PUG Cybersecurity Degree Plan

Cybersecurity Degree Plan

This is a Cybersecurity Degree plan for Purdue University Global (PUG) as of approximately June of 2023. Please make sure that the suggestions are still valid before beginning to follow this plan.

The alternative credit courses were handpicked using experience from previous students as to what courses will be the easiest and quickest courses to take. In places with multiple courses listed, the first course is assumed to be the fastest/easiest course to take.

Tips on Order in Which to Complete Courses

Start with CLEP, then Sophia. Sophia only allows 2 courses open at one time so don't have 2 courses that have touchstones (written assignments) open at the same time. Once done with Sophia, do the certifications.

Note: PHP cert can be done easily in a week or two to fill up the electives. The CySA+ certification should take 1-2 months.

How Long Will It Take To Complete This Degree Once I Finish All the Alterative Credits?

How long to complete depends on a variety of factors such as experience, time commitment, the efficiency of studying, etc. Considering you spend at least 20 hours a week on your studies, it should take 2-3 terms to complete this degree.

Battle Plan For Finishing in 2 Terms

If you want to finish in 2 terms, you need to be aggressive in opening up a bunch of courses. It is possible to finish in 2 terms with less than 30hrs a week studying. Follow the advise of this Reddit Thread. The capstone is a set 10 weeks and can't be accelerated so you must start this at the beginning of your 2nd term in order to finish in 2 terms.

Source of Credit

This degree plan was made using the following sources to map out all the alternative credits.

Alternative Credits List

Study.com Equivalent Guide

It Certification Exams Equivalent Guide

Core Requirements

ID	Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Purdue Credit
CM107	College Composition I	5	CLEP or Sophia	English Composition, Foundations of English Composition	5
CM220	College Composition II	5	CLEP or Sophia or Study.com	English Composition, English Composition I, English 104: College Composition I (Grading is known to take a long time at Sophia, taking the course at Study.com may be faster)	5
CS212	Communicating Professionalism	5		(Must take at PUG)
MM207	Statistics	5	Sophia	Intro to Statistics	5
MM212	College Algebra	5	Sophia	College Algebra	5
MM250	Discrete Mathematics	5	Study.com	Math 108: Discrete Math	5
100/200 Level	Arts and Humanities Requirement	5	Sophia	Introduction to Ethics or lots other options	5
100/200 Level	Science Requirement	5	Sophia	Environmental Science Note: You also do human biology or chemistry though environment science should be the fastest to do.	5
100/200 Level	Social Science Requirement	5	Sophia	U.S. Government	5
Totals		45			40

Major Requirements

ID	Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Purdue Credit
IT104	Introduction to Cybersecurity	5	Study.com	Computer Science 110: Introduction to Cybersecurity	5
IN203	Networking With Microsoft Technologies	5
IN205	Routing and Switching I	5
IN206	Routing and Switching II	5
IT244	Python Programming	3	Sophia or Study.com	Introduction to Python Programming or Computer Science 113: Programming in Python Note: This course comes in as 3cr for IT244, then you also get 2cr of LL elective.	5
IT262	Certified Ethical Hacking I	5	CompTIA	CySA+	5
IT273	Networking Concepts	5	Sophia	Introduction to Networking	5
IT275	Linux System Administration	5	CompTIA	Linux+	5
IT286	Network Security Concepts	5	CompTIA	CySA+	5
IT374	Linux Security	6
IT390	Intrusion Detection and Incident Response	6	CompTIA	CySA+	6
IT395	Certified Ethical Hacking II	6	CompTIA	CySA+	6
IT400	Ethics in Cybersecurity	6
IT411	Digital Forensics	6
IT484	Cybersecurity Policies	6	Study.com	Computer Science 332: Cybersecurity Policies and Management	6
IT497	Bachelor's Capstone in Cybersecurity	6
Totals		85			48

Open Electives

ID	Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Purdue Credit
Any ID	Whatever you want	50	W3Schools Sophia	PHP Certificate (39cr) + 2 Sophia courses	47
Totals		50			47

Total Transfer Credit

ID	Course	Competency Units Value	Course Provider	Course Name	Purdue Transfer Credit (135 max transfer credits)
	Core Requirements	45			40
	Major Requirements	85			48
	Open Electives	50			47
Totals		180			135

*To copy this degree plan, hold down left mouse button, drag to select tables, then copy/paste (CTR+C/CTR+P) to Sheets or Excel.