College Approves New Cybersecurity Degree Program

The Tompkins Cortland Community College Board of Trustees has approved the addition of a two new academic program offerings in cybersecurity. The board approved the addition of one program that will lead to an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree and another, shorter program that will lead to a certificate. Both programs now must receive final approval from the State University of New York (SUNY) and the New York State Education department. It is hoped that final state approval will come in time to begin the new programs in the Fall 2019 semester.

Cybersecurity professionals are the first line of defense in protecting data and networks in business, industry, government, and education. The Cybersecurity program is designed to prepare students for an entry-level position like security analyst, penetration tester, network security specialist, security technician, or information security technician. While graduates with either the A.A.S. or certificate would be prepared to enter the workforce, students in the A.A.S. may choose to transfer to a baccalaureate program.

Students in cybersecurity will learn basic computer skills in computer applications coursework including spreadsheets, web page design, databases, network design, systems analysis and design, and various programming languages. Classes are designed to provide students hands-on training utilizing the College’s state-of-the-art computer lab and cloud-based online lab environments.

The A.A.S. program is structured to enable completion in four semesters (two academic years) while the certificate is designed for completion in two semesters (one academic year). As an added convenience, over 50% of the required courses are available to be taken online.