Cybersecurity, A.A.S.

Program Description

In the Cybersecurity, A.A.S. degree program, students learn about the latest security technologies and examine issues of security awareness, network and system security breaches, systems and network security planning and defense, and network security organization. Additionally, students apply what they learn by designing an information security system and implementing a security strategy for a network.

Students completing this degree program will be able to prepare for the Security+ industry certification exam. Additionally, depending on the selected track, students can earn Cisco CCNA, CyberOps Associate, DevNet Associate and/or Firewall industry certifications from top vendors such as Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Check Point. Furthermore, students can earn one of four certificates and apply the credits toward the A.A.S. degree: Network Security Certificate, Advanced Network Security Certificate, Cisco CCNA Preparation Certificate or Cybersecurity Certificate.

This degree prepares students for entry-level positions such as data security analysts, systems security administrators, and network security administrators. 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 General Education List . 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 the English co-requisite course (EGL-0100S) or any co-requisite MAT courses (MAT-0113C, MAT-0114C, MAT-0125C, and MAT-0135C). See Academic Preparation for more information on College Readiness if applicable to you. 

Required Courses (in expected order)

• PAS-1000 First Year Experience Credits: 1 (Institutional Requirement)
• INT-1010 Introduction to Information Technology Credits: 3 (Computer Literacy Institutional Requirement)
• INT-1700 Understanding Operating Systems Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-1111 Programming Logic and Design Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• EGL-1010 Composition I: Expository Writing Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)
• MAT-1130 Mathematical Ideas Credits: 3 (Mathematics General Education Requirement)
• INT-1450 CCNA I - Introduction to Networking Credits: 4 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2240 Introduction to Python Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• NTR-1010 Introductory Nutrition Credits: 3 (Science No Lab Gen. Ed. Requirement)
• EGL-1340 Composition II: Writing About Technical Topics Credits: 3 (English General Education Requirement)
• SOC-1010 Introduction to Sociology Credits: 3 (Social Science General Education Requirement)
• INT-1620 Security+ Preparation Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2761 Linux Administration Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• PHL-1330 Ethics Credits: 3 (Arts/Humanities General Education Requirement)
• INT-2840 Systems Analysis and Project Management Credits: 4 (Program Requirement)

•  

• Select the electives from the following tracks:

• Track 1: Systems Administration and Security

  (includes Cybersecurity Certificate)

• INT-2310 Windows Server Administration Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2682 Introduction to Cybersecurity Analyst Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2688 Cloud+ Preparation Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

•  

• Select two electives (6 credits minimum) from the following list:

• INT-2450 CCNA II: Switching, Routing & Wireless Essentials Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2460 CCNA III: Enterprise Networks, Security & Automation Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2480 Network Automation Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2490 Cybersecurity Operations Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2670 Introduction to Firewalls Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2672 Advanced Network Access Control Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• Select courses from the Elective Course List below
  (available to students in any track)

•  

• Track 2: Network Security Track

  (includes Cisco CCNA Preparation Certificate and Network Security Certificate)

• INT-2450 CCNA II: Switching, Routing & Wireless Essentials  Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2460 CCNA III: Enterprise Networks, Security & Automation  Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2490 Cybersecurity Operations  Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

• 
  Select two electives (6 credits minimum) from the following list:

  INT-2310 Windows Server Administration  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2670 Introduction to Firewalls  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2672 Advanced Network Access Control  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2682 Introduction to Cybersecurity Analyst  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2688 Cloud+ Preparation  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

• INT-2810 Implementing Cisco Enterprise Networks Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or
• Select courses from the Elective Course List below
  (available to students in any track)

•  

• Track 3: Network Security Engineering Track
  (Includes Advanced Network Security Certificate)

• INT-2670 Introduction to Firewalls  Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)
• INT-2672 Advanced Network Access Control  Credits: 3 (Program Requirement)

 

• Select two electives (6 credits minimum) from the list below:

  INT-2310 Windows Server Administration  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2450 CCNA II: Switching, Routing & Wireless Essentials  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2460 CCNA III: Enterprise Networks, Security & Automation  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2490 Cybersecurity Operations  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)

  INT-2688 Cloud+ Preparation  Credits: 3 (Program Elective) or

  Select courses from the Elective Course List below
  (available to students in any track)
   

• Elective Course List (Available to students in any track):

• INT-1550 Introduction to Networks- Network Plus Prep Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2480 Network Automation  Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2681 Ethical Hacking Certification Preparation Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2600 Computer Forensics Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2673 Advanced Network Security Credits: 3
• INT-2674 Check Point Certified Security Engineering Credits: 3 (Program Elective)
• INT-2719 AWS Cloud Computing Architecture Credits: 4 (Program Elective)
• INT-2690 CISSP Preparation Credits: 4 (Program Elective)

Program Total: 60 Credits

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.

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