Offensive Security, Certificate of Achievement

This program provides students with the foundational skills for penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. The program courses include fundamental skills needed in information security, cybersecurity principles, ethical hacking, and penetration testing. The emphasis on hands-on security practices and vulnerability assessment provides students with the foundational skills needed for an entry-level career in penetration testing. Topics covered include computer and network security, infrastructure and operational security, risk mitigation, cyber ethics, hardware vulnerabilities, hacker techniques, and security policies and procedures. The program courses include hands-on and technical writing assignments to help students develop in-demand skills for the cybersecurity workforce.

20 to 40

The certificate program goal is Career Technical Education (CTE) with emphasis on careers in the field of cybersecurity. The program is not selective and does not have any mandatory fees.

Program Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Evaluate and communicate the human role in security systems with an emphasis on ethics, social engineering vulnerabilities, and training.

2.  Assess security risks and identify methods to minimize their threat and/or impact.

3. Demonstrate the ability to locate technical resources to resolve security-related issues with networking hardware and software.

4. Apply risk management concepts to develop policies and procedures following security best practices.

The associated occupations related to the program include Cybersecurity Analyst, Cybersecurity Technician, Cybersecurity Specialist, Penetration and Vulnerability Tester, Cyber Crime Analyst, Cyber Crime Investigator, Computer Information Systems Manager, and Network Technician. All of the annual openings for these computer networking related occupations have entry-level wages above the California Family Needs Calculator hourly wage (living wage) for one adult ($20.63 in Orange County). Typical entry-level hourly wages are in a range between $21.38 and $40.96. Experienced workers can expect to earn wages between $35.60 and $71.00, which are higher than the living wage estimate. Orange County’s average wages are below the average statewide wage of $41.03 for these occupations. {Center of Excellence, Program Endorsement Brief, November 2021).

Program completers are anticipated to acquire competencies in the areas of computer and network security, infrastructure and operational security, risk mitigation, cyber ethics, hardware vulnerabilities, hacker techniques, and security policies and procedures. The program courses include hands-on and technical writing assignments to help students develop in-demand skills for the cybersecurity workforce.

The required core courses may be taken in any order, but it is recommended that students take these courses in the order listed below.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
CYBR C101	Introduction to Cybersecurity	3	Y1, S1
CST C191A	CompTIA Linux+	3	Y1, S1
CYBR C132	Introduction to Ethical Hacking	3	Y1, S1
CYBR C170	Cybercrime and CSIRT Coordination	3	Y1, S2
CYBR C230	Network Security (Security+)	3	Y1, S2
CYBR C234	Web Application Security	3	Y2, S1
CYBR C242	PenTest+	3	Y2, S1

Part of the Cybersecurity (CYBR) program.

There are no similar programs in the service area.

20 to 40