Telecommunications technology programs prepare people to install phone, computer, and network systems. Students learn about digital technology and how data is stored and transferred. They also learn about how data is exchanged on the Internet.

We live in a networked world. The networking began 150 years ago, when telegraph cables were strung between cities and eventually between continents. Then came the telephone network, which now reaches cell phones. Of course, the Internet connects computers around the world, sometimes without wires.

As a network technician, you connect people to these networks. You may maintain computer network connections in a business. You may troubleshoot problems with a wireless network in an office building. You may set up a satellite uplink to keep an oil exploration party in touch with headquarters from a remote desert location.

Over 100 colleges offer an associate degree in this field. This requires about two years of full-time study beyond high school. The program begins with principles of electricity and electronics. You then study telecommunications technology. You learn how the systems work and what can go wrong. You learn how to use equipment to troubleshoot problems and make repairs. You can learn many of these skills in the Armed Forces, but a degree program teaches you more of the theory and makes you more versatile. You also learn some supporting skills, such as representing circuits and networks using computer-aided drafting (CAD).

You may also consider studying for four years beyond high school and getting a bachelor's degree. It builds on the principles of science and technology covered in the two-year program. It adds courses in math, statistics, programming, and computer network technology. It also prepares you for a managerial role by teaching you principles of business. You learn how to design and implement a telecommunications system. Often you are assigned a senior project that gives you a chance to solve real problems and report on your methods.