Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Program Overview
The Cybersecurity Fundamentals Technical Certificate program is a complementary certificate program for the Information Security and Criminal Justice students. This certificate program is designed to provide a fundamental understanding of Cybersecurity; allowing the student to further pursue coursework to prepare for a career in the Cybersecurity field.
Students can enter the Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate program any semester. A full-time student can complete this program in 2 semesters. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 18 semester credit hours.
Career Traits/Requirements
Individuals wanting to enroll in the Cybersecurity Fundamentals certificate program must be able to demonstrate good judgment, problem solving and analytical skills.
Offered at the Following Campuses/Delivery Mode
- North Campus (Sandersville)
- South Campus (Dublin)
Salary Potential
$30,000.00 – $50,000.00
Program Costs
Tuition & Fees: $2,762.00
Books & Supplies: $710.00
(Costs are estimated and are subject to change.)
HOPE Career Grant:
The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with one of 12 industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them.
To qualify, an OFTC student must be fully admitted to the college, enrolled in one of the above programs and receiving the HOPE Grant for the same term. The amount of the HOPE Career Grant award is a fixed amount for each term of enrollment:
- 9 or more credit hours – $500/semester
- 3-8 credit hours – $250/semester
- 1-2 credit hours – $125/semester
- Commercial Truck Driving – $1,000 one time award
High School students in dual enrollment and joint enrollment are NOT eligible.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates are prepared for employment opportunities as entry-level Computer Forensics technicians.
Admission Requirements
- Submit a completed application and application fee;
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript;
- Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
- OFTC may accept a student’s official entrance score on the following validated assessment instruments if the scores meet the required minimums: COMPASS/ASSET, SAT, ACT, PSAT, PACT, Accuplacer/Accuplacer Next Generation/Companion, HOPE GPA after completion of 10th grade of 2.6 or higher, or GED.
Course Overview
OCCUPATIONAL COURSESCIST1001Computer Concepts4 credit hours90 contact hoursPrerequisites: None
Provides an overview of information systems, computers and technology. Topics include: Information Systems and Technology Terminology, Computer History, Data Representation, Data Storage Concepts, Fundamentals of Information Processing, Fundamentals of Information Security, Information Technology Ethics, Fundamentals of Hardware Operation, Fundamentals of Networking, Fundamentals of the Internet, Fundamentals of Software Design Concepts, Fundamentals of Software, (System and Application), System Development Methodology, Computer Number Systems conversion (Binary and Hexadecimal), Mobile computing.
162CIST1122Hardware Installation and Maintenance4 credit hours105 contact hoursPrerequisites: Program Admission
This course serves to provide students with the knowledge of the fundamentals of computer technology, networking, and security along with the skills required to identify hardware, peripheral, networking, and security components with an introduction to the fundamentals of installing and maintaining computers. Students will develop the skills to identify the basic functionality of the operating system, perform basic troubleshooting techniques, utilize proper safety procedures, and effectively interact with customers and peers. This course is designed to help prepare students for the CompTIA A+ certification examination.
163CIST1601Information Security Fundamentals3 credit hours60 contact hoursPrerequisites: None
This course provides a broad overview of information security. It covers terminology, history, security systems development and implementation. Student will also cover the legal, ethical, and professional issues in information security.5916CIST 1602Security Policies and Procedures3 credit hours45 contact hoursPrerequisites: None
This course provides knowledge and experience to develop and maintain security policies and procedures. Students will explore the legal and ethical issues in information security and the various security layers: physical security, personnel security, operating systems, network, software, communication and database security. Students will develop an Information Security Policy and an Acceptable Use Policy.3482Choose one of the following:CIST1401Computer Networking Fundamentals4 credit hours90 contact hoursPrerequisites: Program Admission
Introduces networking technologies and prepares students to take the CompTIA's broad-based, vendor independent networking certification exam, Network +. This course covers a wide range of material about networking, including local area networks, wide area networks, protocols, topologies, transmission media, and security. Focuses on operating network management systems, and implementing the installation of networks. It reviews cabling, connection schemes, the fundamentals of the LAN and WAN technologies, TCP/IP configuration and troubleshooting, remote connectivity, and network maintenance and troubleshooting. Topics include: basic knowledge of networking technology, network media and topologies, network devices, network management, network tools and network security.
164CIST2451Cisco Network Fundamentals4 credit hours90 contact hoursPrerequisites: Program Admission
This course provides students with classroom and laboratory experience in current and emerging network technology. Topics include basics of communication, converged networks, OSI and TCP/IP network models, Application layer protocols, services, and applications, Transport layer protocols and services, Network layer addressing and routing concepts, IPv4 and IPv6, calculating IPv4 subnets, Data Link layer and the encapsulation process, Physical layer components and data encoding, Ethernet and network protocol analysis, network cabling, and basic network configuration.
5471