New Degree Program: Telecommunications Management

Background Information

Start Date of the Major: January 2007
Department: Computer Science

When people exchange e-mail with business colleagues, search a library database using a web browser on a personal computer, connect to a wireless router in a hotel or classroom, talk to family and friends on a cell phone, make a charge card purchase in a store or at a gas pump, or just surf the Internet from home, they are utilizing telecommunications systems and services. The advancement of telecommunications technology has transformed the way and speed with which individuals communicate and exchange information. Indeed, the use of telecommunication systems and services has profoundly changed our lives.

As we now depend daily on the stability and reliability of our telecommunication networks and systems, there is a very strong demand for individuals with a background in telecommunication management. The objective of the telecommunications management curriculum is to provide students with the theory, tools, technical expertise and management know-how required to be successful in planning, designing and managing a telecommunications environment. A foundation in computing principles, computer security, local area networks, wide area networks, network performance analysis and distributed systems will be the cornerstones of the curriculum. Telecommunications Management is a very broad and dynamics field, hence we have designed our curriculum with this in mind. Our advanced courses will build on this strong foundation to complete the Telecommunications Management curriculum.

The need for individuals with expertise in telecommunications management is reflected in the current Bureau of Labor Statistics information. The United States Department of Labor has listed "network systems and data communications analysts" as being the second fastest growing occupation covered in the 2005-06 Occupational Outlook Handbook. They list the most significant source of postsecondary education or training for this to be a bachelor's degree.

For more information please contact the Computer Science Department at C-Science@wiu.edu or by phone at 309/298-1452. (Academic Advisor: Jean Oppel, e-mail: j-oppel@wiu.edu, phone: 309/298-11619).