Cybersecurity Certificate (IS81) Technical Certificate of Credit

Campus Locations: Vidalia, Swainsboro

The Cybersecurity Certificate is designed to give students the knowledge they need to understand and maintain computer information systems security. Employment opportunities are: computer and information sciences and support services.

The standard curriculum for the Cybersecurity Certificate program is designed for the semester system. Students may enter the program during any semester. The certificate program generally takes three (3) to four (4) semesters to complete. NOTE: Students need to complete prerequisite course CIST 2451 before taking CIST 2601, CIST 2602, and CIST 2611.To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 26 credit hours.

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: $3,653
Books/Supplies: $1,000

Curriculum Outline (26 hours)

General Core (26 hours)	26
CIST 1601Information Security Fundamentals (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 1602Security Policies & Procedures (Prerequisites: None) (Corequisites: None) This course provides knowledge and experience to develop and maintain security policies and procedures. Students will explore the legal and ethical issues in information security and the various security layers: physical security, personnel security, operating systems, network, software, communication and database security. Students will develop an Information Security Policy and an Acceptable Use Policy.	3
CIST 2601Implementing Operating Systems Security (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 2602Network Security (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 2611Network Defense and Countermeasures (Prerequisites: CIST 2451, CIST 1601) (Co-requisites: None) Students will learn how to plan, design, install, and configure firewalls that will allow key services while maintaining security. This will include protecting the Internal IP services, configuring a firewall for remote access, managing a firewall, and detecting and preventing network intrusions.	4
CIST 2612Computer Forensics 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
CIST 2613Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing (Prerequisites: CIST 1601) (Corequisites: None) This course teaches students the skills needed to obtain entry-level security specialist jobs. It provides a hands-on introduction to ethical hacking, and penetration testing. It is for individuals who want to enhance their information security skill set and help meet the growing demand for security professionals. Topics include network and computer attacks, footprinting and social engineering, port scanning, enumeration, OS vulnerabilities, hacking web servers, hacking wireless networks, cryptography and network protection systems.	4