DePaul University's School of Computer Science, Telecommunications and Information Systems (CTI) will begin offering a bachelor's degree in network technologies in the fall. The new undergraduate program responds to the growing demand for information technology professionals who can manage the networks that support business services.

      "Communications networks have become a fundamental part of effective business services," said Greg Brewster, director of CTI's telecommunications and data communications division, who will oversee the new program. "As a result, demand for network technologies professionals has never been greater and continues to grow. This year, demand for IT employees is expected to surpass supply by more than 600,000 positions. By 2005, the shortage is expected to increase to 1 million. At least 25 percent of those positions will require expertise in network systems."

      The 48-course bachelor's degree will provide a balanced study of the design, configuration and management of the network technologies that support a variety of business applications. "Students will be prepared for careers with any business that designs and maintain data networks," Brewster said. "It also will open doors to careers with telecommunications carriers, Internet service providers or network consulting firms."

      The high demand for network professionals has boosted pay in the field. Total compensation for entry level network staff rose 16 percent between 1998 and 1999, to an average of $61,363 last year, while compensation for experienced network managers and staff increased 18 percent to an average of $75,000 in 1999 "Most IT organizations report that they must pay so-called 'hot skill' bonuses to employees knowledgeable in network technologies to retain them in today's market," Brewster said.

      The program's required course topics include the foundations of networking, local area network design and management, Internet access technologies, routing, and interconnection technologies. Courses in web application development also are included to ensure that students gain familiarity with the typical network performance requirements for web-based applications. Most courses include laboratory components to provide practical reinforcement of concepts learned in the classroom.

      The new degree builds on CTI's already established master's degree in telecommunications that has earned the school national recognition as a center of excellence in network education.

      The network technologies undergraduate program is one of three new degrees CTI will launch in the fall. The others are a bachelor's degree in computer graphics and animation and a bachelor's degree in electronic commerce.

      Expanded from a department to a school in 1995, CTI offers practical, cutting-edge information technology education through graduate and undergraduate degree programs and professional training. The school enrolls more than 1,300 undergraduates and has the largest graduate computer school enrollment in the nation with 1,800 master's level students. CTI's overall enrollment has increased about 25 percent each year, the fastest growth among DePaul's eight schools and colleges.