Computer Science (Cybersecurity Option) AS

Hudson County Community College has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE -CD) for the validated program(s) of study through academic year 2027.

HCCC’s ability to meet the increasing demands of the program criteria will serve the nation well in contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure.  The National Cyber Strategy, September 2018, addresses the critical shortage of professionals with cybersecurity skills and highlights the importance of higher education as a solution to defending America’s cyberspace. “A highly skilled cybersecurity workforce is a strategic national security advantage.”  “The United States Government will continue to invest in and enhance programs that build the domestic talent pipeline, from primary through postsecondary education.” Education is the key to promoting these ideals.

Designation Certificate

The National Security Agency (NSA) and a committee of academic peers has validated the Computer Science - Cybersecurity Associate in Science (A.S.) for HCCC, through academic year 2027. The Program of Study Validation proves our ability to meet the increasing demands for serving the nation and contributing to the protection of the National Information Infrastructure.

Validation Certificate

EC Council Certificate

Upon successful completion of the Cybersecurity A.S. Program, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of data communication concepts, computer vulnerabilities, forms of cyberattacks, countermeasures and methods of securing computer networks.
2. Analyze and identify potential intrusions and risks in a computing environment.  
3. Apply Cybersecurity skills, experiences and training to scenarios from commercial business, law enforcement and government.
4. Implement the Cybersecurity policies procedures and protocols in any computing environment that comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
5. Employ techniques to identify investigate and mitigate cyber fraud.

Labs can be performed from any computer, any place and at any time via a virtual environment. Labs prepare students for professional certifications and industrial requirements. Examples of Cybersecurity labs:

• Incident Response Procedures, Forensics, and Forensic Analysis
• Crafting and Deploying Malware Using a Remote Access Trojan (RAT)
• Social Engineering Using SET
• Breaking WEP and WPA and Decrypting the Traffic
• Patching, Securing Systems, and Configuring Anti-Virus
• Using Active Directory in the Enterprise
• Using Public Key Encryption to Secure Messages