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Cybersecurity

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Program Overview

The Cybersecurity program prepares students to plan, implement, and defend networks of all sizes. Cybersecurity professionals specialize in protecting networks for threats that can cause loss of money or time due to systems being unavailable. Hawkeye's dedicated data center for students provides all of the tools and equipment needed to learn security best practices in a hands-on environment.

The Cybersecurity program prepares you to design setup, and secure devices and networks. You will gain knowledge and skills in:

  • Computer hardware
  • Desktop and server operating systems
  • Server configuration and administration
  • Network security
  • Secure VPN solutions
  • Wireless network security and administration
  • Server, host device, and network device hardening
  • Programming and scripting
  • Network attacks and countermeasures
  • Project management

Hands-on Learning Experiences

Data Center: Learn to build and maintain industry-standard networks, including how to secure the network, protect against hacking attacks, and how to recover from an attack. Gain experience with a variety of operating systems and implement strategies to maintain network uptime and data confidentiality and integrity.

Internship: Gain 192 hours of real-world work experience ensuring you have the skills you need to succeed in your future career.

Certifications

In the information technology industry certifications are a must. Hawkeye is recognized as a Cisco Regional Academy and a VMware IT Academy. You may receive the CompTIA A+ Net+ and Security+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA), and VMware certifications.

Transfer Information

The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Applied Engineering and Technical Management has a documented pathway between Hawkeye's Cybersecurity AAS degree program and UNI's Technology Management Bachelor of Arts degree. Check out UNI's transfer guide to learn more.

If you plan to transfer, work closely with a program advisor to ensure courses transfer and you meet program requirements.

At A Glance
Awards
  • Associate of Applied Science
  • Certificate
Length of Study 9 months – 2 years
Program Start Fall
Tuition-Free Eligible

This program qualifies for the Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship and will pay up to 100% of your tuition.

Students must apply for, be awarded, and meet the ongoing eligibility requirements for the Last-Dollar Scholarship.
 

Faculty Spotlight

Keith Downing

I am a graduate of the Network Administration and Engineering program at Hawkeye and currently work full-time in the field.

After graduation I worked at a manufacturing company that works almost entirely with Aerospace and Department of Defense contracts. With the ever changing cyber security landscape and the high level of protection a company working with the Department of Defense requires, I very quickly filled the roll of protecting the company and its assets from malicious entities getting promoted to the Cyber Security Manager. The nature of my job made it so I not only had to protect my company but also to extend that to subcontractors and partners in the supply chain. I was responsible to find shortcomings with existing and potentially new infrastructures across a variety of landscapes and to make it palatable enough for companies to undertake the changes I recommended.

As an adjunct instructor at Hawkeye, I focus on bringing my experience navigating the ever tumultuous waters of Information Security into forms, tactics, and techniques that students can emulate. I want them to know how information security personnel must not only master a high degree of IT knowledge and acumen, but must also have an unending store of ethical character for the protected information that they will safeguard.

If anyone were to ask why IT security matters I would tell them to open any newspaper. Everyone can see and feel how we're desperately short on IT security personnel. Not a day goes by without somewhere else being hacked. We need capable, clever, and ethical people who can help keep information safe from malicious actors and cyber criminals. People that are willing to hone their skills to a razor's edge and be compensated extremely well for doing so.

Each year students in the IT programs organize an alumni event that includes fundraising for IT Scholarships. Make your gift today!

Program Overview

Gain hands on, in the field, learning and apply your learning to the current job market. Hear from the program instructor and alumni about what you will learn in the Cybersecurity program, what employers are looking for, and how this program will give you a head start in your new career.

Cybersecurity Careers

Learn about the numerous career opportunities available for cybersecurity professionals and how Hawkeye prepares you with the skills needed to enter the workforce.

Program Pathways

Cybersecurity Certificate

Program Details

Award Certificate
Credits 16
Program Start Fall
Number of Terms 2
Time to Complete 9 months
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Cybersecurity – Certificate
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1 — Fall
  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Fundamentals of Network Security
  • Programming for Network Administrators
Term 2 — Spring
  • Intro to Cyber Security
  • Network Attacks: Detection, Analysis & Countermeasures

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

Next step: Continue to the Cybersecurity Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program or graduate and enter the workforce.

Cybersecurity Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

Program Details

Award Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
Credits 64
Program Start Fall
Number of Terms 5
Time to Complete 2 years
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Cybersecurity – AAS
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1 — Fall
  • A+ Certification Prep Course
  • College Experience
  • Introduction to Database
  • Programming for Network Administrators
Term 2 — Spring
  • Cisco Networking
  • Human and Work Relations
  • Intro to Cyber Security
  • Linux System Administration
  • Windows Server
Term 3 — Summer
  • Cisco Networking II
Term 4 — Fall
  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Fundamentals of Network Security
  • Virtual Machines
  • Written Communication in the Workplace
Term 5 — Spring
  • Cybersecurity Experiential Learning
  • Internship
  • Network Attacks: Detection, Analysis & Countermeasures
  • Project Management
Cybersecurity Electives
  • Administering Windows Server
  • Advanced Network Technology
  • Certification Preparation
  • Cisco Networking III
  • Introduction to Programming Logic
  • Introduction to Web Development
  • Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
  • Visual Basic
  • Web Layouts

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

You have completed the Cybersecurity Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program. Check out the Computers and Technology continuing education courses to keep up to date in your profession.

Careers

Positions

Our graduates can be employed in many careers, including:

  • Information Security Analyst
  • Computer Network Support Specialist
  • Network and Computer Systems Administrator
  • Computer and Information Systems Manager

Example Careers and Average Wages
Occupation Growth * Entry Average Experienced
Computer and Information Systems Managers 12% $90,200 $130,800 $151,100
Computer Network Support Specialists 12% $43,600 $62,000 $71,100
Computer User Support Specialists 14.4% $37,400 $55,200 $64,100
Information Security Analysts 34% $65,300 $125,700 $155,800
Network and Computer Systems Administrators 8% $58,800 $84,100 $96,700

Source: 2022 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

* Source: 2019 Economic Development and Employer Planning System

Employers

Many business sectors have a growing need for Security professionals including:

  • IT Managed Services Providers
  • Banking, Credit and Finance
  • Healthcare and Medical
  • Energy and Utilities
  • Government
  • Manufacturing
  • Education
  • Retail and Food Service

Program Admission

Step #1: Apply at Hawkeye

  1. Apply for admission at Hawkeye.

  2. Send official transcripts to Admissions.

Step #2: Program Admittance Score Requirement

In order to be eligible for the Cybersecurity program, all students must meet minimum score requirements in math and literacy. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

Minimum score requirements
ALEKS ACCUPLACER Next Generation ACCUPLACER Classic COMPASS ACT GPA
Math 14 225 Arithmetic
246 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS)		 63 Arithmetic
56 Elementary Algebra		 39 Pre-Algebra 16
Literacy 239 Reading or
240 Writing		 58 Reading or
64 Sentence Skills		 69 Reading or
41 Writing		 16 Reading or
16 English		 2.25

The ALEKS Placement Assessment can be taken online. ACCUPLACER Next Generation and ACT can be taken at Hawkeye. ACCUPLACER Classic and COMPASS are no longer offered, but if you've taken either in the past your test scores can be used for program admittance.

Step #3: Program Acceptance

Applicants successfully demonstrating college readiness criteria are eligible for acceptance.

Applicants falling short of successful demonstration of college readiness criteria will be accepted to a Pre-Program. As a pre-program student, you will begin with general education and prerequisite classes. An advisor will help you create an academic plan to meet your program admission requirements. Once you have completed your pre-program coursework contact Admissions.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Program Contacts
Admissions
Email Admissions 319-296-4000 Hawkeye Center 114
Academic/College Success Advisor
Student Services Email Student Services 319-296-4014 Hawkeye Center 208
Faculty Advisor
Barry Griffiths Email Barry Griffiths 319-296-4287

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