IT Cybersecurity Specialist Associate Degree

If you’re a hands-on learner who wants to help strategize how to protect information and data from network attacks, identity theft and data breaches in today’s digital world, Madison College’s Cybersecurity Specialist associate degree will get you started.

In a world that increasingly relies on electronic data storage and automated systems, very few industries do not employ some sort of cybersecurity. Specialists in the field are in demand, locally and around the world.

Whether you’re looking to start, advance or change your career, this program will give you the training to help you reach your goals. No advanced skills needed—just basic computer knowledge and a passion for learning.

Associate Degree Program Goals

The Cybersecurity Specialist program introduces you to the current threat landscape you'll encounter when working in the cybersecurity field. You’ll start by building a basic foundation in networking, current operating systems and programming. Then, you'll train in offensive security scenarios and the appropriate defensive responses and countermeasures. Your work in extensive hands-on labs will build practical experience in the tools, tactics and techniques used by modern offensive and defensive security teams.

What Skills Do I Need?

We’ll teach you the technical skills to detect and defend against cyber threats, but a successful cybersecurity professional is also:

A Critical Thinker:

You like puzzles and games in which figuring out one challenge gets you to the next challenge. Instead of an instruction manual, you prefer a toolkit. You know how to combine past experience, problem solving skills, research and a bit of intuition to find solutions. 

Persistent:

You are willing to try, fail and try again…and again. Complex systems and problems require complex solutions that don’t always come easily, but this doesn’t bother you; you’re in it for the challenge.

Curious:

The world of technology changes quickly. To stay on top of the latest advancements, be prepared to continue your education beyond the degree through professional advancement, online user groups and industry publications.

A Good Communicator:

You’ll need to be able to communicate, verbally and in writing, in both technical and simple terms, what went wrong and how to stop it from happening again. Team meetings and collaboration are a regular part of the job, so people in this field must not only be good with computers but also with people.

The associate degree curriculum is designed to help you hone these skills.

Real-world, Hands-on Learning

Cybersecurity classes are held in Madison College’s state-of-the-art online lab environment to simulate the infrastructures various industries and tech companies actually use. That same lab is available to you 24/7 from any computer. All you need is an internet connection to do your work from anywhere. 

Madison College IT program students start coding on Day One.

Core classes teach technical skills in the following:

First year

You’ll learn the fundamentals of how systems work and interact within a modern business network.

• Data communications
• Windows and Linux operating systems
• Scripting task automation
• Cloud resource development and deployment

Second Year

Building on your first-year knowledge, you’ll now learn to test, detect and mitigate threats against systems and networks by:

• Testing systems and web application vulnerabilities
• Responding to incidents in real time
• Hunting for currently unidentified threats
• Applying current cybersecurity frameworks and standards

Final Semester Internship

In addition to coursework, you will complete an internship with one of our industry partners. If you are already working full-time, you will have the option of a project. With this real-world opportunity, upon graduation you will have not only the knowledge but also the experience to enter the workforce with the confidence that employers notice. 

Flexible Course Offerings

Students in the Cybersecurity Specialist program can attend full or part time.

The core classes unique to the Cybersecurity Specialist program are offered only in person in both day and night sections.

Cybersecurity Specialist classes are offered at our Madison Truax campus.

If you start this program in the spring semester it may take 5 semesters to complete and classes are only offered in the daytime or online.