The IT-Cybersecurity and Network Administration program provides students with the skills required to maintain a secure IT system along with the expertise to design, install, and manage the integrity of a computer network infrastructure. Equipment and technology used in this program includes firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, anomaly identification systems, physical server computing, cloud computing, and associated physical security technologies. Students will work with business class systems such as Microsoft, Linux, and Mac OS. Extensive hands-on, real-world, experiences with real equipment are provided to gain the immense knowledge required to accurately configure and secure network systems.
- Overview
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Is This Program for You?
Students entering the IT-Cybersecurity and Network Administration program should:
- Be a digital native and have a curiosity for technology.
- Have an eye for detail and possess an analytical and creative mind.
- Like to solve problems and be challenged.
- Enjoy working independently and in teams.
Program Basics
- Associate degree, requiring a minimum of two years to complete.
- High school articulation courses accepted.
- Financial aid available.
- Classes start in August and January.
- Modified plan available.
- Curriculum & Costs
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Cost of Attendance (COA) 26-27
Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.
Category Amount Tuition and Fees $5,240 Living Expenses (Housing and Food) $10,910 Books and Supplies $1,463 Personal Expenses $3,084 Transportation 3,899 Charger Tech 360 Fee $700 Loan Fees $85 Yearly Total (Living Away from Home) $25,381 1 Semester Total (Living Away from Home) $12,691 Based on Wisconsin Residents.
Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.
Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.
These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.
- Admissions & Requirements
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Admission Requirements
Academic Preparedness Requirements
- Before you can be fully accepted into your program, you need to complete the requirements below. These are the same requirements you may see in your SWTC Student Portal.
- Submit Official High School, College, Military Transcripts, and Test Scores (Not Required)
Have documents sent directly to:- Email: admissions@swtc.edu
- Mail: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
- Meet with Your Advisor for an Admissions Meeting
Schedule an admission meeting with your program advisor to complete your student success plan, including a career assessment and academic map and support plan.
To schedule your meeting, go to the Appointments page. Find your advisor in the list, then select Make an Appointment under their contact information.
Appointments are available on campus or virtually.
If you want to check which of these requirements you still need to complete, log in to your SWTC Student Portal, go to My Profile → Document Center, and make sure All Programs is selected.
- Submit Official High School, College, Military Transcripts, and Test Scores (Not Required)
- Outcomes
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Program Outcomes
At the completion of the program, students are expected to be able to:
- Identify security strategies
- Implement secure infrastructures
- Conduct security testing
- Analyze security data
- Mitigate risk
- Develop security documentation
- Career Opportunities
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Graduates are prepared for positions in a wide variety of organizations and businesses. Opportunities for employment exist in accounting firms, banks, schools, hospitals, insurance companies, manufacturing firms, and government agencies as:
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- IT Support Specialist
- System Administrator
- Information Security Analyst
- Information Security Engineer
- Network Systems Administrator
- Network Security Technician
- Penetration Testers
- Digital Forensics Analysts
Southwest Tech's Career Services Center offers services to assist students looking for job placement.
Find a Job - Transfers
- Prior Learning
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Credit for Prior Learning
Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!
Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.
For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.
IT - Cybersecurity Specialist Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:
Course # Course Title Challenge Exam
(Demonstration)Challenge Exam
(Standard)CLEPCredentialPortfolio10-103-106 Beginning Microsoft Excel 
Any Microsoft MOS certification (even an old certification) will also be considered for CPL 10-103-118 Intermediate Microsoft Excel Any Microsoft MOS certification (even an old certification) will also be considered for CPL 10-150-126 Premises Cabling Technician FOA Certified Premises Cabling Technician (CPCT) 10-151-102 Cybersecurity Essentials + Cisco Networking and Security (10-151-103) Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity 10-151-103 Cisco Networking and Security + Cybersecurity Essentials (10-151-102) Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity 10-151-104 Linux Administration and Security LPI LPIC-1 101 exam (need 102 exam for LPIC 1 Certification) 10-151-107 Cybersecurity Operations Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (CBROPS) 10-151-110 Network Defense & Forensics CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) 10-620-156 Fiber Optic Cabling Technician FOA Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) 10-801-136 English Composition I CLEP Test - College Composition 10-801-198 Speech 10-809-195 Economics CLEP Test - Principles of Macroeconomics