Cybersecurity - Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology

Degree

Bachelors of Applied Science (BAS)

Overview

A degree in Cybersecurity prepares students to work in any IT department infrastructure team as well as in any number of Cybersecurity roles related to a Security Operations Center (SOC). Students learn all the foundational Information Technology skills including networking, cloud infrastructure, Linux and Windows administration. Students will also learn how to analyze network traffic, design and configure secure network infrastructures, as well as various skills that would be needed to conduct penetration tests on a corporate network. Cybersecurity touches all aspects of a business, from physical security of the building, all the way to wireless design and configuration best-practices. Students who learn to design, build, and manage network infrastructures will need to be current and educated on the many ways to keep networks, intellectual property and other proprietary data safe and secure.

Career Opportunities

Career opportunities for a student with a degree in Cybersecurity exist in any business. Cybersecurity touches all aspects of a business. Software programs need to be designed and written with security in mind, network administrators need to understand how to build secure networks, and senior executives need to understand the value of hiring people who can keep their corporate secrets safe and secure. Common job titles include Security Analyst, Risk Analyst, Penetration Tester, Network Administrator, Digital Forensics Analyst, Security Auditor, etc. Advancement opportunities and pay increase with experience.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the degree, successful graduates will be able to:

Design and configure a secure network infrastructure using multiple cyber-defense technologies and best-practices, including firewalls and IDS systems
Explain Cryptography and Cryptanalysis
Design, configure, and monitor a Security Operations Center infrastructure
Use current Penetration Testing tools and methods to test the defenses of a network infrastructure
Explain best-practices of Digital Forensics

Course Requirements

Students are responsible to examine the course description of each course listed below for details of prerequisites, which must be satisfied before registering for the course.

Religion Courses

REL, Four cornerstone religion courses (REL 200, REL 225, REL 250, and REL 275), 8 credits
REL, Three additional religion courses, 6 credits

Total Religion Courses Minimum Credit Hours: 14

Program Required College and General Education Courses

BAP 115, Excel and Introduction to Technology, 1 credit
CAR 101, College Success 1, 1 credit
CAR 201, Career Success 1, 1 credit
COMM 122, Interpersonal Communications, 3 credits
ENG 101, Introduction to College Writing, 3 credits
ENG 201, Intermediate College Writing, 3 credits
MAT 252, Statistics, 3 credits
POLS 110, American Government, 3 credits
GE – ELEC, General Education Course, any Student choice, 3 credits
GE – FA, any General Education, Fine Arts Course, 3 credits
GE – LS, any General Education, Life Science Course, 3 credits
GE – PS, any General Education, Physical Science Course, 3 credits
GE – SC, any General Education, Social Science Course (ECON 161 recommended), 3 credits

Total General Education Courses Minimum Credit Hours: 33

IT Program Core Courses

CS 105, Introduction to Programming, 3 credits
CS 115, Object-Oriented Programming, 3 credits
CS 160, Agile Project Management, 3 credits
CS 220, Web Programming, 3 credits
IT 125, Introduction to Information Technology, 3 credits
IT 143, Database Design and Analysis, 3 credits
IT 235, Windows Server Fundamentals, 3 credits
IT 255, Networking Fundamentals, 3 credits
IT 312, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, 3 credits
IT Math Elective, Choose 1 from the following list: MAT 110, MAT 111, MAT 112, MAT 213, MAT 237, 3 credits

Total IT Core Courses Minimum Credit Hours: 30

Cybersecurity Core and Upper-division Courses

IT 210, Linux Fundamentals, 3 credits
IT 280, Python Programming, 3 credits
IT 320, Cybersecurity Risk Analysis & Policy, 3 credits
IT 322, Penetration Testing, 3 credits
IT 325, Cybersecurity Infrastructure Design and Strategy, 3 credits
IT 350, Network Configuration and Design, 3 credits
IT 370, Advanced Linux, 3 credits
IT 424, Digital Forensics, 3 credits
IT 426, Cryptography and Cryptanalysis, 3 credits
IT 429, SOC Operations, 3 credits
Choose one, IT 499 - Internship or CAR 499 - Internship, 1 credit
IT Upper Elective, Select from any 300 – 400 level IT or CS courses, please verify any pre-requisites, 12 credits

Total Cybersecurity Core & Upper Level Courses Minimum Credit Hours: 43

Total Cybersecurity (BAS) Degree in Information Technology Minimum Credit Hours 120

Recommended Sequence of Courses

*Individual student circumstances, such as the need for a smaller course load or the number of preparatory English or Math courses a student must take, may require additional semesters to complete the program. Please see a student success advisor to create a graduation plan.

First Semester

CAR 101, College Success, 1 credit
BAP 115, Excel and Introduction to Technology, 1 credit
CS 105, Introduction to Programming, 3 credits
ENG 101, Introduction to College Writing, 3 credits
IT 125, Introduction to Information Technology, 3 credits
REL, Religion, 2 credits

Total Minimum Semester Hours: 13

Second Semester

COMM 122, Interpersonal Communications, 3 credits
ENG 201, Intermediate College Writing, 3 credits
IT 235, Windows Server Fundamentals, 3 credits
IT 255, Networking Fundamentals, 3 credits
Math pre-req, if required, please meet with advisor
REL, Religion, 2 credits