The Interdisciplinary Telecom Program provides the opportunity for study in technology, management, and policy of telecommunications systems including telephony, Internet, wireless systems, and smart grids. Graduate students are offered courses on these technologies, how they are used, and future technology directions. This includes detailed study of technical aspects, and the financial and socioeconomic impact. Courses and laboratories are available in electrical, optical, and wireless transmission, switching, cable television, signaling, digital processing, computer protocols, smart grids and network design and management. Study also incorporates management, government and industry use, competitive trends, standards, regulatory practice, and all levels of communications and information law (local through international). Students can combine their ITP MS degree with MBA, business, engineering management, and law degrees.
ITP offers emphasis in the following areas: wireless technology, network security, networking, smart grids, telecom business strategy, regulation, policy, and more!
All students will have exposure to the topics below.
Please refer to telecom.colorado.edu for additional information, admission requirements, and application instructions.
Admission. Application deadline for fall of the following year is December 1; for spring, it is October 1.
The energy utilities are facing the retirement of 50 percent of their engineering and management employees in the next 10 years. Simultaneously, the energy industry is rocked by a dramatic shift in the technologies and policies that define their business. New technologies for distributed generation, communications and control, facilities automation, renewable energy sources, and operational management are all changing workforce requirements. There are exciting opportunities for a new generation of leaders who understand networking, wireless communication, and security in the context of the energy industry.
The benefits are:
Admission. To apply, provide along with the application form a one page statement of purpose to Elizabeth Golder, elizabeth.golder@colorado.edu. Fellowship seekers should keep in mind that fellowship awards are based on academic merit and financial need.
The certificate covers fundamentals of communication systems, data communications, energy systems, and smart grid technologies. The curriculum consists of four required courses:
Students who have advanced experience in one or more of these classes may make substitutions as noted below. ECN certificate students must receive substitution approval in advance.
Substitutes for TLEN 5310:
Substitutes for TLEN 5330:
Students who have an EE background should substitute the following class for ECEN 5007: ECEN 5017 Conventional and Renewable Energy Issues.
The Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program (ITP) at the University of Colorado Boulder is proud to offer a Graduate Professional Certificate in Network Architecture.
The study of network architecture incorporates the designing of communications solutions based on a myriad of systems including theoretical and hands on experience.
The benefits are:
This certificate covers a wide range of topics and includes not only the fundamentals of how networks operate or how to configure these networks, but also how to approach network design in a practical manner. Topics range from technical theory to industry best practices. The curriculum consists of two required core courses and two electives. All certificate courses must be passed with a grade of B or better. The Network Architecture advisor can provide guidance for any questions you may have.
Students may be exempted from enrolling in TLEN 5330 or TLEN 5460 with the successful completion of a written examination. (Students exempted from TLEN 5330 will be eligible to fulfill the the certificate with 9 credit hours of study.) Students who are exempted from enrolling in TLEN 5460 will be required to replace the course by enrolling in TLEN 5462.
The Telecommunications industry must consider the policy, law, and economics that govern best practices.
The certificate will provide expertise in the complex and continually changing legal, political, and regulatory dynamics that characterize the communications industry. The curriculum consists of two core courses and two advanced policy courses.
The benefits are:
Students currently seeking the masters' degree who choose advanced policy options as part of their electives can earn this certificate without any additional course work beyond that required for the MS degree. All courses must be completed with a grade of B or better to be used towards the certificate. Contact the policy advisor with any additional questions or for help choosing certificate courses.
In addition, we often offer special topics courses related to policy. Please contact the policy advisor to identify options.
To understand network security requires more than simply taking an introductory course on network security; it requires a comprehensive understanding of not only how networks operate but also how users behave on the network. Simply designing a technically secure network fails to appreciate the social engineering vulnerabilities facing modern networks. To actually protect networks requires a detailed and well-executed process, one that includes substantial technical, behavioral, economic, accounting, and policy understanding. Therefore, students must gather a wide range of training and experiences to truly understand what is required to secure a network.
The benefits are:
The certificate covers a wide range of topics and includes not only the fundamentals of how networks operate and how to secure these networks, but also how to approach security in a practical manner. Security issues and topics range from technical theory to legal procedures. The curriculum consists of two required core courses and two electives:
In addition, we frequently offer special topics courses related to security. Please contact the computer and network security Advisor to identify options.
Wireless is everywhere. There are almost twice as many cell phones in the world today than there are wireline service connections. Cell phone users not only make billions of phone calls, but last year they sent 135 billion text messages from their cell phones. Wireless LANs and hotspots are gaining ground in the marketplace, and new wireless technologies and standards are being developed to further advance the wireless world.
There is a continuing need for personnel who understand wireless technologies. Network administrators and technicians must know what a given product can and cannot do, how to select the right product, how to deploy a reliable wireless network, how different wireless products might interact, and the security and vulnerability characteristics of wireless networks. Higher level management should understand the regulatory and legal aspects of owning and operating wireless networks as well as the cost-benefit tradeoffs between wireless vs. non-wireless options. Managers should also understand the opportunities now offered by new-generation (3G) cell phone technologies in maintaining contact with mobile employees.
The benefits are:
The certificate program covers a range of wireless and LAN issues, and includes topics ranging from technical theory to legal procedures. It is designed to satisfy the needs of working professionals and students with technical, legal, or business backgrounds. The curriculum consists of two required core courses and two electives.