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Program Facts 
Prepare for a career in the emerging field of cybersecurity with this 31-credit-hour
professional certificate program. You will learn the principles of cybersecurity and
gain experience related to cybersecurity administrative tasks, incident response,
and investigation data collection. Take classes in Programming for Cybersecurity,
IT Project Management, Server Administration, and more.
Cybersecurity jobs are in high demand across the country, and this is a rapidly growing field that touches every industry, including information technology, business, banking, and healthcare. Upon graduation from the program, you will qualify for mid-level positions such as a cyber defense analyst, infrastructure support specialist, incident responder, and vulnerability assessment analyst.
Pending HLC approval. This 31 credit-hour certificate program provides students with experience related to cybersecurity administrative tasks, incident response, and investigation data collection. These courses will help students prepare for the CompTIA ITF+, Network+, Linux+, Security+, Project+, Microsoft Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure, ISACA CISM, and EC-Council CHFI certification exams and qualify for mid-level jobs as a cyber defense analyst, infrastructure support specialist, incident responder, and vulnerability assessment analyst.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CIS 106 | Computer Logic and Programming Technology 1 | 3 |
|
Description: Provides students with a comprehensive introduction to computer programming using a currently popular programming language. Includes program logic, program structure, subroutines/functions/methods, variables, conditions, loops, arrays, files/data access, and object-oriented programming. A variety of programs are created throughout the course. Prerequisite: Math placement into MTH 101 or higher. mathplacement.php Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| CIS 211 | IT Project Management | 3 |
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Description: Provides students with a comprehensive introduction to Information Technology project management. Includes project selection, initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closure. Students gain practical project management skills and competencies related to Information Technology project management. Activities are performed using a currently popular project management software package. Aligns to the CompTIA Project+ certification. Prerequisite: CAS 105, CAS 115 and CAS 125 with grades of C or better, OR CAS 160 OR CIS 101 OR WEB 110 OR NET 105, with a grade of C or better; AND math placement into MTH 101 or higher. mathplacement.php Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| CIS 226 | Programming for Cybersecurity | 3 |
|
Description: Provides students with hands-on experience to build upon foundational programming skills to develop Python scripts and programs for modern security professionals to monitor, protect against, contain, respond to and recover from cyber attacks. Includes Python concepts used to facilitate cybersecurity initiatives. Prerequisite: CIS 106 or CSC 121 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 101 | Orientation to Cybersecurity Careers | 1 |
|
Description: Provides an overview of the cybersecurity industry and the different careers and work roles in the field. Learn the major skills and knowledge required for cybersecurity professions and associate employment skills and knowledge sets to specific classes in the Harper College Cybersecurity AAS Degree and certificate programs. Covers issues facing the cybersecurity industry, cybersecurity professional organizations, and industry credentials. Includes cybersecurity workforce competencies, review of academic degrees, certificates, and credentials. Covers navigating the college environment, learning and academic strategies, and career development. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 105 | Information Technology Fundamentals | 3 |
|
Description: Provides students with the skills required to identify and explain the basics of computing, IT, infrastructure, application and software, software development, database fundamentals and security. Contains basic computer maintenance and support principles. Includes computer science related topics including programming concepts and principles of software development and database design. Aligns to the CompTIA IT (ITF+) Fundamentals certification. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 121 | Computer Networking | 3 |
|
Description: Provides students with hands-on experience implementing and maintaining computer networks. Includes networking standards, architecture, models, protocols, operations, security and troubleshooting using current network operating systems. Introduces IP addressing and Ethernet fundamentals. Course prepares students to build simple local area networks (LANs) that integrate IP addressing schemes and foundational network security. Aligns to the CompTIA Network+ certification. Prerequisite: CIS 101, NET 105, or WEB 110 with a grade of C or better. NET 105 can be taken concurrently with NET 121. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 240 | Linux Server Administration | 3 |
|
Description: Provides students with a comprehensive introduction to Linux Server administration. Includes installation, configuration, and administration of a Linux Server environment. Covers user management, hardware and software configuration, and security as well as network services configuration. Includes creating simple shell scripts, booting into different run levels, controlling services, identifying processes, and virtual machines. Aligns to the CompTIA Linux+ Certification. Prerequisite: NET 121 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 260 | Windows Server Administration | 3 |
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Description: Provides students with a comprehensive introduction to Windows Server Administration. Includes installation, configuration, administration, and security of a Windows Server environment. Learn to configure network services including DNS, DHCP, ADS, printing, and network routing. Implement and manage Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in on-premises and hybrid networking infrastructure and manage storage and file services. Aligns to the Microsoft Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Certification. Prerequisite: NET 121 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 280 | Cybersecurity Fundamentals | 3 |
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Description: Provides students with a hands-on foundation of essential cybersecurity concepts, principles, trends, practices, technologies, and compliance. Includes topics related to threats, attacks, vulnerabilities, risk, emerging technologies, security architecture and design, identity, and access management, risk management, cryptography, and secure communications. Aligns to the CompTIA Security+ Certification. Prerequisite: NET 121 or NET 122 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 282 | Cybersecurity Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance | 3 |
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Description: Provides students with an overview of the critical aspects of cybersecurity governance, risk management, and compliance. Equips students with knowledge of current cybersecurity laws, regulations, and best practices. Explores various frameworks and standards used in information security management. Covers regulatory acts. Includes active monitoring techniques and security auditing, compliance, and network monitoring tools. Aligns to the ISACA Certified Information Security Manager Certification. Prerequisite: NET280 with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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| NET 284 | Digital Forensics | 3 |
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Description: Provides students with hands-on experience preserving, identifying, extracting, documenting and interpreting computer data. Examine computer data for evidence of a crime or violations of corporate policy. Includes performing forensic investigation on Windows, Unix and Linux file systems. Covers evidence handling, chain of custody, collection, and recovery of computer data using forensic software and methods. Align to the EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) Certification. PrerequisiteNET 240: LINUX SERVER ADMINISTRATION with a grade of C or better. Class Schedule: Fall 2024 | Spring 2025 |
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1 - The prerequisite for CIS 106 is placement into MTH 101 or higher. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/mathplacement.php
● Cybersecurity Foundations: Understand and apply essential cybersecurity concepts, principles, trends, practices,
technologies, and compliance.
● Server Administration: Demonstrate effective installation, configuration, and management of server environments
for Windows and Linux operating systems.
● Programming: Develop Python scripts and programs for modern security professionals to monitor,
protect against, contain, respond to, and recover from cyber attacks.
● Project Management: Ability to effectively oversee IT projects through all stages of project development,
from project selection and planning to monitoring and closure.
● Industry Best Practices: Understand and apply standard methodologies, tools, and technologies in real-world
environments.
Students interested in cybersecurity may also be interested in:
● Cybersecurity AAS Degree
● Technical Analyst Certificate
● Support Specialist Certificate
● Request information
● Attend an information session
● Apply
For more information about cybersecurity courses at Harper College, contact Admission
Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.