Critical Infrastructure

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Critical Infrastructure program provides students with the skills required to secure, protect and identify vulnerabilities in a network with a focus on the cross-domain security concerns between information technology and operational technology systems. This program is designed to prepare students for a variety of industry-recognized information technology (IT) security certification exams. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Cybersecurity is also available.

Details

Field of Interest
Computer and Information Technology
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Critical Infrastructure (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5150
Total credits required
41
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Spring 2025
Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

Courses within any of the following prefixes must be taken within five (5) years prior to completion of the program to be applied toward this award: AIM, BPC, CIS, CLD, CNT, CSC, ITS, and MST.

What You'll Learn
  • Explain the fundamental components, concepts, and application of cybersecurity principles.
  • Describe cyber defense tools, methods, and components.
  • Apply cyber defense methods to prepare a system to repel attacks.
  • Analyze common security failures and identify specific design principles that have been violated.
  • Describe the interaction between security and system usability and the importance for minimizing the effects of security mechanisms.
  • Apply appropriate protocols, tools, and techniques to maximize security in the network environment.
  • Describe the fundamental concepts, technologies, components, vulnerabilities, and issues related to networks.
  • Identify and describe basic security issues of operating systems.
  • Identify perpetrators, their resources, and their motivations in cyberspace.
  • Compare and contrast offensive and defensive resources used in cybersecurity ecosystems/environment.
  • Delineate differences between the moral, behavioral, ethical, and legal ramifications found in the cybersecurity world.
  • Apply knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements to ensure compliance.
  • Apply risk analysis methodologies to identify potential vulnerabilities, associated impacts, and recommend appropriate responses.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Computer Network Support Specialists

$64,500

Information Security Analysts

$106,360

Network and Computer Systems Administrators

$85,200

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Degree Progress Report Tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems CS 3
CIS111 Ethics in Information Technology 3
CIS126DL or
CIS126RH		 Linux Operating System or Red Hat System Administration I 3
CNT140AB Introduction to Networks 4
MST150++ Any Microsoft Windows course 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS143 Introduction to Critical Infrastructure Protection 3
CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3
CIS270 or
ITS110		 Essentials of Network and Information Security or Information Security Fundamentals 3
CNT150AB Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials 4

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS201 Introduction to Operational Technology 3
CIS202 Introduction to Smart Grid Security 3
CIS203 Principles of the Risk Management Framework 3
ITS240 Ethical Hacking and Network Defense 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS105 Survey of Computer Information Systems CS 3
CIS126DL or
CIS126RH		 Linux Operating System or Red Hat System Administration I 3

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CNT140AB Introduction to Networks 4
MST150++ Any Microsoft Windows course 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS111 Ethics in Information Technology 3
CIS156 Python Programming: Level I 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS270 or
ITS110		 Essentials of Network and Information Security or Information Security Fundamentals 3

Term 5

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 5
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS143 Introduction to Critical Infrastructure Protection 3
CNT150AB Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials 4

Term 6

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 6
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS201 Introduction to Operational Technology 3
CIS202 Introduction to Smart Grid Security 3

Term 7

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 7
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CIS203 Principles of the Risk Management Framework 3
ITS240 Ethical Hacking and Network Defense 3
Course Area Key
  • CS = Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Application
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=16453384).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.

Previous Catalog Years

The pathway map presented above is for the current catalog year and is the intended pathway map for new students. All previous catalog years for this pathway map are available at the link below.

Previous catalog years for Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Critical Infrastructure