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Submitter's Information
Gita Runkle
Dean of Career Education
Los Angeles
Long Beach City College
CTE Dean
Gita Runkle
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Program Details
Aerospace Cybersecurity
New Program
Computer Infrastructure and Support (070800)
08/25/28
Description: The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Cybersecurity prepares graduates for careers in cybersecurity and aerospace cyber defense. It maps to national standards such as the National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Knowledge Units, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF). This program will prepare students for industry-recognized certificates in penetration testing, incident response, cybersecurity analysis, and information systems security. Students will learn to secure aerospace communications, both terrestrial and satellite, secure supply chains, conduct penetration tests, incident response, gap analyses, and risk assessments, and to secure networks.
Program Requirements and Prerequisite Skills
Students entering the program should have a solid grasp of IT systems components, cybersecurity foundations, cybersecurity principles, basic scripting/programming, basic networking, network defense, basic cryptography, and operating systems concepts. To demonstrate this, students will need an Associate's degree from an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense-2Y (NSA CAE-2Y) to enter the program, or the equivalent.
Admission Requirements and/or Enrollment Limitations
We expect one cohort per year for the first two years of operation. A cohort will enroll 25-40 students. A rigorous screening process will ensure applicants meet the minimum qualifications for admission. This process may include, but will not necessarily be limited to:
- Evaluation of transcripts to ensure the applicant has graduated from an NSA CAE-CD 2Y or equivalent.
- GPA in relevant and all coursework.
- Relevant work or volunteer experience.
- Professional certifications and licenses.
- Life experiences or special circumstances of an applicant, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following experiences or circumstances: disability, low family income, first generation of family to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, extenuating circumstances, refugee or veteran status.
Priority enrollment and admission to military veterans, foster youth, students in the Community College Extended Opportunity Programs and Services program, students eligible for Disabled Student Programs and Services, and students who are California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids recipients consistent with Education Code Sections 66025.8, 66025.9, 66025.91 and 66025.92.
Program Goals
- Prepare students for high-paying and in demand jobs in the cybersecurity field.
- Reduce equity gaps for underrepresented students in cybersecurity.
- Improve local and national cybersecurity readiness by producing competent cybersecurity professionals for the aerospace and other industries.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Secure network communications locally, terrestrially, and satellite.
- Secure supply chains in accordance with Federal and Department of Defense standards.
- Plan, conduct, and document penetration tests, incident response, gap analysis, and risk assessment.
- Plan, configure, administer, and secure networks to Federal and Department of Defense standards.
In alignment with our Information Technology Cybersecurity Associate in Science Degree program (chart below), we expect 30-40 students to complete the baccalaureate degree each year.
Academic Year | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
Information Technology Cybersecurity AS Degree Completions | 35 | 35 | 33 | 45 | 30 |
Program Proposal Attributes
- Baccalaureate of Science (B.S.) Degree
The program goal is occupational. The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Cybersecurity prepares graduates for careers in cybersecurity and aerospace cyber defense. It maps to national standards such as the NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Knowledge Units, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF). This program will prepare students for industry-recognized certificates in penetration testing, incident response, cybersecurity analysis, and information systems security. Students will learn to secure aerospace communications, both terrestrial and satellite, secure supply chains, conduct penetration tests, incident response, gap analyses, and risk assessments, and to secure networks.
Course Units and Hours
n/a
60
Total BS degree units are 120 (min) and 122 (max)
Course Report
The Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Cybersecurity prepares graduates for careers in cybersecurity and aerospace cyber defense. It maps to national standards such as the NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Knowledge Units, the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Cybersecurity Workforce Framework and the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Workforce Framework (DCWF). This program will prepare students for industry-recognized certificates in penetration testing, incident response, cybersecurity analysis, and information systems security. Students will learn to secure aerospace communications, both terrestrial and satellite, secure supply chains, conduct penetration tests, incident response, gap analyses, and risk assessments, and to secure networks.
A Listing of Course Requirements and Sequencing
Lower-division Core (29-32 Units):
| Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BCOM 15 | Business Communications | 3 | Y1 |
| COSA 50 | Intro to IT Concepts and Applications | 4 | Y1 |
| COSN 5 | Computer Hardware Fundamentals | 4 | Y1 |
| COSN 10 | Networking Fundamentals | 3 | Y2 |
| COSN 205 | UNIX/LINUX Fundamentals | 4 | Y1 |
| COSN 225 | Microsoft Windows Client | 3 | Y2 |
| COSN 299 | Security and Networking Capstone | 4 | Y2 |
| COSS 71 | Network Security Fundamentals | 3 | Y2 |
| Core Elective | 1-4 | Y2 |
- Remainder of lower-division units are filled with general education coursest.
Upper division (60 Units):
| Course | Title | Units | Year/Semester (Y1 or S1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| COSN 301 | Aerospace Cryptography and Signaling | 4 | Y3 |
| COSS 310 | Network Defense and Countermeasures | 4 | Y3 |
| COSS 311 | Network Security Monitoring | 4 | Y3 |
| COSS 312 | Network Auditing and Gap Analysis | 4 | Y4 |
| COSS 499 | Program Capstone | 4 | Y4 |
| COSS 351 | Pen Testing | 4 | Y3 |
| COSS 320 | Satellite Hacking | 4 | Y4 |
| COSS 330 | DoD and Aerospace Supply Chain Security | 4 | Y3 |
| COSS 340 | Malware Analysis | 4 | Y4 |
| COSS 410 | Cyber Threat Landscape Analysis | 4 | Y3 |
| COSS 430 | Information Security Principles | 4 | Y4 |
| COSS 420 | Risk Analysis and Incident Response | 4 | Y4 |
| BUS 310 | Cyber Law and Ethics | 4 | Y3 |
| ENG 310 | Advanced Technical Writing | 4 | Y3 |
| HIS 310 | History of Technology | 4 | Y4 |
Supporting Documents
Los Angeles Regional Questions
Long Beach Community College District
Long Beach City College
Gita Runkle is alternate voting member (Starla Thomas is out of office through June)
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New Program
This program will be housed in the School of Career Education’s Department of Computer and Office Studies in the Cybersecurity Discipline. Currently, the College offers the following awards in the Cybersecurity discipline, which are approved by the Chancellor’s Office and ACCJC: the Information Technology Cybersecurity Associate in Science Degree (60 units), Information Technology Cybersecurity Certificate of Achievement (27 units), and Cyber Security Certificate of Achievement (17 units).
There are no community colleges in the Los Angeles region with baccalaureate degrees in aerospace cybersecurity or cybersecurity.
While there are no universities with aerospace cybersecurity programs, below are universities with general programs in cybersecurity:
College | Degree Name |
CSU Fullerton | Computer Science, Cybersecurity Concentration |
CSU San Marcos | Cybersecurity |
CSU Stanislaus | Computer Science, Cybersecurity Concentration |
CSU San Bernadino | Information Systems & Technology, Cybersecurity |
CSU Bakersfield | Computer Science - Information Security |
CSU Sacramento | Information Security and Computer Forensics |
CSU Long Beach | Cyber Security Applications |
CSU Chico | Cybersecurity |
Cal Poly Pomona | Cyber Security |
CSU Channel Islands | Cybersecurity |
Cal Poly SLO | Computer Science: Privacy and Security Concentration |
The number of students declared in the Cybersecurity Associate’s Degree program at Long Beach City College has consistently increased year over year. In 2021-22, 274 students were majoring in Cybersecurity, this number has increased to an all-time high of 380 in the current academic year, 2024-25, representing a 39% increase.
Student interest in Cybersecurity is clearly enough to sustain a bachelor’s program. An additional 39% increase in declared students over the next four years would mean that by 2028-29, 528 students would be declared in Cybersecurity associate degrees.
Information & Communication Technologies / Digital Media
N/A - this is a new program (not a modification)
Submission Details
05/29/25 - 04:36 PM
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