Cybersecurity
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Cybersecurity is designed to focus on the necessary skills required to secure, protect and identify vulnerabilities in a network, including various operating systems and network devices. Emphasis is placed on developing the theoretical, legal, ethical and practical skills needed to maintain security on mission-critical networking and server systems. The program is designed to meet the training needs of government and industry employees. The program covers a variety of information security technologies and structured languages. The Cybersecurity program also focuses on the skills needed for internationally recognized IT certifications and high demands in business, industry, and government. Certificates of Completion (CCLs) are also available in the following areas: Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Cyber Operations, Linux System Administration, Microsoft, Cisco Networking CCNA Security, Cyber Engineering, and Critical Infrastructure. Some of these programs are available at select colleges. Please check with your local college for program availability.
Details
Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.
Courses within any of the following prefixes must be taken within five (5) years prior to completion of the program to be applied toward this award: AIM, B°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê, CIS, CLD, CNT, CSC, ITS, and MST.
This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:
- Explain the fundamental components, concepts, and application of cybersecurity principles.
- Describe cyber defense tools, methods, and components.
- Apply cyber defense methods to prepare a system to repel attacks.
- Analyze common security failures and identify specific design principles that have been violated.
- Describe the interaction between security and system usability and the importance for minimizing the effects of security mechanisms.
- Apply appropriate protocols, tools, and techniques to maximize security in the network environment.
- Describe the fundamental concepts, technologies, components, vulnerabilities, and issues related to networks.
- Identify and describe basic security issues of operating systems.
- Identify perpetrators, their resources, and their motivations in cyberspace.
- Compare and contrast offensive and defensive resources used in cybersecurity ecosystems/environment.
- Delineate differences between the moral, behavioral, ethical, and legal ramifications found in the cybersecurity world.
- Apply knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements to ensure compliance.
- Apply risk analysis methodologies to identify potential vulnerabilities, associated impacts, and recommend appropriate responses.
- Communicate professionally in formal and informal situations to diverse audiences.
- Collaborate with others to solve cybersecurity problems.
Successful completion of this degree may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this degree. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.
Computer and Information Systems Managers
$153,060 Show expanded career information for Computer and Information Systems Managers
Computer Network Architects
$118,810 Show expanded career information for Computer Network Architects
- Computer Network Support Specialists
- Information Security Analysts
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
Course Sequence by Term
The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:
- Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your to manage your plan.
- The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
- Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
- Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.
- Consult with your faculty mentor or academic advisor to determine educational requirements, including possible university transfer options, for your chosen career field.
Full-time Sequence
Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CS | 3 | ||||
or | or | required for Networking emphasis and Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3–4 | ||
or | or | required for Microsoft specialization and the Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3 | ||
or | or | 3 | |||
or | or | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
or | or | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
or | or | required for the Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3 | ||
3 | |||||
or | or | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 | |||
MAT | Mathematics | Critical course Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area | 3–6 | ||
or or | or or | Critical course Gateway course required for Cyber Operations specialization; AND required for Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Term is dependent on Specialization | 3 | ||||
or or or | or or or | required for students intending to transfer to ASU West to earn a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing (Cybersecurity) | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 | |
or | or | SG or SQ | 4 | ||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 0–3 | |||
Only required for the Critical Infrastructure specialization | 0–3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | 3 | ||||
SB | 3 | ||||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 0–3 |
Part-time Sequence
Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.
Term 1
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CS | 3 | ||||
or | or | Critical course | FYC or FYC | 3 | |
or | or | 1–3 |
Term 2
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
or | or | required for Networking emphasis and and Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3–4 | ||
or | or | FYC or FYC | 3 | ||
OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment | L | 0–3 |
Term 3
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
or | or | required for Microsoft specialization and the Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3 | ||
or | or | 3 |
Term 4
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAT | Mathematics | Critical course Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area | 3–6 | ||
or or | or or | Critical course Gateway course required for Cyber Operations specialization; AND required for Critical Infrastructure specialization | 3 |
Term 5
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
or | or | required for the Infrastructure specialization | 3 | ||
Only required for the Critical Infrastructure specialization | 0–3 |
Term 6
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | |||||
or or or | or or or | required for students intending to transfer to ASU West to earn a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computing (Cybersecurity) | SB or SB or L or SB | 3 |
Term 7
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | |||||
or | or | SG or SQ | 4 |
Term 8
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 |
Term 9
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
SB | 3 | ||||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 |
Term 10
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
HU | 3 | ||||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 3–4 |
Term 11
Course Number | Course Name | Requisites | Notes | Area | Credits |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 0–3 | |||
Specialization | Specialization Coursework | 0–3 |
Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.
Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.
- CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
- FYC = First Year Composition
- HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
- L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
- MA = Mathematics
- SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
- SG = Natural Sciences General
- SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.
Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.
View MCCCD’s for additional details regarding the requirements of this award .
At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.