Award: Associate of Applied Science Degree
No. of credits required: 60
For more information: Contact Business & Applied Technology at bat@harford.edu; or Admissions, 443-412-2109.

Program Description

This degree program prepares students to enter the high-demand field of information technology security. With the increase of viruses and other security breaches, companies need professionals who can protect their data and equipment from internal and external security threats. Students in this program gain hands-on experience with the latest hardware and software and learn to implement appropriate security policies and procedures. Students planning to transfer should select electives according to the requirements of the receiving institution.

Program Goals

Upon successful completion of this program of study students will be able to:

1. Apply software patches to operating systems and applications
2. Assess a computer system's security vulnerabilities using appropriate resources
3. Use standard software tools to detect attempted security breaches of computer systems
4. Implement computer network security defenses
5. Sit for CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Administrator) certificate examinations if desired

Employment Information

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, computer security specialists plan, coordinate, and maintain an organization’s information security. These workers educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor networks for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and, in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists have increased in recent years as cyber attacks have become more sophisticated. Employment is expected to grow much faster than the average, and job prospects should be excellent. Overall employment may increase by as much as 31% by 2029.  Demand for information security analysts is expected to be very high. Cyberattacks have grown in frequency, and analysts will be needed to come up with innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical information or creating problems for computer networks.

Diversity Requirement

To satisfy the diversity requirement: Associate degree students must complete one 3-credit diversity course (D). It is recommended that students select one of the 3-credit (GB), (GAH), (GI) course electives from those that also appear on the approved list of diversity course graduation requirements.

Degree Requirements

Recommended Course Sequence

Plan of Study Grid

First Semester		Credits
CIS 102	Introduction to Information Sciences (GI)	3
ENG 101	English Composition (GE)	3
ISS 105	Intro to Cybersecurity (GI)	3
PHIL 221	Business Ethics (GAH)	3
Mathematics Elective (GM)		3
	Credits	15
Second Semester
CIS 104	Computer Operating Systems	3
CIS 211	MS Windows Server Operating System	3
CIS 135	Introduction to Networks	3
Biological/Physical Lab Science Elective (GL)		4
Behavioral/Social Science Elective (GB) (D)		3
	Credits	16
Third Semester
CIS 210	Fundamentals of Network Security	3
ISS 111	Cisco 1	4
ISS 112	Cisco 2	4
ISS 220	Strategic Infrastructure Security	3
Physical Education Elective		1
	Credits	15
Fourth Semester
ISS 221	Network Defense & Countermeasures	3
ISS 222	Computer Forensics	3
ISS 213	Cisco 3	4
Select one of the following:		4
CIS 274	Cooperative Education: Computer Information Systems
CIS 134	Fundamentals of Cloud Administration
CIS 110	Introduction to UNIX/Linux
ISS 212	Cisco Cybersecurity Operations
	Credits	14
	Total Credits	60

General Education Degree Requirements

Note: The following codes identify courses which satisfy the General Education Degree Requirements:

Behavioral/Social Science (GB)
English Composition (GE)
Arts/Humanities (GAH)
Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues (GI)
Biological/Physical Laboratory Science (GL)
Mathematics (GM)
Biological/Physical Science (GS)