Cyber Defense and Analysis
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE · ONLINE & IN-PERSON
Find the intrusion hidden in a week of network traffic, uncover the malware behind
it, trace what happened, and lead the response that gets an organization back online.
Then learn how to design systems that resist attack, investigate digital evidence,
analyze threats, and protect the critical infrastructure communities depend on. That
is what this program prepares you to do.
Join the Interest List How to Apply
Fall 2027 Cohort
Join on Zoom →
Before applying, create your mySDCCD student account and review the program prerequisites.
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NICE & DCWF alignedNational and DoD workforce frameworks
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Certification preparationCISSP, CISSP-ISSAP, CISA, CFR
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Priority admissionVeterans, foster youth, EOPS, DSPS, CalWORKs
01 — THE PROGRAM
Program overview
On January 23, 2023, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors approved San Diego City College’s Baccalaureate Degree Program in Cyber Defense and Analysis. The program is authorized under AB 927, which allows California community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees in fields with documented workforce need.
The Cyber Defense and Analysis (CyDA) program, recognized by the Department of Education as a STEM-designated program, develops advanced skills to interpret business risk, proactively defend networks, identify and analyze cyber threats, and maintain cybersecurity resilience. Emphasis is on the architectural, analytical, and strategic application of advanced techniques to monitor and defend operational and emerging technology, network hardware and systems, and supply chain and critical infrastructure. Students also explore the ethical and societal impacts of cyber technology.
Limitation on enrollment: students must be admitted into the Cyber Defense and Analysis program.
“The bachelor’s degree program in Cyber Defense and Analysis will provide a pipeline that not only leads to an above-livable wage career in an industry that is clearly in demand, but will also help diversify the cyber security workforce by allowing more women, military veterans, and people of color to find good jobs.”
Ricky Shabazz, President, San Diego City College
Graduates will
- Be poised to enter professional cybersecurity positions or continue to graduate study in cybersecurity or a related field.
- Be informed, active individuals engaged in the global community, social justice advocacy, and the highest level of professional ethics.
- Pursue lifelong learning to improve and expand their technical and professional skills.
Learning outcomes — upon completion, students will be able to:
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AnalyzeAnalyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other disciplines to identify solutions.
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Design & buildDesign, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution that meets a given set of requirements.
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CommunicateCommunicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
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Judge responsiblyMake informed judgments in computing practice, accounting for legal, ethical, diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles.
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Lead teamsFunction effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in discipline-appropriate activities.
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Defend operationsApply security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats.
02 — CURRICULUM
Upper-division courses by semester
Each course is 3 units, graded or Pass/No Pass. Courses marked GE satisfy upper-division general education. Full-time students finish in two years; part-time sequences run three to four.
Course descriptions in the catalog · Program description in the catalog
Year 1 · Fall 15 UNITS FULL-TIME
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CYDA 400
Emerging Technology and Cybersecurity
Zero Trust, SASE, AI/ML, automation, 5G, and IoT in cyber defense operations. -
CYDA 410
Modern Cryptography
Symmetric and asymmetric systems, hashing, digital signatures, attacks, and protocols. -
CYDA 420
Applied Network Security Monitoring
NSM, SIEM, logging, continuous monitoring, and threat modeling. -
GE · CISC 450
Security Analytics and Visualization
Predictive modeling, data analytics, and ML for threat detection. Prereq CISC 179; coreq STAT C1000. -
GE · ENGL 402
Advanced Technical Writing
Formal reports, proposals, manuals, APA research writing, and grant writing. Prereq ENGL C1001.
Year 1 · Spring 15 UNITS FULL-TIME
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GE · BUSE 440
Cyber Law and Ethics
Ethical theory, privacy and free-expression law, and regulation of the Internet. -
CYDA 430
Applied Intrusion Detection and Analysis
Hands-on traffic analysis, IDS strengths and limits, and anomaly visualization. -
CYDA 440
Deconstructing Malware
Reverse-engineering malicious software, memory forensics, and behavioral analysis. -
CYDA 450
Network Forensics
Virtual-lab investigations: physical interception, traffic acquisition, wireless attacks. -
CYDA 460
Digital Forensics
Examinations of digital and mobile devices, root cause analysis, and legal compliance.
Year 2 · Fall 12 UNITS FULL-TIME
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CYDA 500
Cyber Incident Response
First-responder skills: detection, response, recovery. CFR prep -
CYDA 510
Disaster Response and Recovery
Business impact analysis, DRP development, crisis management. -
CYDA 520
Cyber Threat Intelligence
Running a threat intelligence program: collection, analysis, sharing. -
CYDA 530
Advanced Security Implementation and Management
Risk, IAM, architecture, security operations. CISSP prep
Year 2 · Spring 12 UNITS FULL-TIME
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CYDA 540
Critical Infrastructure and Supply Chain Protection
Network science, complexity theory, risk modeling across sectors. -
CYDA 550
System and Network Auditing
Risk-based audit engagements and IT governance. CISA prep -
CYDA 560
Operational Security Architecture
Risk-based security architecture modeling. CISSP-ISSAP prep -
CYDA 570 · CAPSTONE
Cyber Defense and Analysis Capstone
Detect, respond to, and recover from a real-world incident. Presented to a panel.
03 — ESTIMATED COST (CA RESIDENTS)
Estimated enrollment fees
Lower-division units are billed at the standard California community college rate; upper-division units at the baccalaureate rate. Estimates cover enrollment fees only.
Some students may need additional units to meet general education, associate degree, or baccalaureate requirements. Some units may be double counted. Unit requirements are subject to change; please check with a counselor to determine your education plan. For books, housing, food, and transportation, see the Financial Aid Office.
| Segment | Units | Per unit | Est. total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cal-GETC (SDCCD Local) | *34 (30) | $46 | $1,564 ($1,380) |
| AS – Cybersecurity | *36 | $46 | $1,656 |
| BS – Cyber Defense and Analysis | *54 | $130 | $7,020 |
| Full program | *124 (120) | $10,240 ($10,056) |
04 — ADMISSIONS
Admission tracks
Admission to San Diego City College does not guarantee admission to the program. Seats are limited, and applicants are evaluated through a multicriteria screening process. Which track applies depends on the college coursework you have completed.
TRACK 1 · FOUR YEARS
Enter as a freshman
For students starting the Cybersecurity associate degree who plan to continue into the bachelor’s. You complete the A.S. and general education in years one and two, then move into upper-division coursework.
Lower-division GE: choose one
- SDCCD General Education and District Requirements plus six additional units from Areas 1B–6, 1-unit lab excluded (Option 1)
- California General Education Transfer Curriculum, Cal-GETC (Option 6)
- SDCCD General Education plus six additional units from Areas 1B–6, 1-unit lab excluded (Option 4)
TRACK 2 · TWO YEARS
Enter as a junior
Apply in anticipation of completing these prerequisites, each with a grade of “C” or better:
- San Diego City College’s A.S. Cybersecurity or equivalent (transfer students: see course equivalency agreements)
- COMS 160, ENGL C1001 (formerly ENGL 205), HIST 205, or PHIL 205, or equivalent
- Credit for prior learning, military transcript evaluation, and/or professional license or certification review, if applicable and approved by the program director
Additional coursework may be required based on current curriculum. Certain prerequisites may be completed during summer or upper-division semesters with program director approval.
How applicants are evaluated
The multicriteria screening process may include, but is not limited to:
- Academic degrees, diplomas, or relevant certificates
- GPA in relevant coursework
- Relevant work or volunteer experience
- Professional licensing or state/national certification
- Life experiences or special circumstances: disability, low family income, first-generation status, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, extenuating circumstances, refugee, or veteran status
- Proficiency or advanced coursework in languages other than English
Priority enrollment and admission go to military veterans, foster youth, EOPS students, DSPS-eligible students, and CalWORKs recipients, per Education Code §§ 66025.8–66025.92.
Degree requirements
- A minimum of 120 semester units of lower- and upper-division coursework applicable to the degree
- At least 36 units of general education, lower and upper division combined
- At least 40 units of upper-division courses, including nine units of upper-division GE from two disciplines outside the major, one emphasizing written or oral communication or computation
- All upper-division major courses completed with a “C” or better (a “P” grade qualifies); overall GPA of 2.0 in degree-applicable courses
- At least 12 degree-applicable units completed in residence within SDCCD, regardless of catalog year; credit for prior learning and credit by exam do not count toward residence
Students with an earned baccalaureate from an institutionally accredited institution satisfy lower-division GE on transcript evaluation (Option 5). One course may not count in more than one GE area. Consult a counselor to pick the right GE option.
05 — CAREERS
Career options
The program prepares graduates for cyber defense, analysis, and information security roles in which they assess and respond to threats while managing organizational risk and business continuity. Typical positions are shown below; select a role for a short description and the related courses. Job titles and requirements vary by employer, and many analyst positions list a bachelor’s degree as the minimum qualification.
San Diego–area wages for Information Security Analysts (O*NET) →
06 — APPLY
How to apply
Supplemental questions
Applicants respond to three supplemental questions. Responses may be typed or recorded on video, up to 250 words or 5 minutes each.