Cybersecurity, A.A.S.

Program Description

The Cybersecurity Program transforms students into highly skilled cybersecurity professionals who are ready for entry-level positions such as data security analysts, systems security administrators, and network security administrators. In this program, students will master the latest security technologies and will examine the issues of information security awareness, network and system security breaches, systems and network security planning and defense, network security organization, as well as legal and ethical issues associated with cybersecurity. Students will also complete a capstone project in which they will design an information security system and implement a security strategy for a network. Students completing this degree program will be able to prepare for the Network+, and Security+ industry certification exams. Additionally, depending on the selected track, learners earn Cisco CCNA, CyberOps Associate, DevNet Associate and/or Firewall industry certifications from top vendors such as Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Check Point. Furthermore, in addition to the A.A.S. degree, there are three certificates which may be earned and applied toward the degree: Network Security Certificate, Cisco CCNA Preparation Certificate and Cybersecurity Certificate.

Students planning to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity, Information Security, or related programs at four-year institutions should work closely with the TEC department and college advisors in order to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

Program Outcomes

Graduates of the Cybersecurity A.A.S. will be able to:

1. Plan and implement network router and switch configurations.
2. Monitor the security infrastructure to analyze network problems and traffic flow.
3. Identify and remove network security vulnerabilities and threats.
4. Monitor and enforce an organizational security policy including contingency plans.
5. Install, configure, and manage operating systems.
6. Install, configure, and monitor a firewall.
7. Write programs to automate cybersecurity-related tasks.
8. Apply fundamental information technology concepts in order to manage files and effectively use a variety of information technology tools.

General Education Courses

The list of general education courses appears in the . Some programs recommend or require specific courses to fulfill general education requirements. Please check your program’s sequence of study for this information.

Sequence of Study - Cybersecurity A.A.S.

Below are the required courses for your program arranged in a suggested sequence. Please note that the sequence does not include developmental coursework. See  for the developmental course sequence if applicable to you.

Transferability

Credit earned at any public institution in the state shall be transferable to any other institution if the:

• Credit is from a college or university parallel course or program;
• Grades in the block of courses transferred average 2.00 or higher; and
• Acceptance of the credit is consistent with the policies of the receiving institution governing students following the same program. Refer to ARTSYS at artweb.usmd.edu and the receiving institution’s catalog to select transferable courses.

Need Help?

For help selecting an academic program or courses, consider using Career Coach, available at www.pgcc.edu/go/careercoach.