OVERVIEW

Program Overview

Wireless communications are pervasive in our lives. They have grown in recent years to include everything from personal communications networks to governments, hospitals and neighbourhood businesses. And there’s no end in sight to the growth of our wireless world. George Brown’s leading-edge Wireless Networking postgraduate program is designed to put you at the centre of this exciting world by giving you high-demand skills in radio frequency (RF), cellular, broadband and advanced data communications.

FULL DESCRIPTION

Wireless communications are pervasive in our lives. They have grown in recent years to include everything from personal communications networks to governments, hospitals and neighbourhood businesses. And there’s no end in sight to the growth of our wireless world.

George Brown College’s leading-edge Wireless Networking postgraduate program is designed to put you at the centre of this exciting world by giving you high-demand skills in radio frequency (RF), cellular, broadband and advanced data communications.

We offer you a unique choice of career direction. You can specialize in:

• Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Broadband Technologies
• Advanced Network Security
• Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Technologies

Other program advantages:

• We have departed from the traditional lecture-based course structure. Students learn in labs by practising on the equipment that they will use when they enter the workforce.
• In conjunction with our corporate partners, students may be involved in real-world projects for one or two days per week, making proposals and then working in teams to plan projects, set schedules and achieve goals.
• George Brown has created up-to-date wireless, security, VoIP, RF and LTE labs so that all students gain individual hands-on experience.
• Students will have access to NETLAB, giving them remote access to the Cisco Academy and VMWare labs.
• After finishing the program, students will have bridging options to other postsecondary and postgraduate programs in the School of Computer Technology.

Note: In this rapidly changing industry, program improvements are being made on an ongoing basis, which may result in course changes. Changes are made in consultation with our Program Advisory Committee, which is composed of academic staff and industry representatives from small, medium-sized and large corporations.

Please note: Students who start the program in January (winter term) will be required to attend classes during the summer months (May to August).

Technology Requirements

This program requires students to have access to a personal computer with the following specifications: 

• 8 GB minimum (16 GB RAM recommended0 
• 256 GB SSD Hard Drive (500+ GB is optimal) 
• Quad-core i5/i7 2.4GHz or better 
• Webcam 

Program Learning Outcomes

The graduate demonstrates the ability to:

1. Test and measure RF (radio frequency) signals, attenuation and antenna systems.
2. Assist with the preparation and execution of wireless site surveys.
3. Build a wired and/or wireless computer network using system design documentation.
4. Measure performance of both wired and wireless network components and applications using a variety of basic and advanced network management tools.
5. Produce documentation and reports related to network components and applications performance.
6. Troubleshoot and resolve technical problems related to both wired and wireless networks using standardized approaches and methodologies.
7. Install and upgrade network hardware (e.g., workstations, servers, wireless access points, routers, switches, firewalls) and related components and software according to best practices in the industry.
8. Monitor and evaluate network security issues and perform basic security audits on both wired and wireless networks.
9. Assist in the collection and analysis of user requirements related to wired and wireless networks.
10. Utilize change control, issue documentation and problem escalation procedures and processes as per industry best practices.
11. Generate and maintain “as built” network documentation following industry best practices.
12. Compare network performance against service levels and assist in the development of action plans as required against service level agreements.
13. Employ concepts and practices as defined in ITIL (IT Infrastructure Library) to manage IT services and operation, including project management tools and techniques.