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Cybersecurity - A.A. Degree (Transfer)

An Information Technology Area of Study

Application Code 304

For curriculum information, contact the Business and Computer Systems Division—Room DH 239—443-518-1520.

The cybersecurity curriculum prepares students for working with network security or support in private, public, and government arenas at the mid-administrative level, and for transferring to four-year programs.  Content related to the CISSP domains has been incorporated into the cybersecurity courses.  These courses are mapped to the National Training Standard for Information Systems Security designation sponsored by NSA and the Department of Homeland Security. This curriculum is designed to transfer to similar programs at Johns Hopkins University and Capitol College, or the University of Maryland University College to complete a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.  Students are advised to check the requirements of the major at the institutions to which they intend to transfer. HCC is an approved Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) and students are eligible for HCC College Certificate that states that the student has completed a curriculum mapped to the CAE Information Assurance and Cyber Defense training standards approved by NSA and Department of Homeland Security.

Suggested Semester 1

Course NumberTitleCredits
ENGL-121College Composition

3

CMSY-158Fundamentals and Practice for Network+ Certification

3

CMSY-162Introduction to Network Security Systems

3

CMSY-172Introduction to Programming with JavaScript

3

MATH-143Precalculus I

3

-or higher core course

Suggested Semester 2

Course NumberTitleCredits
CMSY-163Introduction to Firewalls and Network Security

3

CSCO-291Introduction to Networks

3

CSCO-292Routing and Switching Essentials

3

-Science Core Course

3

-Social & Behavioral Sciences Core Group A

3

Suggested Semester 3

Course NumberTitleCredits
CMSY-110Software Applications for Micros

3

CMSY-164Introduction to Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems

3

CMSY-255Introduction to Unix and Linux

3

SPCH-105Fundamentals of Public Speaking

3

-Arts & Humanities Core Group A

3

Suggested Semester 4

Course NumberTitleCredits
CMSY-262Encryption and Secure Communications

3

CMSY-263Ethical Hacking and Cyber Defense

3

-Science Core Course (must include lab)

4

-Social & Behavioral Sciences Core Group B

3

-Any General Education Core Course

2

A graduate should be able to

  1. 1. Determine the role of network security technologies within a network and establish appropriate security policy.
  2. 2. Identify appropriate network security tools and technologies to establish and configure a secure computer network.
  3. 3. Utilize software tools, devices, and procedures to determine if current systems meet the security policy requirements and problem-solve network vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks to harden network infrastructure.
  4. 4. Develop ethical hacking skills and apply these in countermeasures and cyber defense as necessary.
  5. 5. Identify, understand, evaluate, and apply ethical reasoning in business practices.

Total Credit Hours: 60

It is possible to take CMSY-158 and CMSY-162 or CMSY-158 and CSCO-291 or CMSY-162 and CMSY-163 simultaneously. Some courses in the program prepare students for industry certifications such as CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).