Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity

School of STEM and Professional Studies

AAS Degree, Certificate

Business and Information Systems Pathway

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Pathway

La Plata Campus|Leonardtown Campus|Prince Frederick Campus

The field of cybersecurity focuses on the protection of computers, networks, software, and data from unauthorized access, modification, and destruction.

Continued adoption of new technologies, Software as a Service (SAAS), and migration to cloud environments in the face of evolving threats are accelerating demand for practitioners in this already growing field.

This program prepares students who are currently employed in the cybersecurity field as well as those without prior work experience to develop the skills and knowledge required of practitioners within a variety of cybersecurity related settings.

The Cybersecurity, AAS degree program is designed to prepare students for entry-level careers. Students with a strong mathematics background may wish to consider the Computer Science, AS degree program as a pathway to a cybersecurity career upon transfer to a four-year college or university. Some bachelor's degree programs in computer science offer a cybersecurity concentration area.

This program has been designated as a CAE-CDE 2Y - National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense 2-Year Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Programs of Study

Cybersecurity, AAS

The first semester is the same for all students in this program; it is designed to provide all students with a foundation in information technology hardware and software fundamentals.

During the second semester, students begin to explore cybersecurity concepts. At the conclusion of the second semester, the student will select elective offerings in areas of special interest in Digital Forensics, Network Security, or Information Assurance.

Cybersecurity students will take classes that will help to prepare for the following in-demand entry level cybersecurity industry certifications: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Linux+, and EC Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).

Depending on elective selections, students may take courses to prepare for these additional certifications: EC Council CHFI, AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, and CISCO CCNA.

Students opting to take Digital Forensics electives will take classes that will help to prepare them for the Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) industry certification. These elective courses will place special emphasis on the knowledge and skills to conduct digital forensics investigations and to develop and administer policy in support of digital forensic programs.
Students selecting the Network Security electives will take classes that will help to prepare them for the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) industry certification. These elective courses will place special emphasis on the knowledge and skills to implement, administer, and secure networks of various sizes.
Students selecting electives in Information Assurance will take classes that will help to prepare them with the technical knowledge, as well as the foundational leadership and management capabilities to further skills related to policy development, compliance, standards, and risk management.

View Program Requirements in the Catalog:

Cybersecurity, AAS

Cybersecurity Certificate

This certificate program prepares students who are currently employed in the cybersecurity field as well as those without prior work experience to develop the foundational IT and cybersecurity skills and knowledge required of practitioners within a variety of cybersecurity related settings.

All of the credits in this certificate apply towards the Cybersecurity AAS Degree program. Students will take classes that will help to prepare for the following entry level cybersecurity industry certifications: CompTIA A+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Linux+, and Certified Networking Associate (CCNA).