Network Engineering?

[Natedogg]

Hi guys, what would you need to study to get into the design of networks and to get into network engineering in general to work for an ISP as an engineer? Is it computer science? Electrical Engineering? Network Engineering (Haven't seen this at any universities ) .

Could someone please inform...

 

[Riot2]

If u want a real degree: Computer engineering
if u want to go directly into networking: various diploma's that ull have to w8 for other ppls posts about specifics
u will prolly find something along the lines of network "engineering" from places like varsity college

 

[InTheCube]

Computer Science. Great all-round computing degree. Lots of Maths and theory though. Can be tough if its not your thing. But it will power you with all the knowledge you need for most computing fields. It will power you with the ability to learn, solve simple and complex problems, design, investigate. It won't teach you everything, but it will empower you, give you the ability to tackle almost any computing problem, give you the skills to learn, investigate, solve.

If you want something really solid, do a CS degree, and supplement it with a Networking Diploma, MCSD/MCSE or other short course.

 

[Natedogg]

Cool, thanks for the advice guys, keep it coming...

 

[portcullis]

Unfortunately Moore's Law applies to the IT industry.

I hold a B Eng(Electron) from the late 1980's and the only things that are relevant today are the maths, physics, thermodynamics etc. The computational side of things is about as valid as a 1910 driver's licence. Having said that, if you can program, and understand the fundamentals of programming, learning a new language is not hard.

Since then I've done courses in Banyan, SCO, Novell, Microsoft, Cisco, Linux, Alvarion and MikroTik. For my troubles, I was certified as a MCT in 2001.

I start all my appies who make it past the first three months by sending them for the CompTia certifications (A+ and N+) and then follow that up with something from Microsoft and then round them off with something specialised like security, Linux or MikroTik.

If you can afford it, get a degree behind your name straight from school. It's very difficult to start studying once you haven't done it for a while. If you're on a limited budget get yourself a job as the shark poo (the guy who shuts up and passes the tools) and learn, learn, learn - either through vocational courses or through a UNISA degree.

 

[Sting]

1) B.Sc Electronic Engineering
2) Training via proprietary OEM companies, e.g. Cisco, Siemens, Alcatel, Ericcsson

EDIT: just saw above post - good advice!

 

[Natedogg]

Thanks guys , really useful advice and info!

 

[InTheCube]

If you can afford it, get a degree behind your name straight from school. It's very difficult to start studying once you haven't done it for a while. If you're on a limited budget get yourself a job as the shark poo (the guy who shuts up and passes the tools) and learn, learn, learn - either through vocational courses or through a UNISA degree.

+7

 

[ponder]

1) B.Sc Electronic Engineering
2) Training via proprietary OEM companies, e.g. Cisco, Siemens, Alcatel, Ericcsson

+1 on the Electronic Engineering be it froma University or Technikon.

In the Telecoms/Networking field it is more useful than a computer science degree. The IETF, IEEE, ITU etc are mostly run by people with an engineering background and that is also reflected in the industry as a whole. Not that a CS degree is bad but I just see those people performing different functions usually within the industry.