Advice on Network Admin degree

How's it going guys. I'm currently about to take a 2 year course at my local community college. It's to obtain a associates in computer network administration and security management. Just wanted to ask if there is a good job outlook for this degree. I would like to concentrate more towards the security aspect of it. Thanks

Networking degrees are as useful as most other degrees... The most expensive wall decoration you will ever own.
For networking what you want is the certifications from cisco. Microsoft as well for safe measure because many employers think microsoft is the bees knees and knows it all.

Edit:
For the outlook, it's good. As more and more crap is networked (fridges and microwaves with twitter for example) there will be more need for networking specialists. I live near several cities that have some decent networking infrastructure and the entry level income is $50k. If you're willing to go to a major hub (dallas tx, chicago il, NY) where all the backbones converge you will have a great chance at getting a high paying job.

Thanks for the info. I have a lot of research to do. I can start getting familiar with all the diff certifications.

Besides obtaining the 2-year course, consider learning cisco and be certified on it. And if you plan concentrating on security, cisco has it also. Also, consider mastering the security part of both Windows and Linux server OSes, and be certified if possible. Having being certified makes it easy to land a job with decent salary.

If you want to practice in real-world before having that job and for certification purposes, build your own home lab. Cisco equipment(used ones) are cheaper and for PCs, you can build one monster PC and build Virtual machines in that PC.

Exactly what would be needed to build a home lab. I would love to get a head start, I'm more of a hands on learner.

Motive said:

Exactly what would be needed to build a home lab. I would love to get a head start, I'm more of a hands on learner.

Click to expand...

Switches, routers, patch panels, UPS units etc. I'll ask my brother what he has tomorrow. All I know is he has several gbit switches, 3 industrial UPS units (will run the house for a day with A/C and such), 3 servers with a combined total of ~20 terabytes, and a crapton of cpu power.

It will cost you, and cost you dearly though. Used cisco gear will still run you a few hundred per.