Network Security Engineering: AAS

Network Security Engineering: AAS

Associate in Applied Science | 63 credit hours minimum

Area of Interest: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

Program Website

Academic Advising

Program Description:

Forest Park

The Associate in Applied Science degree in Network Security Engineering is a skill-oriented program that prepares students to design, implement, troubleshoot, maintain, and secure enterprise networks. Foundation principles of local, wide-area, and multi-segmented networks lead to a mastery of skills associated with support of enterprise level networks including network and application servers, desktop hosts, infrastructure cabling, and connection devices such as switches and routers (including wireless), security appliances, virtualization of resources for performance optimization, and operating policies. The courses in the program provide a combination of theoretical and hands-on skills development. The demonstration of hands-on knowledge and skills is vital for employment in the IT networking and security industry. Students completing the program are prepared for a variety of industry certification exams as well as entry-level employment.

Locations. This program is offered in its entirety at Forest Park.

Related Programs. The Computer and Information Technology Department offers certificates in the following areas:

Cisco Networking: CCNA, Certificate of Specialization

CompTIA A+ Certificate, Certificate of Specialization

CompTIA A+ and Security+ Certifications, Certificate of Specialization

IT Help Desk/End User Support, Certificate of Specialization

Network Engineering, Certificate of Specialization

Cost of Attendance.  For more information on cost of attendance visit MoSCORES

Program Career and Salary Information.  Pursuant to Missouri HB 1606 (2018), information regarding the number of credit hours, program length, employment rate, wage data, and graduates employed in careers related to their program of study at St. Louis Community College can be found at the following URL: https://scorecard.mo.gov/scorecard/. Search using School / Program “St. Louis Community College” and choose the degree or credential type of interest. 

The following limitations to the data apply: Information provided is based on the most recent cohorts available. Typically, most recent cohorts for wage and completion data are six years prior to the current academic year. Time to complete a program of study varies depending on the number of credit hours students earn per semester.

Interested in this program? Start the enrollment process by visiting the Apply to STLCC page.   

At the completion of the program, students are expected to:

  1. employ the command line interface (CLI) to implement, troubleshoot, maintain, and secure an enterprise network.
  2. develop a company-wide security solution or a security plan that follows industry best practices as a member of a team.
  3. use network methodologies to implement a secure Local Area Network (LAN) network.
  4. describe the proper implementation and use of Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), trunks, Etherchannel, Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), routing, and First Hop Redundancy Protocols (FHRP).
  5. explain the network layered models and the use of global, local, and internal network addressing.
  6. explain how to initiate, monitor, and secure data as it is traveling across the network.
  7. deploy network security by configuring and monitoring defensive measures to protect the network.

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

Program of Study

General Education
ENG 101College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3
ENG 103Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)3
or ENG 102 College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)
MTH 161Quantitative Reasoning (MOTR MATH 120)3
or MTH 180 Introductory Statistics (MOTR MATH 110)
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics Requirement3
XXX xxxMOTR Elective: Natural Science/Math (MOTR Requirement)3
Program Requirements
IS 229Unix/Linux I3
IS 264Unix/Linux II3
IS 237Fundamentals of Information Assurance/Security - CompTIA Security+3
IS 280Python3
IT 100Introduction to Cybersecurity1
IT 120Enterprise Security Management3
IT 121Secure E-Commerce3
IT 101Cisco Networking Academy I: Introduction to Networks5
IT 201Cisco Networking Academy II: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials5
IT 202Cisco Networking Academy III: Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation5
Select One (5 credits):5
Cisco Networking Academy: CCNA Security
Cisco Networking Academy: CCCA Cybersecurity Operations
Select 2 of the Following Electives (6 credits minimum):6
Hardware Support - CompTIA A+ Core 1 (Hardware)
Desktop Software Support - CompTIA A+ Core 2 (Software)
Introduction to Virtualization and Cloud Computing
Ethical Hacking
Cloud Security
Digital Forensics
Cisco Networking Academy: CCNA DevNet Associate
Total Credit Hours60

Full-Time Academic Plan 

Missouri Civics Examination.  Students entering college for the very first time in fall 2019 and who intend to complete an associate’s degree must successfully complete a civics examination. Information on who is eligible for a waiver can be found on the STLCC website.

PLEASE NOTE:  If you originally enrolled at STLCC prior to Fall 2024, you may need to view an archived catalog for your correct program requirements.  Please speak with an advisor or the program coordinator for more information.

New PlanGrids
First Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
IS 229 Unix/Linux I3Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall, Spring, and Summer
MTH 161 Quantitative Reasoning (MOTR MATH 120)
or Introductory Statistics (MOTR MATH 110)
3Satisfactory score on placement test and Reading ProficiencyStudents may choose which Gen. Eds. To take first. These are in recommended order.
IT 101 Cisco Networking Academy I: Introduction to Networks5Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall and Spring 1st 8 weeks and Summer
IT 201 Cisco Networking Academy II: Switching, Routing, and Wireless Essentials5IT 101 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall and Spring 2nd 8-weeks and Summer
Credit Hours16
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
IS 264 Unix/Linux II3IS 229 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall and Spring
IT 100 Introduction to Cybersecurity1Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall and Spring
IT 202 Cisco Networking Academy III: Enterprise Networking, Security, and Automation5IT 201 with a minimum grade of "C", and Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall and Spring 1st 8-weeks
IT 208 Cisco Networking Academy: CCNA Security
or Cisco Networking Academy: CCCA Cybersecurity Operations
5IT 201 with a minimum grade of "C" or a Cisco CCENT or CCNA certification and Reading ProficiencyOne of these will be offered in Fall and Spring 2nd 8 weeks
Credit Hours14
Second Year
Fall Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
IS 237 Fundamentals of Information Assurance/Security - CompTIA Security+3IT 102 or IS 229 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall, Spring, and Summer
XXX xxxNatural Science/Mathematics Elective (MOTR Requirement)3  
Program Elective3 See choices below
IS 280 Python3Reading ProficiencyOffered Fall and Spring
ENG 101 College Composition I (MOTR ENGL 100)3Placement score or ENG 030 or ENG 070 with a grade of "C" or better or recommendation of department and Reading Proficiency or concurrent enrollment in RDG 079
Credit Hours15
Spring Credit Hours Prerequisites Milestones/Notes
IT 121 Secure E-Commerce3IS 229 and IS 237, both with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyOffered Spring and Summer
IT 120 Enterprise Security Management3IS 237 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading ProficiencyOffered Spring only
Program Elective3 See choices below
XXX xxxSocial & Behavioral Sciences: Civics3  
ENG 102 College Composition II (MOTR ENGL 200)
or Report Writing (MOTR ENGL 110)
3ENG 101 with a minimum grade of "C" and Reading Proficiency
Credit Hours15
Total Credit Hours60

Program Electives-Select two of the following (6 credits minimum):

IS 130Hardware Support - CompTIA A+ Core 1 (Hardware)3
IT 102Desktop Software Support - CompTIA A+ Core 2 (Software)3
IT 211Introduction to Virtualization and Cloud Computing3
IT 212Ethical Hacking3
IT 215Cloud Security3
IT 216Digital Forensics3
IT 251Cisco Networking Academy: CCNA DevNet Associate5

*Click on the hyperlinked course number to view additional information about the course.

**Students completing a course that has been assigned a MOTR number may transfer that course to any public institution in Missouri. Those who complete CORE 42 requirements will have that verification on their transcript.

*** It is your responsibility to verify that the courses listed above will transfer to the four-year institution of your choice.  Maximize your transfer credits/classes by meeting with an academic advisor.