Cybersecurity, A.A.S.

Associate of Applied Science

Campuses: Alexandria, Annandale, Loudoun, Manassas, NOVA Online, Woodbridge

This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of Cybersecurity (information assurance), for those who are presently in IT or a security field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in information security. The curriculum is mapped to the NSA/DHS Knowledge Units necessary for NOVA's designation as a Center of Academic Excellence.

Transfer Information

Transfer is not the primary purpose of an A.A.S. program, but NOVA has articulation agreements and arrangements that facilitate the transfer of this degree to selected senior institutions. Students interested in transfer should contact their academic advisor early in the program for specific course requirements.

Recommended Preparation Information

The student should possess a proficiency in high school English, high school algebra and geometry, and computer keyboarding skills.

Course Curriculum

Below is a table that shows the courses needed to satisfy this program. Please speak with an advisor to ensure you meet your program requirements.

Two Years			Credits
1st Semester
ENG	111	College Composition I	3
Choose One
ITE	115	Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts	3
ITE	119	Information Literacy
Choose One
ITN	101	Introduction to Network Concepts	3
ITN	100	Introduction to Telecommunications
ITP	100	Software Design	3
¹MTH	154	Quantitative Reasoning	3
Choose One
SDV	100	College Success Skills	1
SDV	101	Orientation to (a Specific Discipline)
Total			16
2nd Semester
²		Humanities/Fine Arts Elective	3
ITN	106	Microcomputer Operating Systems	3
Choose One
ITN	107	Personal Computer Hardware and Troubleshooting	3
ITE	221	PC Hardware and OS Architecture
ITN	260	Network Security Basics	3
³		Social/Behavioral Science Elective	3
Total			15
3rd Semester
⁴CST	110	Introduction to Communication	3
ITN	200	Administration of Network Resources	3
⁵ITP		Programming Elective	4
Choose One
ITN	171	UNIX I	3
ITN	170	Linux System Administration
ITN	261	Network Attacks, Computer Crime, and Hacking	4
Total			17
4th Semester
ITN	262	Network Communication, Security, and Authentication	4
ITN	263	Internet/Intranet Firewalls and E-Commerce Security	4
ITN	266	Network Security Layers	3
ITN	276	Computer Forensics I	3
⁶		IT Security Elective	3
Total			17
Total credits for the Associate of Applied Science = 65

Two Years	Credits
1st Semester
College Composition I ENG 111	3
Choose One
Introduction to Computer Applications and Concepts ITE 115	3
Information Literacy ITE 119
Choose One
Introduction to Network Concepts ITN 101	3
Introduction to Telecommunications ITN 100
Software Design ITP 100	3
Quantitative Reasoning ¹MTH 154	3
Choose One
College Success Skills SDV 100	1
Orientation to (a Specific Discipline) SDV 101
Total	16
2nd Semester
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective ²	3
Microcomputer Operating Systems ITN 106	3
Choose One
Personal Computer Hardware and Troubleshooting ITN 107	3
PC Hardware and OS Architecture ITE 221
Network Security Basics ITN 260	3
Social/Behavioral Science Elective ³	3
Total	15
3rd Semester
Introduction to Communication ⁴CST 110	3
Administration of Network Resources ITN 200	3
Programming Elective ⁵ITP	4
Choose One
UNIX I ITN 171	3
Linux System Administration ITN 170
Network Attacks, Computer Crime, and Hacking ITN 261	4
Total	17
4th Semester
Network Communication, Security, and Authentication ITN 262	4
Internet/Intranet Firewalls and E-Commerce Security ITN 263	4
Network Security Layers ITN 266	3
Computer Forensics I ITN 276	3
IT Security Elective ⁶	3
Total	17
Total credits for the Associate of Applied Science = 65

IT courses used for this program may not be more than 10 years old, unless approved by academic dean.

¹ May substitute a higher-level mathematics course. Consult with an academic advisor for appropriate selection.

² See humanities/fine arts courses listed under General Education Electives. Electives should be selected with advice of a counselor or academic advisor to meet the requirements of the transfer institution.

³ See social/behavioral science courses listed under General Education Electives.

⁴ Select from the following: CST 100, CST 110, CST 126, and CST 229.

⁵ Select from the following: ITP 112, ITP 120, ITP 130, ITP 132, ITP 136, ITP 225 or ITP 270.

⁶ Select from the following: ITN 267, ITN 277, ITN 290, or ITN 295.

Cybersecurity, A.A.S.

Transfer Information

Recommended Preparation Information

Course Curriculum

You still have time