This course provides students with a foundational understanding of the role of a system administrator in a large organization. Students will configure services, write scripts, and manage Linux and Windows servers. Emphasis is placed on security, deployment strategies, and troubleshooting using modern tools. To support professional growth, students will also develop AI literacy, learning how to evaluate, apply, and critique Artificial Intelligence responsibly and ethically in the context of systems administration. Coursework includes labs, an essay, and a final hands-on practical exam. Together these activities emphasize both technical proficiency and ethical decision-making through applied, project-based learning.

This course provides an introduction to wired network infrastructures, topologies, technologies, and the protocols required for effective end-to-end communication. Basic security concepts for TCP/IP based technologies are introduced. Networking layers 1, 2, and 3 are examined in-depth using the International Standards Organization’s Open Systems Interconnection and TCP/IP models as reference. Course topics focus on the TCP/IP protocol suite, the Ethernet LAN protocol, switching technology, and routed and routing protocols common in TCP/IP networks. The lab assignments mirror the lecture content , providing an experiential learning component for each topic covered.