Cyber Defense - Red Hat Linux

The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Cyber Defense – Red Hat Linux is designed to focus on the necessary skills required to secure, protect and identify vulnerabilities in Red Hat Linux operating systems. Emphasis is placed on developing the theoretical, legal, ethical and practical skills needed to maintain the security of mission-critical server systems. The program meets the requirements of the National Security Agency’s Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) and is designed to meet the training needs of government and industry employees. The program covers a variety of information security technologies and structured languages and also focuses on the skills needed for internationally recognized IT certifications and high demands in business, industry, and government.

Details

Field of Interest
Computer and Information Technology
Degree Type
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Academic Plan
Cyber Defense - Red Hat Linux (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3213
Total credits required
63-69
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Notes

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: CIS, CNT, ITS, and MST

What You'll Learn
  • Demonstrate understanding of the fundamental concepts behind cybersecurity.
  • Explain the fundamental security design fundamentals that help create systems that are worthy of being trusted.
  • Demonstrate a foundational understanding of the components in an information technology system and their roles in system operation.
  • Explain where and how cryptography is used.
  • Describe how networks are built and operate and the various basic network analysis tools.
  • Create simple scripts/programs to automate and perform simple operations.
  • Implement algorithms using programming languages to solve problems.
  • Explain the concepts used in defending a network, and the common tools and techniques that can be used to protect a network and communication assets from cyber threats.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of methods such as managing applications, services, and network ports to improve the robustness of operating systems.
  • Describe ethics in a cyber context, including typical situations where ethical dilemmas arise and the tools for ethical decision making.
  • Utilize methods for exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to a system.
  • Perform basic operations involved in system administration of operating systems.

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 annual median wages* for this program. 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.

Computer Network Support Specialists

$64,500

Information Security Analysts

$106,360

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

$85,200

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

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 Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center 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

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems CS 3
CIS111 Ethics in Information Technology 3
CIS126RH Red Hat System Administration I 3
CNT140AB Introduction to Networks 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success 1

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3
CIS238RH Red Hat System Administration II 3
MST150WT Installing and Configuring Microsoft Windows 10 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3
MATH Mathematics Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area 3–6

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS239DL Linux Shell Scripting 3
CIS240RH Red Hat System Administration III 3
CIS270 Essentials of Network and Information Security 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ITS240 Ethical Hacking and Network Defense 3
CIS271RH Red Hat System Administration IV 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS275DL Linux Capstone 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems CS 3
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
FYE101 Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success 1

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS126RH Red Hat System Administration I 3
ENG102 or
ENG108		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment L 0–3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS111 Ethics in Information Technology 3
CNT140AB Introduction to Networks 4

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3
MST150WT Installing and Configuring Microsoft Windows 10 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS238RH Red Hat System Administration II 3
MATH Mathematics Any approved general education course in the Mathematics area 3–6

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS239DL Linux Shell Scripting 3
COM100 or
COM110 or
COM225 or
COM230		 Introduction to Human Communication or Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking or Small Group Communication SB or SB or L or SB 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS270 Essentials of Network and Information Security 3
SG or
SQ		 Natural Sciences General or Natural Sciences Quantitative SG or SQ 4

Term 8

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 8
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS240RH Red Hat System Administration III 3

Term 9

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 9
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS271RH Red Hat System Administration IV 3
SB Social-Behavioral Sciences SB 3

Term 10

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 10
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
ITS240 Ethical Hacking and Network Defense 3
HU Humanities, Fine Arts & Design HU 3

Term 11

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 11
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS275DL Linux Capstone 3
Course Area Key
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • HU = Humanities, Fine Arts, and Design
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • SB = Social-Behavioral Sciences
  • SG = Natural Sciences General
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses 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 official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm13?id=186158).

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.