General Catalog 2026-2027

CIST Networking Specialist Associate of Applied Science Degree

NS13

Program Purpose: The Computer Information Systems Technology - Networking Specialist associate degree program is a sequence of courses designed to provide students with an understanding of the concepts, principles, and techniques required in computer information processing. Program graduates are to be competent in the general areas of humanities or fine arts, social or behavioral sciences, and natural sciences or mathematics, as well as in the technical areas of computer terminology and concepts, program design and development, and computer networking. Program graduates receive a Computer Information – Systems Technology - Networking Specialist Associate of Applied Science degree and are qualified for employment as networking specialists

Degree Requirements

GENERAL EDUCATION CORE

Required Minimum: 15 Semester Credit Hours

General Core Courses Area I: Language Arts/Communication - 3 credits

Successful completion of ENGL 1101 Composition and Rhetoric is required

 

Other Area I courses include:

ENGL-1102Literature and Composition

3

SPCH-1101Public Speaking

3

SPAN-1101Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture I

3

SPAN-1102Introduction to Spanish Language and Culture II

3

COMM-1100Human Communication

3

General Core Courses Area II: Social/Behavioral Sciences - 3 Credit Hours

(Choose One of the Following)

ECON-1101Principles of Economics

3

ECON-2105Macroeconomics

3

ECON-2106Microeconomics

3

HIST-1111World History I

3

HIST-1112World History II

3

HIST-2111U.S. History I

3

HIST-2112U.S. History II

3

POLS-1101American Government

3

POLS-2401Global Issues

3

PSYC-1101Introductory Psychology

3

SOCI-1101Introduction to Sociology

3

SOCI-2600Introduction to Social Problems

3

General Core Courses Area III: Natural Sciences/Mathematics - 3 Credit Hours

(Choose One of the Following)
MATH-1103Quantitative Skills and Reasoning

3

MATH-1111College Algebra

3

Other Area III courses include


MATH-1127Introduction to Statistics

3

MATH-1113Precalculus

3

General Core Courses Area IV: Humanities/Fine Arts - 3 Credit Hours

(Choose One of the Following)

ARTS-1101Art Appreciation

3

ENGL-2110World Literature

3

ENGL-2130American Literature

3

ENGL-2310English Literature from the Beginnings to 1700

3

HUMN-1101Introduction to Humanities

3

MUSC-1101Music Appreciation

3

MUSC-2040History of Popular Music

3

RELG-1101World Religions

3

THEA-1101Theater Appreciation

3

General Education Core Additional Requirements - 3 Credit Hours

To meet the minimum required 15 semester credit hours in General Core courses an additional 3 semester credit hours must be selected from a course in Area I, Area II, Area III, or Area IV. Science courses in BIOL, CHEM, and PHYS may also satisfy this requirement.

Occupational Courses

COMP-1000Introduction to Computer Literacy

3

-
or

CIST-1602Security Policies and Procedures

3

CIST-1001Computer Concepts

4

CIST-1122Hardware Installation and Maintenance

4

CIST-1130Operating Systems Concepts

3

CIST-1401Computer Networking Fundamentals

4

CIST-1601Information Security Fundamentals

3

Complete Two of the Following Specializations:

Linux/UNIX Specialization

CIST-2431UNIX/Linux Introduction

4

CIST-2432UNIX/Linux Server

4

CIST-2433UNIX/Linux Advanced Server

4

CIST-2434UNIX/Linux Scripting

4

Microsoft Specialization

CIST-2411Microsoft Client

4

CIST-2412Microsoft Server Installation & Maintenance

4

CIST-2413Microsoft Server Networking

4

CIST-2414Windows Server Identity Services

4

Cisco Exploration Specialization

CIST-2451Introduction to Networks - CISCO

4

CIST 2452Cisco Routing and Switching Essentials

4

CIST 2453Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation

4

Choose One of the Following Courses

CIST 2601Implementing Operating Systems Security

4

or

CIST 2602Network Security

4

or

Advisor Approved Occupational Elective

AWS Cloud Solutions Specialization

CIST 2480AWS Cloud Foundations

4

CIST 2481AWS Cloud Architecting

4

CIST 2482AWS Cloud Developing

4

-
Choose One of the Following Courses

CIST 2611Network Defense & Countermeasures

4

CIST 2612Computer Forensics

4

CIST 2613Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

4

or

Advisor Approved Occupational Elective

Total Credit Hours: 68