Cybersecurity Associate of Applied Science

Program Overview:

The Cybersecurity AAS program is engineered for dual outcomes: immediate employment in cybersecurity and seamless transfer to four-year institutions. Aligned with the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) standards, the curriculum offers a two-year journey from foundational computer science to specialized cybersecurity topics. It's tailored to prepare students for industry-standard CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+ exams, blending theoretical acumen with practical skills. Whether your goal is to become a cybersecurity analyst or to continue academic pursuits, this program provides the essential toolkit for both career readiness and academic advancement.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the Cybersecurity program at RCTC, students will achieve the following outcomes:

• Analyze problems systematically and design algorithmic solutions using appropriate data structures, control structures, and programming paradigms.
• Use modern IDEs and industry-standard tools, including version control systems, to design, implement, test, debug, and secure software.
• Design and query relational databases using SQL, and use diagrams to show how data is organized, stored, and retrieved in computing systems.
• Describe the capabilities and limitations of AI tools—including large language models—and use AI-assisted tools responsibly while critically evaluating their outputs.
• Identify and analyze ethical issues in computing, including privacy, security, bias, intellectual property, and the societal impact of technology.
• Collaborate effectively in teams using structured project management practices to plan, develop, document, and present computing solutions in response to stakeholder needs.
• Identify and assess threats, vulnerabilities, and risks to information systems and recommend appropriate security controls and mitigation strategies.
• Apply industry-standard tools and frameworks to monitor, detect, and respond to cybersecurity incidents in realistic scenarios.
• Secure network communications and identify vulnerabilities within network architectures, including cloud-based environments.

Career Opportunities:

For Cybersecurity, the Department of Labor predicts that employment is expected to increase much faster than the average as organizations continue to adopt increasingly sophisticated technologies.

Additional Information:

This program will prepare students to take the CompTIA Security+ and CompTIA CySA+ exams. The program aligns with the standards set forth by the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program.

CYBERSECURITY AAS

MINNESOTA TRANSFER CURRICULUM (MnTC)/GENERAL REQUIREMENTS (19 CREDITS)

GOAL 1: COMMUNICATION (7 CREDITS)

• COMM 1114 – Fundamentals of Public Speaking (3 cr) OR COMM 1130 – Interpersonal Communication (3 cr)
• ENGL 1117 – Reading and Writing Critically I (4 cr)

GOAL 4: MATHEMATICS AND LOGICAL REASONING (3 CREDITS)

Students who intend to pursue a BS after completing their AAS should consult with their advisor as to an appropriate choice. This may involve taking additional mathematics beyond the classes listed here.

• MATH 1115 – College Algebra (3 cr) OR MATH 1119 – Applied Calculus (3 cr) OR MATH 1127 – Calculus I (5 cr) OR MATH 2208 – Fundamentals of Statistics (4 cr)

GOAL 5: HISTORY AND THE SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES (6 CREDITS)

• ECON 1101 – Introduction to Economics (3 cr) OR ECON 2214 – Microeconomics (4 cr)
• POLS 1615 – Introduction to American Government (3 cr)

GOAL 6: HUMANITIES AND THE FINE ARTS (3 CREDITS)

• PHIL 1150 – Computing and AI Ethics (3 cr)

PROGRAM CORE REQUIREMENTS (30 CREDITS)

• COMP 1010 – Linus Operating Systems (3 cr)
• COMP 1080 – Networking Protocols and Analysis (4 cr)
• COMP 1140 – Intro to Database & SQL (3 cr)
• COMP 1150 – Computer Science Concepts (3 cr)
• COMP 2048 – Introduction to Cybersecurity (4 cr)
• COMP 2049 – Cybersecurity Systems (4 cr)
• COMP 2243 – Programming & Problem Solving (4 cr)
• COMP 2275 – Computer Architecture (4 cr)
• COMP 2502 – Cybersecurity Internship (1-3 cr) OR COMP 2503 – Cybersecurity Capstone (3 cr)

PROGRAM ELECTIVES (11 CREDITS)

Any classes numbered 1000 or above as needed

RECOMMENDED COURSE SEQUENCES

FULL-TIME

• Semester 1 (16 CREDITS): COMP 1010, COMP 1140, COMP 1150, ENGL 1117, MATH 1115 OR MATH 2208
• Semester 2 (14 CREDITS): COMM 1114 OR COMM 1130, COMP 1080, COMP 2243, ECON 1101 OR ECON 2214
• Semester 3 (14 CREDITS): COMP 2048, COMP 2275, POLS 1615, Electives (5 cr)
• Semester 4 – Spring (14 CREDITS): COMP 2049, COMP 2502 OR COMP 2503, PHIL 1150, Electives (6 cr)

PART-TIME

• Semester 1 (7 CREDITS): COMP 1150, ENGL 1117
• Semester 2 (6 CREDITS): COMM 1114 OR COMM 1130, COMP 1140
• Semester 3 (10 CREDITS): COMP 1010, MATH 1115 OR MATH 2208, Elective (3 cr)
• Semester 4 (8 CREDITS): COMP 2243, Elective (4 cr)
• Semester 5 (7 CREDITS): COMP 1080, ECON 1101 OR ECON 2214
• Semester 6 (8 CREDITS): COMP 2048, COMP 2275
• Semester 7 (7 CREDITS): COMP 2049, POLS 1615
• Semester 8 (10 CREDITS): COMP 2502 OR COMP 2503, PHIL 1150, Electives (4 cr)

Course descriptions can be found at: RCTC course descriptions