Effective Fall 2021

The Information Assurance and Cyber Security major prepares students to be professionals in the information assurance and cybersecurity community. Through more than a dozen information security courses, students are provided both a broad and specific understanding of the various aspects of information assurance and security. While technical skills lay the foundation for student success, coursework includes advanced analysis skills and theoretical knowledge that enables students to better recognize the entire scope of issues critical to the business processes of both public and private organizations.

Career Opportunities

This major prepares students for positions that may include systems administrators or analysts, information systems administrators, network administrators, information and cyber security specialists, information technology auditors, penetration testers, risk analysts, antivirus software managers, and related positions. 

Special Equipment Needs

A laptop/notebook computer is required for the enrollment in all Information Technology majors, including the Information Assurance and Cyber Security major. Review required Laptop Specifications see https://www.pct.edu/media/1111/download .

Remediation Strategies

All incoming students must meet placement requirements in math. Students are expected to remediate any deficiencies as explained in the College Catalog (see https://www.pct.edu/catalog/admissions-policy). Students will not be allowed to enroll in required information technology (CIT and EET) and security (IAS) courses until after all remediation of mathematics (through MTH008) is complete.

Transfer Procedures

Students seeking entrance through transfer should strive to take courses at their respective institutions that provide competency in the following areas; programming, two semesters minimum (same language); database; networking, two semesters minimum; UNIX and/or Linux; and calculus for engineering or math majors.  Students planning to transfer from another college and wanting specific course advice should consult with the IT faculty at Penn College.

Program Goals

A graduate of this major should be able to:
  •  identify and define the risks associated with the need for protecting information assets.
  •  identify and define the requirements that must be satisfied to address the risks associated with protecting information assets.
  •  analyze the requirements for designing information security solutions.
  •  employ current best practices when designing information security solutions and assessing their effectiveness.
  •  use effective collaboration skills when working in a team.
  •  use effective communication skills when writing and speaking.

Performance Standards

Students must complete all required major courses in the Information Assurance and Cyber Security major (those with the alpha-designators CIT, EET, BCS, LAS, and MTH) with a grade of "C" or higher.  Additionally, any course approved for use as the IAS elective must also be completed with a grade of "C" or higher.

Curriculum

First SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
FYE101First Year Experience 1.0.50 1.50 SREQ
CIT160Introduction to Programming 3.03 MREQ
EET145Networking I 4.03 3 MREQ
CSC124Information, Technology & Society 3.03 SREQ
ENL111English Composition I 3.03 SREQ
MGT115Principles of Management 3.03 SREQ
TOTAL CREDITS 17.0
Second SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
MTH240Calculus I 4.04 MREQ
CIT260Programming II 3.03 MREQ
EET247Networking II 4.03 3 MREQ
ENL121English Composition II 3.03 SREQ
or
ENL201Technical & Professional Communication 3.03 SREQ
SPC101Fundamentals of Speech 3.03 SREQ
TOTAL CREDITS 17.0
Third SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
CIT240Introduction to UNIX/Linux 3.03 MREQ
CIT180Introduction to Database 3.03 MREQ
SCIScience Elective 3.0 SSCI
MTH161Statistics for STEM Fields with Computer Applications 3.53 1.50 MREQ
OEEExploration Elective 3.0 SOEE
TOTAL CREDITS 15.5
Fourth SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
BCSDirected Information Assurance & Cyber Security Elective 3.0 MBCS
CIT230Fundamentals of Information Security 3.03 MREQ
CIT281Secure Database Development 3.03 MREQ
SCLScience Elective with lab 4.0 SSCL
OEAOpen Elective 3.0 SOEA
TOTAL CREDITS 16.0
Fifth SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
CIT246System Analysis I 3.03 MREQ
CIT335Fundamentals of Cryptography 3.03 MREQ
IAS312Network Defense 3.03 MREQ
SSPCore Social Science Perspective 3.0 SSSP
HIPCore Historical Perspective 3.0 MHIP
FITFitness & Wellness Elective 1.0 SFIT
TOTAL CREDITS 16.0
Sixth SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
IAS211Information Security Tools for Code & Data Analysis 3.03 MREQ
IAS311Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 3.03 SREQ
IAS411Information Security Policy 3.0Writing Enriched Requirement3 MREQ
LAS350Legal Issues in Information Security Management 3.0Science, Technology and Society Requirement3 MREQ
FITFitness & Wellness Elective 1.0 SFIT
MGT410Management of Organizational Behavior 3.0Writing Enriched Requirement3 SREQ
TOTAL CREDITS 16.0
Seventh SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
IAS412IAS Awareness, Training & Education 3.03 MREQ
IAS413Contingency Planning 3.03 MREQ
IAS461Secure System Accreditation & Certification 3.03 MREQ
IAS492AIAS Seminar I 1.01 MREQ
BCSDirected Information Assurance & Cyber Security Elective 3.0 MBCS
OEEExploration Elective 3.0 SOEE
TOTAL CREDITS 16.0
Eighth SemesterCreditsNotesLectureLab/ClinicalM/SType
IAS466Risk Analyst Capstone 3.03 MREQ
CIT430Information Security Forensics & Incident Response 3.03 MREQ
IAS490Advanced Topics in Information Assurance & Security 3.03 MREQ
IAS492BIAS Seminar II 1.01 MREQ
ARPCore Arts Perspective 3.0 SARP
OEAOpen Elective 3.0 SOEA
TOTAL CREDITS 16.0