Cyber Defense Certificate
Award: Certificate in Information Systems Security
No. of credits required: 39
For more information: Business & Applied Technology at bat@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.
Program Description
The Cyber Defense Certificate is designed to enable students to obtain knowledge, skills, and competencies in the challenging cybersecurity field. The certificate is designed in a compressed format so that students complete four courses per semester. Students completing the certificate are able to combine these credits toward the completion of the Information Assurance and Cybersecurity A.A.S. degree to satisfy their individual goals.
Program Goals
Upon successful completion of this program of study, students will be able to:
- Apply software patches to operating systems and applications
- Assess a computer system's security vulnerabilities using appropriate resources
- Use standard software tools to detect attempted security breaches of computer systems
- Implement computer network security defenses
- Prepare for industry recognized certifications
Employment Information
According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, national employment is expected to increase by as much as 31% through 2029 in the cybersecurity field. Demand is expected to be very high, as these individuals will be needed to create innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or causing problems for computer networks.
The Maryland Occupational Projections from the Maryland Department of Labor project an employment increase of 39% in the state through 2028 in the cybersecurity field.
The Courses listed in the Cyber Defense Certificate are designed to align with the competencies identified and desired by employers. Students successfully completing are prepared to pursue industry certifications such as Net+ , Sec+ , Linux+ , CCENT.
Certificate Requirements
In order to earn a certificate from Harford Community College, students must demonstrate basic competencies in English, reading, and mathematics by completing: ENG 018 Integrated Reading and Writing, MATH 020 Pre-Algebra I, and/or a qualifying exam must be passed.
Required Courses
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ISS 105 | Intro to Cybersecurity (GI) | 3 |
| CIS 102 | Introduction to Information Sciences (GI) | 3 |
| CIS 114 | Introduction to Computer User Support | 3 |
| or ISS 222 | Computer Forensics | |
| CIS 135 | Introduction to Networks | 3 |
| CIS 210 | Fundamentals of Network Security | 3 |
| CIS 104 | Computer Operating Systems | 3 |
| CIS 110 | Introduction to UNIX/Linux | 4 |
| CIS 211 | MS Windows Server Operating System | 3 |
| ISS 220 | Strategic Infrastructure Security | 3 |
| ISS 111 | Cisco 1 | 4 |
| ISS 221 | Network Defense & Countermeasures | 3 |
| ISS 112 | Cisco 2 | 4 |
| Total Credits | 39 | |