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Information Security Occupational Skills Award

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Program Available at:

  • Brookhaven
  • Cedar Valley
  • Eastfield
  • El Centro
  • Mountain View
  • North Lake
  • Richland

Catalog Year 2024-2025 You may use this pathway if you entered Dallas College on or before this date.

Degree Type Occupational Skills Award

GPA Requirement Student must earn a GPA of 2.0 or higher

TSI May be Exempt

For more information, visit the Dallas College Computer Information Technology webpage and your success coach at your campus.

This is an example course sequence for students interested in pursuing the Computer Information Technology Networking Security Awards. It does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. Following this pathway will help you earn the Information Security Occupational Skills Award. Courses from this certificate may apply to the related A.A.S. degree. Students must earn at least 25% of the credit hours required for graduation through instruction by Dallas College. See catalog for official certificate requirements.

The Information Security Occupational Skills Award is designed to provide an introductory background for students interested in learning about protecting information systems and networks from security threats. Security terminology and theory, administrative controls, protection from viruses, firewall design, and incident postmortem reporting is introduced. The award also provides preparatory training for those wishing to take the Security+ certification exam. Courses that complete the occupational skills award are noted below.

Students pursuing this certificate are waived from the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) standards, but must meet course prerequisites.

SEMESTER-BY-SEMESTER MAP FOR FULL-TIME STUDENTS

All plans can be modified to fit the needs of part-time students. This is not an official degree plan. See catalog for official certificate requirements.

CERTIFICATE MINIMUM: 9 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS

SEMESTER 1

CHOOSE ONE

 

  • ITNW 1325 – Fundamentals of Networking Technologies OR
  • ITCC 1314 – CCNA 1: Introduction to Networks

ITSY 1300 – Fundamentals of Information Security

 

SEMESTER 1 ACTION ITEMS

  1. Meet with your success coach to confirm academic and career goals before the end of the semester.
  2. Meet with your success coach to research your career options and opportunities for job shadowing and for assistance in preparing for job search.

    ​Total Hours: 6

SEMESTER 2

ITDF 1300 – Introduction to Digital Forensics This course is the capstone experience for this award.

SEMESTER 2 ACTION ITEMS

  1. Meet with your success coach to apply for the Information Security Occupational Skills Award.

    Total Hours: 3​​  

DALLAS COLLEGE PATHWAY TOTAL: 9 SEMESTER CREDIT HOURS

Updated July 21, 2025