Degree Objective:


Over the past two summers, I have worked at Deere & Company in the area of networking and security. I have enjoyed these experiences and would like to further my education to pursue a managerial position in Information Technology Operations Management. I am tailoring my masters degree plan of study to prepare me for such a position. Within the masters, I am specifically interested in systems administration and security as it relates to Operations Management. My coursework will be focused in three areas: Technology, Information Technology (IT) Management, and Network Operations Management. Collectively these areas will provide me with the well-balanced education required to meet my goals.

Plan of Study:

Technology:

Tech 507 - Required Statistics Course
Tech 508 - Required Quality Control Course
Tech 646 - Required Research & Design Course

IT Management:

Tech 571 - Project Management IT is all about projects. This class will give me the information and training that I need to be a successful project manager 
Tech 554 - Organizational Impact of IT This class will help me to look at the impact that IT has on a business. So that when I am looking to implement a new solution, I can see the "big picture" in terms of the overall business.
Tech 551 - IT Economics IT projects are notoriously difficult to cost justify. This class will help me to look at all economic aspects associated with IT. It will also help me to better manage funding.

Network Operations Management:

CPT 455 - Network Security This class will help me to understand the different security issues associated with all aspects of IT. It will also help me to detect and prevent security threats on a network.
CPT 343 - Advanced Systems Administration This class will better my system administration technical expertise so that I can better manage people who are working with it. It will also allow me to better understand the different task involved in setting up and maintaining network services.
Tech 581N - Optical Network Design This class will provide me with a strong background in the area of Network Design. As networks are crucial to IT this course will be in relation to the WAN side of networking with some Fiber Optical specialization.
Tech 581G - Intro to Computer Forensics This course will help provide a fundamental background in data recovery and forensics work. How a sys admin should be prepared for recovering data and some of the legal aspects of forensics. Overall a good course to broaden the sys admin knowledge area.


Directed Project Study Area:


The project will discover what is required for a wireless network architecture on the Ackerman Hills golf course at Purdue University. The project will develop a wireless network on two holes at the Golf course to show proof-of-concept; to determine if the task is technically feasible and economically viable. The wireless network will be created using 802.11b equipment. A “hub and spoke” design will be evaluated. Only the spoke part will be evaluated as that must be tested to ensure operability prior to other testing. The driving force for the network is an application for maintenance personnel to submit and review maintenance requests.

Directed Project Presentation - View - Note: PDF File

Directed Project Report - View - Note: PDF File