Bachelor of Science in Cyber and Data Security Technology

In this foundational course, students explore the principles necessary for achieving personal and career success. GEN 101 serves as a road map, guiding students as they begin their academic journey. Through self-discovery, surveying available resources, connecting with UAGC groups, and engaging with Career Services, students learn the essential skills of planning and goal setting. Students apply their personal strengths, skills, and lifelong learning strategies to develop essential career competencies. By making these meaningful connections students gain a deeper understanding of how their education relates to their desired career path.  Congratulations on embarking on this college journey filled with growth, exploration, and endless possibilities! This course is not available for non-degree seeking students and is not available as an elective.

This course provides a comprehensive foundation in essential computer and digital literacy for the 21st century. Students will be introduced to emergent technologies such as artificial Intelligence, cloud computing, and evolving web models with immersive, real-world simulations. Through hands-on labs and practical applications, students will gain proficiency in industry-standard tools, operating systems, productivity software, and internet technologies. The course also offers optional certification preparations, enabling flexible pathways toward professional opportunities and advanced career development.

Learn and use key, practical skills that are applicable at home, at work, and in all UAGC courses! As UAGC students progress in their academic journey, strategies for personal, professional, and academic success continue to develop. This introductory course takes a two-pronged approach to setting students on a path to success. It merges fundamental informational literacy concepts with essential resources and skills that prepare students for college and career. Students learn how to identify, locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information obtained through UAGC Library databases and internet search engines. By applying the research process, students sharpen critical thinking skills and learn to use information ethically. The final project is a practical and relevant opportunity for students to apply their learning in personally, professionally, and academically meaningful ways.

ENG 121 is designed to introduce students to the standards of writing in both academic and professional settings. The class will operate by first introducing, and then allowing students to practice, several written communication skills. Throughout, we will work to understand writing as a process, one that is strengthened through critical thinking, deepened by research, and built on a foundation of professional standards. Students will articulate a sense of their own skills and goals, and engage in collaborative conversations with peers and their instructor so as to be able to express their ideas more effectively. During the course, students will use the writing process to scrutinize their own perspectives while challenging them to embrace a wider conversation.

This course is designed to expand students’ appreciation of film and knowledge of how films are made. Through analysis of storytelling in a visual medium, students will examine the ways in which movies are shot, develop characters, evoke emotion, depict physical reality, reflect society, and have the power to influence it. Though the focus of the course is film itself, students will gain deeper intercultural fluency while growing their skills in critical thinking, written communication, and visual analysis.

This course is a study of correct and incorrect reasoning involved in everyday activities. The fundamentals of language and argument, deductive and inductive reasoning and other aspects of practical reasoning are examined. 

This course examines and evaluates theories and arguments concerning ethics and moral reasoning from a philosophical perspective. By engaging with historical and contemporary sources, students will analyze theories about the meaning, nature, and justification of ethical concepts; determine and assess how different forms of moral reasoning apply to contemporary moral issues; become more reflective and informed about their own moral beliefs; and develop their capacity for critical practical reasoning.

In this course, students will develop and expand their research and writing skills to communicate ideas in informed, ethical, and persuasive written documents intended for a range of audiences across a range of situations and contexts. Students will receive instruction and practice in synthesis and analysis, bolstering their written communication skills with a thorough understanding of academic research while honing critical thinking skills and effective work habits. Through writing well-structured, logical, and effective academic essays, students will explore tools and develop topics in a way that is meaningful to academic and professional lives. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 121 or equivalent with a grade of “C-” or better.

This course is designed to aid students in understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns among people in personal, social, academic, and professional settings will be examined, within and between cultures, including both face-to-face and technologically mediated channels.  The nature of these interactions will be evaluated using contemporary communication theory. The course will enable students to identify their interpersonal communication skills and behaviors and to more critically evaluate their own oral communication and that of others. The primary goals of the course are to improve the quality of students’ communication in their personal and professional relationships, to enhance students’ experience and. confidence with oral communication, and increase awareness of the importance of interpersonal communication that is inclusive and equitable.

This course surveys American history from 1877 to the present. Emphasis is placed on the multifaceted experiences within American society; political, economic, intercultural, and social trends; and the impact of the United States in world affairs. Prerequisite: ENG 122 or successful completion of the Written Communication Competency II requirement.

This course introduces students to the interdisciplinary field of social sciences and some of the disciplines that comprise this field, including anthropology, psychology, economics, sociology, political science, and history. In this course, students will learn important social science concepts and theoretical approaches, along with the research methods that social scientists use to study human behavior. They will also learn how research and findings from the social sciences can be applied broadly throughout society. Throughout the course and through a summative assignment, students will examine how social factors shape social behavior and some of the consequences of current social problems.

In this course, learners deepen their understanding of the importance of natural resources to mankind. Students explore physical, biological, and ecological principles, examine how human alterations affect the environment, and reflect on the controversies surrounding various approaches to addressing environmental problems and the steps some communities have taken to address these challenges.

In this course, students will explore a wide range of Algebra topics. Topics will include study of linear equations, linear relationships, slope, polynomials, and functions, including graphing relations and solving systems of equations. Emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of historical and current uses of algebra in real life settings, in various careers, and in solving important societal problems.

The capstone serves as an opportunity to reflect upon, integrate, and showcase learning achievement. Through discussions and course-embedded assessments, students will demonstrate a mastery of essential general education competencies as they relate to their personal and professional lives and provide evidence of growth through application of competency related skills to real-world situations. A minimum grade of “C-“ is required to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: 75 completed credits or permission of the student’s college or dean.

This course provides students with essential skills in identifying and mitigating cybersecurity threats, with a focus on the hardware aspects of desktops and enterprise networks. Through hands-on labs and real-world case studies, students will learn advanced threat-hunting techniques, hardware-based detection strategies, and the integration of hardware and software tools. Students will be exposed to cybersecurity analysis and threat hunting, as well as securing enterprise networks against sophisticated cyber-attacks.

This course will allow the student to master beginning and intermediate-level cybersecurity skills and knowledge. Specific topic coverage includes: IT security analysts, vulnerability analysts, threat intelligence analysts, or anyone who is trying to get a better understanding of the concepts involved in conducting cybersecurity analysis. Topics related to the course are applying environmental reconnaissance, analyzing network reconnaissance, strengthening the network, exploring penetration testing, scanning for vulnerabilities, analyzing vulnerability scans, reacting to a cyberincident, understanding the impact of forensics, analyzing common symptoms of a security breach, and in depth software development and data analytics.

This course provides a foundational understanding of the central questions and primary methodologies used in macroeconomics. Students will explore the behavior and performance of an economy, focusing on key topics such as gross domestic product (GDP), national income, inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. The course examines how aggregate demand and aggregate supply interact within the economy and the role of fiscal and monetary policy in stabilizing economic fluctuations. Through the analysis of economic models and real-world data, students will gain insights into the determinants of economic output, the impacts of government policies, and the global economic environment. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with the analytical tools necessary to understand and evaluate economic issues, policies, and trends on a macroeconomic scale. Recommended prerequisites: Fulfillment of the General Education Critical Thinking core competency and Digital Literacy competency.

The purpose of this course is to give students of all backgrounds and experience levels a well-researched and engaging introduction to the realm of network security and penetration testing. With real-world examples that reflect today's most important and relevant security topics, this course addresses how and why people attack computers and networks, so that students can be armed with the knowledge and techniques to successfully combat hackers. Because the world of information security changes so quickly and is often the subject of much hype, this course also aims to provide a clear differentiation between hacking myths and hacking facts. Many hands-on exercises are included, which allow students to practice skills as they are learned.

This course introduces students to the use of scripting and automation tools in cybersecurity and system administration, focusing on Python and PowerShell. Students will learn to automate tasks like system monitoring, log analysis, and threat detection, enhancing security and IT management efficiency. Through hands-on assignments, students will gain practical skills in scripting for cybersecurity operations and system administration.

This course will allow the student to understand the measures that can be taken to detect and diminish the probability of cyberattacks and natural disasters. Database security is defined and our enemies are identified. There is no such thing as guaranteed security, but armed with the knowledge provided in this course, major risks can be minimized. Students will learn basic and intermediate database security as well as information security, Identify the three main security objectives when protecting information systems, define database security threats and identify the characteristics of viruses and how they infiltrate systems, and commons strategies for exploiting database infrastructures, and exploit weaknesses. Students will also gain an understanding of auditing fundamentals.

This course introduces fundamental concepts in statistics and discrete mathematics. Students will learn to analyze statistical data, work with continuous random variables, and interpret graphical representations such as histograms and bar charts. Additionally, the course provides a solid foundation in discrete mathematics, focusing on developing the ability to clearly explain key mathematical ideas.

This course provides an in-depth understanding of how to effectively protect computer networks. Students will learn the tools and penetration testing methodologies used by ethical hackers. In addition, the course provides a thorough discussion of what and who an ethical hacker is and how important they are in protecting corporate and government data from cyber-attacks. Students will learn updated computer security resources that describe new vulnerabilities and innovative methods to protect networks. Also covered is a thorough update of federal and state computer crime laws, as well as changes in penalties for illegal computer hacking.

This course equips students with practical skills to identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats, emphasizing hardware aspects within enterprise networks. Through lectures and hands-on labs, students will learn advanced threat-hunting techniques, including hardware-based malware detection and firmware analysis. By the end of the course, students will have a robust understanding of hardware and physical security in networks and be well-prepared for various roles in cybersecurity.

In this course, students will learn how to manage the technology that affects organizations. Concepts covered include security best practices, access control, network components and services, change management, and configuration management. Students will gain an understanding of how the services offered by the various network components should be managed and protected. Prerequisite: INT 301.

This course introduces students to the principles of information systems security (confidentiality, integrity, and availability) and the seven domains of the typical IT infrastructure. Risks, threats, and vulnerabilities will be defined. Creation of an IT security policy framework will be emphasized. The following topics will be introduced: the risk management process, cryptography, compliance laws, and information security standards. At the end of the course, students will be able to apply the security life cycle to an information system.

This course introduces the risks associated with connecting to the Internet via web applications and social networking. Students will learn the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) Top 10 threats to web applications and the threat classifications of the Web Application Security Consortium (WASC). Instruction on how to maintain PCI-DSS compliance in e-commerce sites will be provided. At the end of the course, students will be able to secure web applications and mitigate vulnerabilities with web applications on the Linux and Windows platforms.

This course provides students with advanced tools such as Kali-Linux and other advanced penetration testing methodologies, tools used by ethical hackers. In addition, the course provides a thorough discussion embedded operating systems, hidden threats, hacking into web servers, cryptography and network protection systems. Students gain an advanced knowledge of hacking concepts, including the term ethical hacker, as well as penetration and security tests and the differences between them. Students will learn the differences between the terms hacker, cracker, and script kiddies. Next, they will learn about the white box, black box, and gray box models for conducting penetration testing.

This course provides advanced information assurance knowledge for students who want to become IT Professionals. Students will gain knowledge of security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security. Students will understand and apply concepts of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Determine compliance requirements and learn to establish and maintain security awareness. Students will also learn to establish controls based upon systems security requirements.

This course equips students with the skills to produce clear, concise, and well-structured scientific and technical documents tailored to diverse audiences. Through research-driven writing, students will learn to convey complex information effectively, focusing on conciseness, precision, organization, and audience awareness. Emphasis is placed on developing technical reports, proposals, and other professional documents. Prerequisites: ENG 122 or fulfillment of General Education Written Communication Competency II requirement and fulfillment of General Education Scientific Reasoning requirement.

This course expands upon the cryptography concepts learned in CYB 301 Introduction to Cyber & Data Security Technology. A history of cryptography will be presented. Topics include symmetric encryption algorithms, asymmetric encryption algorithms, and hashing functions. The protocols, tools, and techniques used in cryptography will be reviewed. Hacking techniques that use cryptography will be introduced. At the end of the course, students will be able to design a cryptography plan to safeguard information that is electronically transmitted.

This course builds upon the risk management concepts learned in CYB 301 Introduction to Cyber & Data Security Technology. Topics presented are risk management standards, methods, and tools and IT governance and control frameworks. Methods to prepare a risk analysis will be reviewed. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify an organization’s threats and vulnerabilities, and the associated risks along with the probability that the risks will occur.

This course builds upon the compliance concepts learned in CYB 301 Introduction to Cyber & Data Security Technology. Students will examine laws and/or regulations that may apply to an organization. The various types of evidence and how to protect the evidence via the chain of custody will be emphasized. Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to perform a digital forensic investigation.

In the Cyber & Data Security Technology Capstone course, students will complete an original and significant project that integrates concepts, principles, and tools taught throughout the program. In this course, the student will design, implement, test, and document a secured solution of the seven domains of an organization’s IT infrastructure. A presentation will be made by the individual for evaluation and approval. Prerequisites: GEN 499. This course must be taken last in the program.