Apr 06, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog and Student Handbook 
    
2025-2026 Catalog and Student Handbook

Information System Technology - Cybersecurity - AAS - 345 - Can Be Completed Online


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Purpose: The Associate of Applied Science degree will prepare students for careers as Cybersecurity technicians or analysts by providing them with the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities identified in the National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework 2.0.

Occupational Objectives: Our alliances with business and industry partners create a pipeline between Germanna Community College and the workforce. The Cybersecurity Program is designed to facilitate students in their preparation for the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree at partnering four-year institutions or to enter directly into the workforce.

Admission Requirements: All students will be required to demonstrate college readiness through transcript review or informed self-placement.  Based on this review students may request or be required to enroll in prerequisite or corequisite math and/or English courses.

Core Requirements: The curriculum includes required technical courses in Cybersecurity and general education courses. Technical instruction includes theoretical concepts along with hands-on experience required to master the skills needed for successful preparation for employment. Emphasis in on ensuring the student is knowledgeable in operating systems, their vulnerabilities to attack and the skills needed to forensically discover and protect against such activities. Technical/computer classes over five years old cannot be used as transfer credits. In addition, students who have been readmitted into the college must have computer courses that are over five years old re-evaluated.

Information Systems Technology Cybersecurity Curriculum Degree Requirements:


General Education Requirements - 16 credits


Student Development (1cr)


Mathematics (3cr)


Art, Humanities & Literature (3cr)


  • Any course from ART, ENG (Literature), HUM, MUS, PHI, REL, or Foreign Language (Recommended: PHI 220 

Social & Behavior Science (3cr)


  • Any course from ECO, GEO, HIS, PLS, PSY, or SOC

IST Core Total (Minimum) Credits: 21-22


Cybersecurity Requirements


Students must contact Career and Transfer Services to arrange an internship at least 60 days before the start of the semester in which they intend to participate in that internship. To participate in a credited internship, you must have earned at least 30 credits with an overall GPA of 2.8 (with a minimum of 15 credits in IT courses with a GPA of at least 3.0 in IT courses). Further, you must complete your internship before graduation with a minimum of 126 total hours worked.

Minimum Degree Credits: 62-64


IT courses used for this program may not be more than 5 years old unless approved by the academic dean.

Students should meet with an advisor to select elective options to ensure they earn the 62-64 credit hours required for graduation.

First Year


Second Year


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