Cybersecurity
The Associate of Applied Business in Cybersecurity at Kent State University is an online program that provides students with the technical skills needed to secure networks, prevent cyberattacks, and protect sensitive data. This degree prepares graduates for entry-level positions in cybersecurity and IT security management, offering a strong foundation in the growing field of cybersecurity.
Associate of Applied Business in Cybersecurity Program Overview
The Associate of Applied Business in Cybersecurity delivers an applied foundation in protecting information assets and business operations. Students learn to analyze threats, assess risk, conduct security testing and monitoring, and support enterprise risk management. Building on core IT knowledge in networking, hardware and operating systems, the curriculum adds project management and collaboration for incident workflows and introductory database skills for data-driven investigations. Students are introduced to artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted workflows, including responsible use of AI for log triage, reporting and documentation, with attention to privacy, bias and verification. Graduates are prepared for entry-level roles in security operations and IT support with a security emphasis.
The degree program articulates with Kent State’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Apply core cybersecurity principles and tools to protect information assets and IT infrastructure in real-world organizational contexts.
- Identify, analyze and mitigate security risks and vulnerabilities in organizational environments using appropriate methods, frameworks and industry standards.
- Display professional, legal and ethical behavior in cybersecurity practice while communicating technical information clearly to diverse audiences and collaborating with team members.
- Exhibit career readiness by curating a small portfolio of cybersecurity artifacts and brief reflections that connect coursework to workplace roles and skills.
Associate of Applied Business in Cybersecurity Program Admissions Requirements
The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.
Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.
Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.
International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.
For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA) | ||
| IT 11004 | SURVEY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 11005 | INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 11009 | COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION | 3 |
| IT 13000 | APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS | 3 |
| IT 15000 | FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21002 | NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION | 3 |
| IT 21003 | SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PROFESSIONALS | 3 |
| IT 21007 | CYBER ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | |
| IT 21004 | INTRODUCTION TO DATABASE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21009 | SEMINAR IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21015 | PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND COLLABORATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY | 3 |
| IT 21110 | NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING | 3 |
| IT 21200 | ETHICAL HACKING | 3 |
| IT 21300 | INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY INCIDENT MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| IT 23000 | INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEM SECURITY | 3 |
| IT 24000 | DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING SECURITY POLICIES | 3 |
| Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA) | ||
| UC 10001 | FLASHES 101 | 1 |
| Kent Core Composition | 3 | |
| Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning | 3 | |
| Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Kent Core Social Sciences | 3 | |
| Kent Core Basic Sciences | 3 | |
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 61 | |
Associate of Applied Business in Cybersecurity Program Tuition and Fees
Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
$345.63 Lower Division Courses $405.15 Upper Division Courses | $1,036.89 Lower Division Courses $1,215.45 Upper Division Courses | $15,200 full-time1 |
Non-Ohio Residents
| Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Course | Approximate Tuition Cost |
$355.63 Lower Division Courses $415.15 Upper Division Courses | $1,066.89 Lower Division Courses $1,245.45 Upper Division Courses | $15,800 full-time2 |
1The flat-rate semester fee of $3,803.42 for LOWER division courses applies to full-time Ohio resident undergraduate students taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester. The approximate full-time tuition for Associate degrees is calculated at 4 semesters using the lower division course flat rate.
2The flat-rate semester fee of $3,803.42 for LOWER division courses applies to full-time non-Ohio resident undergraduate students enrolled in a fully online degree program and taking between 12-18 credit hours per semester, PLUS a surcharge of $10 per credit hour of actual credit hours taken (between 12-18 semester credits or $120-$180). The approximate full-time tuition for Associate degrees is calculated at 4 semesters using the lower division flat rate and $150 surcharge ($150 x 4).
For part-time semesters: The $345.63 per-credit-hour tuition rate for LOWER division courses and $405.15 for UPPER division courses applies to part-time Ohio resident undergraduate students, PLUS a $10 per-credit-hour surcharge for non-Ohio resident undergraduate students, taking fewer than 12 credit hours per semester. This program consists of all lower division courses.
- An additional Distance Learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change.
- Actual tuition costs will vary based on a student’s chosen academic plan. The full cost of attendance consists of tuition and fees, and when applicable, food, housing, books, course materials, supplies and equipment, transportation and personal expenses for the enrolled terms. Other expenses not included in tuition and fees totals can be found on the Kent State University cost of attendance web page.
- For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
Careers
Information security analysts
- 28.5% much faster than the average
- 182,800 number of jobs
- $124,910 potential earnings
Additional Careers
- Cybersecurity Technician
- Incident Response Specialist
- Network Security Administrator
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
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