Cybersecurity Diploma (CY12)  Diploma


Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Cybersecurity Diploma program is a sequence of courses designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles, and techniques required in computer information processing. Graduates are to be competent in the basic skills areas of English and mathematics, as well as in the technical areas of computer terminology and concepts, computer networking, and network security.

Program graduates are qualified for employment as computer network security specialists, cybersecurity specialists, or information security analysts.

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization's computer networks and systems. Their responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of cyberattacks increases. IT security analysts are heavily involved with creating their organization's disaster recovery plan, a procedure that IT employees follow in case of emergency. These plans allow for the continued operation of an organization's IT department. The recovery plan includes preventive measures such as regularly copying and transferring data to an offsite location. It also involves plans to restore proper IT functioning after a disaster. Analysts continually test the steps in their recovery plans.

The standard curriculum for the Cybersecurity Diploma program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter the Cybersecurity Diploma program any semester. The Cybersecurity Diploma program generally takes four (4) to five (5) semesters to complete. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 49 credit hours for the Cybersecurity Diploma.

Entrance Requirements

  • Submit a completed application and application fee;
  • Be at least 16 years of age;
  • Submit an official copy of your high school transcript or high school equivalent scores;
  • Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
  • Satisfy Placement Testing requirements.

Program Costs

Costs are estimates and are subject to change.

  • Tuition/Fees: $6,304
  • Books/Supplies: $1,850

Licensure
Although certification is not required for employment, the Cybersecurity diploma program provides the knowledge and skills for students interested in various information technology certifications.

Curriculum Outline (49 hours)
General Core (11 hours) 11
COLL 1040

(Prerequisite: None) This course is designed to provide tools to assist students to acquire skills necessary to achieve academic and professional success in their chosen occupational/technical program of study. Topics include: Computer Applications/Technology Skills, Getting off to a Good Start, Learning and Personality Styles, Time and Money Management, Study and Test Taking Skills, Stress Management and Wellness, Communication Skills, and Career Exploration.

3
EMPL 1000

(Prerequisite: Provisional admission) Emphasizes human relations and professional development in today's rapidly changing world that prepares students for living and working in a complex society. Topics include human relations skills, job acquisition skills and communication, job retention skills, job advancement skills, and professional image skills.

2
ENGL 1010

(Prerequisite: ENGL 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score AND READ 0097 OR Appropriate Placement Test Score) Emphasizes the development and improvement of written and oral communication abilities. Topics include analysis of writing, applied grammar and writing skills, editing and proofreading skills, research skills, and oral communication skills.

3
MATH 1012

(Prerequisites: MATH 0097 OR Appropriate arithmetic placement test score.) Emphasizes the application of basic mathematical skills used in the solution of occupational and technical problems. Topics include fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, measurement and conversion, geometric concepts, technical applications, and basic statistics.

3
Occupational Courses (38 hours) 38
COMP 1000

This course introduces the fundamental concepts, terminology, and operations necessary to use computers. Emphasis is placed on basic functions and familiarity with computer use. Topics include introductions to computer and digital terminology and usage, operating systems, Internet and digital communication, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, and presentation applications.

3
CIST 1001

(Prerequisites: None) Provides an overview of information systems, computers and technology. Topics include: Information Systems and Technology Terminology, Computer History, Data Representation, Data Storage Concepts, Fundamentals of Information Processing, Fundamentals of Information Security, Information Technology Ethics, Fundamentals of Hardware Operation, Fundamentals of Networking, Fundamentals of the Internet, Fundamentals of Software Design Concepts, Fundamentals of Software, (System and Application), System Development Methodology, Computer Number Systems conversion (Binary and Hexadecimal), Mobile computing.

4
CIST 1122

(Prerequisites: Program Admission) This course serves to provide students with the knowledge of the fundamentals of computer technology, networking, and security along with the skills required to identify hardware, peripheral, networking, and security components with an introduction to the fundamentals of installing and maintaining computers. Students will develop the skills to identify the basic functionality of the operating system, perform basic troubleshooting techniques, utilize proper safety procedures, and effectively interact with customers and peers. This course is designed to help prepare students for the CompTIA A+ certification examination.

4
CIST 1601

(Prerequisites: None) This course provides a broad overview of information security. It covers terminology, history, security systems development and implementation. Student will also cover the legal, ethical, and professional issues in information security.

3
CIST 2451

(Prerequisites: Program Admission) This course introduces the architectures, models, protocols, and networking elements that connect users, devices, applications, and data through the internet and across modern computer networks - including IP addressing and Ethernet fundamentals. By the end of the course, students can build simple local area networks (LANs) that integrate IP addressing schemes, foundational network security, and perform basic configurations for routers and switches.

4
CIST 2601

(Prerequisites: CIST 2451, CIST 1601) (Co-requisites: None) This course will provide knowledge and the practical experience necessary to configure the most common server platforms. Lab exercises will provide students with experience of establishing operating systems security for the network environment.

4
CIST 2602

(Prerequisites: CIST 2451, CIST 1601) (Co-requisites: None) This course provides knowledge and the practical experience necessary to evaluate, implement, and manage secure information transferred over computer networks. Topics include network security, intrusion detection, types of attacks, methods of attacks, security devices, basics of cryptography, and organizational security elements.

4
CIST 2612

This course examines the use of computers in the commission of crimes, collection, analysis and production of digital evidence. Students will use computer resources to explore basic computer forensic investigation techniques.

4
OCC 008Occupational Related Elective (8 hours) 8
Approved CIST Electives: CIST 1135, CIST 1305, CIST 1510, CIST 1530, CIST 1540, CIST 1602, CIST 2127, CIST 2128, CIST 2129, CIST 2130, CIST 2411, CIST 2412, CIST 2413, CIST 2414, CIST 2452, CIST 2453, CIST 2510, CIST 2611, CIST 2613, CIST 2991
Approved Programming Electives: CIST 1220, CIST 2311, CIST 2341, CIST 2351, CIST 2371, CIST 2381, CIST 2560, CIST 2570, CIST 2580
Faculty
Advisor

Director of Online Learning
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building, Office 813

Advisor

Computer Information Systems Instructor
Swainsboro Campus - Building 2, Office 2106/2107

Advisor

Computer Information Systems Instructor
Vidalia Campus - Gillis Building. Office 810

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