Cyber Defense
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Cyber Defense is designed to focus on the necessary skills required to secure, protect and identify vulnerabilities in computer systems. Emphasis is placed on developing the theoretical, legal, ethical and practical skills needed to maintain the security of mission-critical 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 (DEG)
Academic Plan Code
3213
Total credits required
60-70
Catalog Year
2026-2027
Effective Term
Fall 2026
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.
- Explain the common standards related to information assurance.
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 26 | |
| CIS105 | Survey of Computer Information Systems | 3 |
| CIS111 | Ethics in Information Technology | 3 |
| CIS126RH | Red Hat System Administration I | 3 |
| MST150 | Installing and Configuring Microsoft Windows | 3 |
| CIS156 | Python Programming: Level I | 3 |
| CNT140AB | Introduction to Networks | 4 |
| CIS270 | Essentials of Network and Information Security | 3 |
| ITS240 | Ethical Hacking and Network Defense | 3 |
| FYE101 | Introduction to College, Career and Personal Success | 1 |
| Course # | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Credits: | 12-16 | |
| Students must complete 12-16 credits from one (1) of the following specializations: | ||
| Specialization I: Red Hat Linux (15 credits) | ||
| CIS238RH | Red Hat System Administration II | 3 |
| CIS239DL | Linux Shell Scripting | 3 |
| CIS240RH | Red Hat System Administration III | 3 |
| CIS271RH | Red Hat System Administration IV | 3 |
| CIS275DL | Linux Capstone | 3 |
| Specialization II: Cisco Networking (12 credits) | ||
| CNT150AB | Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials | 4 |
| CNT160AB | Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation | 4 |
| CNT205 | Cisco Certified Network Associate Security | 4 |
| Specialization III: Critical Infrastructure Protection (16 credits) | ||
| CNT150AB | Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials | 4 |
| CIS143 | Introduction to Critical Infrastructure Protection | 3 |
| CIS201 | Introduction to Operational Technology | 3 |
| CIS202 | Introduction to Smart Grid Security | 3 |
| CIS203 | Principles of the Risk Management Framework | 3 |
| Specialization IV: Microsoft Azure (16 credits) | ||
| BPC274 | Advanced Server Computer Maintenance: Server+ Prep | 3 |
| CIS239DL | Linux Shell Scripting | 3 |
| CIS121AH | Microsoft PowerShell/Command Line Operations | 3 |
| MST160 | Azure Administrator | 4 |
| MST260 | Microsoft Azure Cloud Development and Operations | 3 |
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.
Read the official description