Frequently Asked Questions

The Cyber Operations Engineering track is designated as an NSA Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations. That designation is extremely difficult to earn, and only the highest quality programs in the nation achieve this designation. There are currently only approximately 20 programs nationwide that have met the incredibly stringent requirements, and graduates of these programs are highly sought after by employers in government, the military, and the private sector.

The Cyber Operations Engineering Track is a deeply technical, interdisciplinary, security focused Computer Science program. The Engineering Track meets the National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) for: Low Level Programming; Software Reverse Engineering; Operation System Theory; Secure Software Development & Security Analysis; Mathematics and Algorithms; Networking; Cellular & Mobile Technologies; Cloud Computing; Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations; and Cyber Law, Ethics & Policy.

The Cyber Operations Defense & Forensics Track is a technical, interdisciplinary Cyber education program encompassing the areas of offensive & defensive cyber operations, cyber threat intelligence, malware analysis, networking, and digital forensics. The Defense & Forensics Track conforms to the academic requirements for the National Security Agency’s (NSA) Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) and Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) for: Fundamental Security Principles, Vulnerabilities, Networking; Digital Forensics; Offensive and Defensive Cyber Operations; Introduction to Cryptography; Probability and Statistics; and Cyber Law, Ethics, & Policy.

The Cyber Operations degree program prepares students for work in Cybersecurity positions within the public and private sectors. There are some careers that both tracks will prepare students for, and others may be more specific to one track or the other. That is more commonly seen within governmental hiring at the federal level. For example, the Cyber Operations Defense & Forensics Track exceeds the educational requirements set forth by the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) 2210 job series for government employment as an Information Technology Manager. The Cyber Operations Engineering Track exceeds the educational requirements set forth by the OPM 1550 job series for government employment as a Computer Scientist. Students have a great deal of flexibility since Cyber careers span small companies and Fortune 500 companies, and cyber professionals are needed at all levels of government, with the military and with defense contractors. There is high demand for cybersecurity professionals, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average growth rate for Information Security Analysts (a job category that would apply to our graduates) to be 4 times the average national job growth rate from 2016 to 2026.

The Cyber Operations Program Office also sends out job postings that we receive directly from employers who are looking to hire our graduates. These go out on a regular basis, and all current students receive them, so it can be easy to get a jump start on your job search well in advance of completing your degree program!

Cyberapolis is our virtual city of approximately 15,000 residents. The personas are all virtual and they have their own social media identities, jobs, and photos. Cyberapolis is a city with different businesses and governmental offices which students will use for exercises in several of the required courses in the Cyber Operations BAS degrees. It provides students with a hands-on environment in which to work, attack, and counter-attack systems to learn firsthand how vulnerabilities may be exploited and defended, all while not interfering with anything in the “real world”.

Both!  We offer courses in-person at UA campuses across the state of Arizona.  For students located outside Arizona, or those who just want the flexibility of an online degree, the opportunity to complete the entire degree online is also available.  Students completing the degree online will have the same courses and the same access to our highly qualified, industry-leading faculty as those completing the degree in person.

Terrific! We are always looking for qualified students to join us! More information about how to apply can be found here: https://azcast.arizona.edu/student-services/admissions, or you can apply now here: https://slate.admissions.arizona.edu/apply/

Great question! It will depend upon the degree track a student is planning to pursue. Our more technical, programming based degree is the Engineering degree. To be ready for the Engineering track coursework, students can prepare themselves by taking coursework in discrete mathematics, programming in C and coursework in Assembly language. For the Defense and Forensics track, our students will take coursework that is less focused in mathematics and in-depth programming, so having exposure to algebra and programming such as Python will be adequate preparation for the degree, along with a passion for understanding cybersecurity and working with cyber professionals!

Absolutely not!  While many of our students come in having completed an AAS, AA or AS, it is not necessary, however, we do only accept transfer students into the BAS in Cyber Operations degree programs.  Typically, students who have completed an associate’s degree in a cyber, information technology or computer science field are best prepared for our curriculum, but it is not required to have completed one prior to applying to transfer.  The BAS degree is a Bachelor of Applied Science degree, so it carries the same weight as completing a BA (Bachelor of Arts) or BS (Bachelor of Science) degree.

Not at all!  Students may apply for admission whenever they are ready to start.  We admit students to start classes approximately every 8 weeks.  Keep in mind that when you start may impact any financial or military aid you may qualify for, so you should check in with your Enrollment Counselor prior to completing your application for admission. 

Many students come to our program as current or former military personnel. There are options for using your GI Bill and other benefits, whether students are pursuing the degree entirely online (through Arizona Online) or by taking coursework in person or in hybrid (combination of in-person and interactive activities) courses. If you need additional information about how to access your benefits, please see here: http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/military-benefits/welcome-veterans-services. We thank you for your service.

Certainly!  Many of our students are working full-time, or are parents, or may be on active deployment, so our degree is designed with those students in mind.  Being a full-time student is not an option for everyone, so we keep the option open for students to attend part-time.  Most of our core coursework is offered at least twice per year, and not all courses need to be taken in a set sequence.  This allows for the flexibility for students to take as few or as many courses as they need to meet their personal, career, and familial needs while still being in a position to be a successful student.

Some of our students gain experience with programming and cybersecurity through their employment, and that is a great way to be prepared for the degree program. For students who haven’t taken any programming, or if their experience and/or coursework in programming is several years old, there are options for taking coursework through the University of Arizona.

The Cyber Operations degree program is rolling out coursework in C programming and Assembly and we expect those courses to go live in the coming semesters and affiliated departments at the University of Arizona currently offer courses in different programming languages and discrete mathematics. For students who are currently enrolled at a community college, there are choices that may work for you at many institutions nationwide.

If you have questions about what precisely to register for at the University of Arizona or elsewhere, please contact your academic advisor and they can work with you and the Cyber Operations Program Office to find appropriate coursework to be able to hit the ground running once you start the BAS in Cyber Operations.

The cost of attendance varies based upon whether students are completing a degree in person at the University of Arizona South or one of the UA Distance campuses, or the University of Arizona at the Main Campus, or if they are completing an Arizona Online degree program.  Tuition also depends upon whether students are attending full-time or part-time, or as a state university, whether students are considered in-state residents for tuition purposes.  Your Enrollment Counselor will help find you the best tuition rate based on your learning needs. Additional information can be found based on campus-based tuition rates here: https://tuitioncalculator.fso.arizona.edu/

Congratulations! The UA provides you with a customized online checklist to walk you through what you need to do next! Check your Next Steps and if you need any assistance, contact your Enrollment Counselor to walk you through your checklist. After your checklist is complete, your Academic Advisor will be able to help you enroll in classes.

No, there is not a requirement for students to complete an internship as part of the Cyber Operations BAS degrees.  However, if students wish to pursue an internship, they may qualify to get upper division elective credit for the internship.  If you wish to explore the option of getting credit for an internship, please contact your academic advisor.  While an internship is not required, it is a great way to enhance your resume prior to graduation.  Please also keep in mind that internships can be incredibly flexible.  Not all require full time employment for a full semester or year, so even if you are currently employed, you may be able to complete an internship.  The Cyber Operations Program Office frequently sends out information about internship opportunities to current students, so be on the lookout for those emails!

As an NSA CAE-CO designated program, our students are highly qualified for many internships within governmental agencies, as well as within the private sector, including internships with the NSA, CIA and others. If a student has identified an internship they wish to pursue for upper division elective credit, they will need to work directly with their academic advisor and/or the Cyber Operations Program office to complete the required documentation prior to the beginning of their internship. If you aren’t certain who your academic advisor is, you can find their contact information on your UAccess page if you are a currently enrolled student, or by searching here: https://azcast.arizona.edu/student-services/advising.

Students will need to complete an Internship Application Form and will need to review the Internship Policies and Guidelines prior to meeting with their academic advisor and being able to register for the CYBV Internship course.

At the end of the degree program, all students will complete their capstone, CYBV 498 Capstone in Cyber Operations.  In this course, students will work on a semester-long project doing one of a variety of projects.  Students will work with the instructor to choose an appropriate project that is both of interest to the student and that meets the scope of the course.  Students have completed network audits, looked for vulnerabilities in Internet of Things (IoT) products, and researched blockchain protocols, just as a few examples.  The capstone course results in an Engaged Learning Experience notation on your transcript, showing you engaged in integrating and applying your knowledge through real-world experiential learning during your time at the UA.

The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is the campus department designated by the University to determine and provide access to University classes, programs and activities for students with documented disabilities. Through an interactive process, DRC facilitates access either through determining a reasonable accommodation or by redesigning aspects of a University experience. For students wishing to explore options for short-term or long-term accommodation, please see here: http://drc.arizona.edu/ or call (520) 621-3268.

The CatCard is the official University of Arizona identification card.  The card features a digitized photo, digitized signature, Contactless SmartChip, ISO number, and magnetic stripe.  The CatCard can be used to access various University resources, such as to authorize charges with the Bursar’s Office, access online proctoring for exams, and use and check out library materials.  For information about obtaining a CatCard, please see here: https://catcard/arizona.edu or follow the instructions in your Next Steps Center.

Absolutely! There are times when, due to family or professional responsibilities, relocation or military deployment, students may need to step away from their studies for a period of time. There are options to continue your Cyber Operations coursework in our online sections, but if that will not be feasible, there is the option to take a leave of absence. If a student will only miss one or possibly two semesters, a leave may not be required. For students who will be on leave for a short period, please see details on the Back2UA program. For students who do need to take a leave, they will need to submit a request for undergraduate leave. Always consult with your academic advisor before taking a leave to determine the best option for your circumstance.

Our coursework is offered both in an entirely online format (through Arizona Online), or students have the option to take their coursework as in-person or hybrid classes.  In a hybrid course, students will attend a portion of the course in-person (usually a lecture once per week) and will complete the remainder of the course interactively.  This will include discussion boards, tests, quizzes and any required virtual lab exercises.  For the hybrid courses, students are encouraged to attend all the lectures in person if possible, however, since that may not always be possible, the lectures are recorded and will be made available to students who need to view them online.

Yes, many of our courses are offered in a 7.5 week long format, but some of our courses are offered in the more traditional 15 week format.  All courses in the Cyber Operations degree programs are 3 credit hour courses, so the same amount of content will be covered whether a course is taken in 7.5 weeks or 15 weeks.  For the 7.5 week courses, the content is more condensed and the course will move at a faster pace.  Many of our students have liked this option because it keeps them more focused due to the shorter timeframe.  Based upon feedback we have received from our students, we have maintained the traditional semester-long format as well.  Most of the courses that are offered in the semester-long format are the ones that students have requested to have in that format, to make it easier to work with the content in a slower pace.  These tend to be the courses that students have reported are the most challenging and that are most beneficial to have more time to complete.

That is a great question, since not all universities offer Hybrid courses.  For Hybrid courses, students will complete a portion of the course in-person, and the rest of the activities and assignments will be done interactively.  For most of the Cyber courses, students in Hybrid courses will attend lecture in person, and complete all of the lab exercises and any required discussion groups, assignments, quizzes and tests interactively.

Certificates can be a great way to augment your degree program and increase specific skills that employers may look for.  The certificate coursework can overlap with university graduation requirements, so for some students, they can complete their major and a certificate without exceeding the 120 credit hours needed for completion of a UA degree.  These certificates provide the opportunity to specialize in one or more areas of cybersecurity and to use that specialization to demonstrate to employers their knowledge, skills, and abilities in the cyber field.

In addition to the Capstone course, which requires a semester-long project, students are strongly encouraged to work with faculty on research projects.  These projects may include any area in which our faculty members are currently doing research, and some of these projects may include stipends or students may qualify for internship credit.  For students doing research who wish to present their findings, the Cyber Operations Program Office includes information about upcoming academic conferences and calls for papers in the monthly newsletter distributed to our student population.  Presenting at conferences and/or submitting work for publication can be a great way to make yourself visible to potential employers, and to prepare students who wish to pursue graduate work.

Cyber professionals are expected to obtain and maintain various certifications throughout their careers.  It is part of the professional responsibilities within this field, similar to medical doctors being required to take continuing medical education to retain their licensure.  While most of our students use community college coursework to initially acquire all the necessary certifications, some students may not have completed these at that time, or their certifications may have expired and need to be renewed.

To support students in our programs, the University of Arizona offers many free and low-cost options for students who need to acquire or renew their certifications to meet their professional responsibilities and stay current on industry information and trends.  In addition to the opportunities offered by the University of Arizona, the Cyber Operations Program Office periodically offers additional certification options to students currently enrolled in our degree programs.  Information about those offerings are sent to students directly by the Cyber Operations Program Office.

All students at the University of Arizona are welcome to use the services offered by various career and student services offices.  In addition to the resources your academic advisor and the Cyber Operations Program Office provide, career counseling is offered by the Office of Student Engagement and Career Development.  Please contact your academic advisor for more details.

What a great question!  While many of our students choose to complete their degree and move into lucrative jobs in the cybersecurity field, some of our students want to keep that option open to complete a graduate level degree.  Some wish to teach, and some wish to keep that option open as they think about being an instructor as their retirement activity.  Due to the richly developed course content in our program, and the NSA designation that indicates the premier nature of our degree, most students who complete the BAS in Cyber Operations are highly qualified to apply to graduate degree programs.  If students are planning on attending a graduate program that requires a strong programming background (like a computer science degree), the Engineering Track will better prepare them for those degrees, due to the inclusion of more stringent computer programming courses within the core curriculum.  However, for students looking to pursue a master’s in information assurance or a related subject area, either of the tracks will prepare them to be competitive applicants.  You will want to check with the degree program you are planning on applying with for any specific requirements they may have related to minimum programming coursework, GPA, etc.