Telecommunications

Graduate Study in Telecommunications

Telecommunications offers an interdisciplinary curriculum. Students are able to master not only the latest technologies associated with the Internet, but also the business skills and policy knowledge essential to achieving success in the companies driving today’s rapidly changing high-tech world. Within the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program (ITP), students can develop expertise in leading-edge specialties such as network engineering, wireless engineering, network security and telecom policy—by gaining hands-on experience in our world-class labs working with state-of-the-art technologies. 

Visit www.colorado.edu/itp for additional information, admission requirements, admission deadlines and application instructions.

Degrees Offered

MS, PhD, BS/MS, ME/MS, MS/MBA, MS/PhD

Degree Details

• MS in Telecommunications
• PhD in Telecommunications
• ME Engineering Management/MS Telecommunications
• MBA/MS in Telecommunications with the Leeds School of Business
• BS Management/MS Telecommunications
• BS Computer Science/MS Telecommunications
• JD/MS in Telecommunications with the School of Law

Program Tracks

Students admitted into our master’s program may pursue an area of specialization in one of four exciting tracks offering focused graduate study in some of the most sought-after areas in the broadband arena.

Network Engineering

The Network Engineering Track is a challenging set of courses designed to provide the most useful and up-to-date knowledge and training available to pursue a career as a network engineer. This track gives students a deep dive on the development and operations of IP networks. The heart of this track are two challenging courses in the Telecom Lab that provides students with hands-on work in testing, simulations and networking research. This track also provides students the necessary business, economics and policy courses in telecommunications to provide knowledge needed for future career advancement. Finally, the track prepares students to successfully complete important certifications from network equipment vendors that demonstrate proficiency in the operation of their equipment.

Network Security

The Network Security Track prepares students to be information security professionals who can manage the security of increasingly critical electronic information and data communication systems. This track teaches students how to develop, build and maintain secure and cost-effective computer systems as part of a comprehensive and efficient cyber security effort within private or public sector entities. Central to this track is a series of classes in the Security Lab that provides students hands-on assignments building, testing and operating secure telecommunications systems and devices.

As critical infrastructure, e-commerce and enterprises continue to be under attack, the information security field needs highly technical leaders. The ITP Network Security Track prepares you via technical and management courses to be the next information security leader.

The classes offered by the CU Interdisciplinary Telecom Program (ITP) use an applied approach through lab-based courses to give you the skills you need to: 

• Build secure networks
• Build and deploy secure applications
• Analyze networks and systems to identify weaknesses and provide more secure solutions
• Plan, manage and communicate intelligently with multiple audiences based on current policies and regulations, best practices and upcoming trends

Through the ITP Network Security Track, you will learn not only how to build secure systems and identify weaknesses, but you will also have a thorough technical skillset to explain complex security issues to all audiences.

Wireless Networking

The Wireless Networking Track is for individuals who want to design, build and operate wireless broadband networks. These students can serve as wireless engineers and architects for mobile service providers, wireless ISPs and large businesses operating significant wireless networks as part of their information technology groups. This track teaches students how to design, build and operate broadband networks based on state-of-the-art technologies such as LTE and Wi-Fi.

Like our other technical tracks, the Wireless Track offers two challenging classes in the Wireless Lab to give students invaluable hands-on experience building, testing and operating secure telecommunications systems and devices. This track also provides students the necessary business, economics and policy courses in telecommunications to provide knowledge needed for future career advancement. Finally, the track prepares students to successfully complete important certifications from network equipment vendors that demonstrate proficiency in the operation of their equipment.

Telecom Policy and Strategy

The Telecom Policy Track is an exciting set of courses designed to provide all-around exposure to the latest telecommunications technologies, economics and public policy issues of the day. This track gives students a deep dive into telecommunication policy, strategy and regulation through courses in ITP and the CU Law School, including a potential stint in the Law School’s Telecom Policy Law Clinic, where students develop comments for real-life policy dockets (instructor approval required to enroll in this course). This track also provides students hands-on exposure to IP networks, wireless networks and network security in introductory labs specifically designed to provide students their first exposure to these technologies through imaginative experiments.

Open Option

The Open Option Track is a self-selected track for students admitted into ITP who wish to explore a variety of telecom electives or students who are pursuing the Master of Science in Telecommunications full- or part-time. As noted below, part-time students who join the program in this track will be required to first enroll in ITP core classes before enrolling in any elective courses.

Although this track allows for greater elective flexibility, students following the enrollment schedule of the other tracks (Policy, Wireless, Security and Networks) will have first enrollment priority above Open Option enrollees. Additionally, Open Option students who transition to another track must subsequently follow the schedule of enrollment selections for their newly selected track.