT is a Cisco Certified Networking Academy and a Microsoft Certified IT Academy. We are an authorized Pearson VUE and Thompson Prometric Testing Center. Numerous classes are embedded with industry certification examinations. The courses are taught by CNIT faculty members holding advanced IT industry certifications. As a CNIT student, you have the opportunity to earn the following certifications:

AWS Solution Architect Associate (AWS-SAA)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Microsoft Certified Solution Associate (MCSA)
Cisco Certified Network Associate – Voice (CCNA-Voice)
Cisco Certified Network Associate – Security (CCNA-Security)
Cisco Certified Network Associate – Wireless (CCNA-Wireless)
Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)

Computer Networking and Cyber Security Labs

Students in the B.S. Computer Networking and Information Technology program have a dedicated high-tech lab with collaborative work spaces and video monitors. All the wiring and cables are hidden in a subfloor space. The lab includes a data center with about $1 million worth of equipment — 7-foot-tall sleek, black racks of industry-standard servers and routers.

Computer servers and routers are part of the new labs.

With guidance from professionals at the companies, students are trying to help them solve networking and security issues. The collaborations involve weekly updates, a white paper report, a live demo of a solution and a final presentation.

The companies, which are free to implement students’ recommendations, are Heartland Business Systems, Marshfield Clinic, Menards, Target and Dell.

Sam Wosika, of White Bear Lake, Minn., a CNIT senior, is the program teaching assistant this year. He is helping coordinate use of the data center by the capstone class.

“To have the dedicated lab classrooms is a definite improvement,” Wosika said. “I spend a lot of time here. This is truly hands-on learning. We’re actually touching the equipment.”

Wosika likes other aspects of the CNIT program, which is largely lab-based learning, such as the internship opportunities and connections to industry. He has had two internships and will have a third one this summer with Cisco in San Jose, Calif.

The four new labs, with team work stations and other networking equipment beyond the data center, are in rooms 176, 188, 192 and 193 of Micheels Hall. They replace smaller, older labs in Fryklund Hall.

The equipment in each lab matches the lab’s level of instruction: year 1-2 students, year 2-3 students, year 3-4 students and year 4-capstone students.

Career Opportunities

UW-Stout Graduates Get Great Jobs

Graduates of UW-Stout’s Computer Networking and Information Technology program are currently employed at leading companies nationwide with job titles such as:

Network Engineer
Network Architect
Network Administrator
Network Consultant
Systems Administrator
Systems Analyst
Information Security Analyst
Information Technology Manager

Employers Seek UW-Stout Graduates

The employers who hire ITM graduates include:

Google
Cisco
Netflix
Dell
Lockheed Martin
3M
AT&T
Menards
Sentry Insurance
Target
Marshfield Clinic
Wisconsin Independent Network
3KeyLogic
Spanlink
Enventis
CDW
Heartland
And many others

CNIT Advisory Committee

Sara	Anger		UW-Stout
Brenda	Bjerke	Senior Director, Information Risk Management	Target
Brice	Blankenship	Infrastructure Engineer	Cigna
Jeff	Bodsberg	Business Information Security Officer	Cigna
Greg	Brodt	Instructor	Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College
Brandon	Cross	High Touch Delivery Developer	Cisco
Steve	Ebben	Department Chair for Networking and Security	Fox Valley Technical College
Nate	Edin	Senior Manager	Deluxe Corporation
Curt	Fawcett	I/O Devices Integration Manager	Cray Inc.
Tricia	Foxwell	Senior Consulting IT Auditor	Securian Financial
Renee	Gunderson	Senior Lecturer	UW-Stout
Justin	Haefner	Senior Principal IT Technologist	Medtronic
Jason	Hotujec
Tom	Kenton		UW-Stout
Andrea	Kittelson	Cybersecurity Training Lead	Rockwell Automation
Justin	Krutza	Network Engineer	Target
Joshua	Lushine	Network Administrator	Target
Sue	May	Director of Business Development	Heartland Technology Group
Jacob	Medford		Dell EMC
Son Nam	Nguyen	Assistant Professor	UW-Stout
Lukas	Schiller	Network Engineer	Target
Wei	Shi	Professor-Engineering & Technology	UW-Stout
John	Stafford	network engineer	Heartland Technology Group
Jeff	Strande	Principal Engineer Connectivity	Target
Jordan	Sussman	Network Engineer	Cargill
Troy	Tobin	Operations Support Manager	3RT Networks
Tom	Ugoretz		Heartland Technology Group
Andy	Wagner	Solution Domain Manager	CDW
Joe	Wetzel	IT Department Chair	Fox Valley Technical College
Samuel	Wosika	Sales Engineer	Cisco Meraki
Justin	Yarrington	Network Administrator	Menards

Program Accomplishments

2019 USICC Collegiate Conference

At the U.S. Information Technology Collegiate Conference held April 4-6, 2019 in Galveston, Texas, the team of Luke Bednar and Karl Carey won the network design competition, topping 33 other teams. UW-Stout also took third place in network design, with the team of Nikki Ruf and Derek Muck.

Faculty & Student Achievement

2017 AITP Collegiate
2016 AITP Collegiate
2015 AITP Collegiate
2014 AITP Collegiate

Industry Partners & Capstone Sponsors

As Wisconsin's Polytechnic University, UW-Stout works closely with business, industry and other educational institutions to benefit students and grow the economy. Read more about the CNIT program partners below: