Need plan for CyberSecurity at COSC - Please!!

[newguy]

Interesting and thanks Cookderosa, I will look for your posts on this and review. My current thinking is to just keep being productive while I figure this out. Since, I have so much road ahead of me, it seems like any progress is good progress. Though, I appreciated jsd's thoughts on this as well.

[KayV]

Newguy, if you are interested in doing an AS at Charter Oak through Straighterline, you should complete four SL courses before you enroll at COSC. That will get you a discount on tuition in future classes.

More on the process:
https://www.charteroak.edu/straighterline/
Charter Oak State College & StraighterLine - Degree Savings Partnership | StraighterLine

And here is a Charter Oak AS degree plan using a combination of Straighterline and FEMA:

Charter Oak State College
AS in General Studies
Straighterline Courses

1. English Composition - ENG 101 3
2. English Composition II - ENG 102 3
3. Speech Communication - COM 101 3
4. (COSC Cornerstone) 3
5. Business Ethics and Individual Values - PHL 485 3
6. A Biography of America: 1877- 1990's - HIS 102 (or US History I) 3
7. Western Civilization I - HIS 121 3
8. (Need Literature or Fine Arts 3)
9. Introduction to Sociology - SOC 101 3
10. ALEKS or SL College Algebra 3
11. Chemistry with Lab - CHE 101/L or Biology I with Lab - BIO 110/L 4
12. Non-lab Science: Introduction to Nutrition - BIO 105 3

That fulfills the general education requirements with 37 hours, 28 from SL.
13. FEMA 23

You could also do ALEKS Beginning/ Intermediate/ College Algebra and even do Precalculus and Stats as well. College Algebra fulfills the math requirement, Beg/ Int Algebra and Precal count as general ed electives.

You could use Shmoop or a CLEP for the Literature requirement.

[KayV]

CEH is worth 3 upper level credits in Computer Security.

CISSP is worth 8 upper level credits as follows:
Access Control Systems & Methodology (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Telecommunications (3 credits, upper division level)
Network Security (3 credits, upper division level)
Security Management Practices (0.5 credit, upper level)
Applications & Systems Development Security (2 credits, upper division level)
Cryptography (3 credits, upper division level)
Security Architecture & Models OR Security Architecture Design Principles (2 credits, upper division level)
Operations Security (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery Planning (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Law, Investigations & Ethics OR Information Systems Governance (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Physical Security (0.5 credit, upper division level)

[newguy]

Great information, that helps me contrast things a lot. I finished Intermediate Algebra and I am now doing College Algebra with ALEKS. I like the reinforced learning on their platform. So, that looks like it will be covered. The FEMA courses seem like a no-brainer. I like that they work well with COSC. Though, I am not sure how they map. I looked but couldn't find that.

I will hit those links to check out SL. I haven't done so yet. But, I have heard it mentioned on the forum quite a bit.

Thanks again for sharing that plan.

[newguy]

Awesome information! That helps me point back toward COSC. That seems like a healthy credit for CISSP, which is great! I still have to look into WGU, as I was told earlier today that the certifications are built into the courses. Which seems like a great way to kill two birds. Not sure of cost and duration, though. Both, are my primary focus.

[cookderosa]

Interesting and thanks Cookderosa, I will look for your posts on this and review. My current thinking is to just keep being productive while I figure this out. Since, I have so much road ahead of me, it seems like any progress is good progress. Though, I appreciated jsd's thoughts on this as well.

I don't share a ton about my kids here, but their degree path is similar to what KayV posted.

Sub out microbiology for 2 reasons. First is cost. Microbiology rack rate is only $25, and I had a code- paid $5 for the course. I will have to pay for the lab kit, however, I have 2 kids that will do it together, so that saves me more in my scenerio. Second, the micro final is the bigger reason. Micro final is worth 200 points (chem final is worth 310) and you need 70% to pass the course. So..... you can go into the micro final already having passed the course, not the case if you choose chemistry.

Also, we are using stats to meet the requirement since my kids do math the long, hard way (with books working EVERY problem in EVERY lesson) so they won't be on college algebra by the time they finish the degree.

[jsd]

CISSP is worth 8 upper level credits as follows:
Access Control Systems & Methodology (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Telecommunications (3 credits, upper division level)
Network Security (3 credits, upper division level)
Security Management Practices (0.5 credit, upper level)
Applications & Systems Development Security (2 credits, upper division level)
Cryptography (3 credits, upper division level)
Security Architecture & Models OR Security Architecture Design Principles (2 credits, upper division level)
Operations Security (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery Planning (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Law, Investigations & Ethics OR Information Systems Governance (0.5 credit, upper division level)
Physical Security (0.5 credit, upper division level)

Just a disclaimer here, while this is great information for other users who may be in the field, the original poster is not eligible for CISSP certification. He's looking to get into the field, and CISSP requires 5 years of advanced, paid, full-time work experience in the field for you to even sit for it.

Candidates must have a minimum of 5 years cumulative paid full-time work experience in two or more of the 8 domains of the (ISC)² CISSP CBKÂ. Candidates may receive a one year experience waiver with a 4-year college degree, or regional equivalent or additional credential from the (ISC)² approved list, thus requiring four years of direct full-time professional security work experience in 2 or more of the 8 domains of the CISSP CBK.

[jsd]

Not sure of cost and duration, though. Both, are my primary focus.

Cost is $2,890 per 6 month term. Duration to complete the program is up to you, as it's self-paced and you can take as many courses as you can personally complete in that 6 month period. The fewer terms it takes you to finish, the cheaper it is overall. If you are very familiar with the concepts, you can complete things quickly. We have forum members here who have completed entire MBAs within just one 6 month term.

The caveat, of course, is that if you're unmotivated or if it takes you longer to pickup some of the information, the program might take you longer than even a traditional program, raising your costs significantly. You really have to hold yourself accountable, and if the material is completely foreign to you it might not be the best route.

[KayV]

That is great information about the CISSP. I only posted because the OP said he was about to start working on it, but it would probably be more effective to use other sources to complete the requirements.

[ajs1976]

Just a disclaimer here, while this is great information for other users who may be in the field, the original poster is not eligible for CISSP certification. He's looking to get into the field, and CISSP requires 5 years of advanced, paid, full-time work experience in the field for you to even sit for it.

That isn't quite right. You can take the exam at any time and if you pass it, you would earn the Associate of ISC2 status. Once you pass, you need either another CISSP to endorse you or to complete the ISC2 endorsement process to earn the CISSP. If you do not have the required experience, you have 5(?) years to get it. Not sure that the Associate of ISC2 status would qualify for credit from COSC.