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.
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: They say their course is only 3 credits yet Sophia/Study.com comes in as 5 credits |
5 |
| IT262 | Certified Ethical Hacking I | 5 | CompTIA | CySA+ | 5 |
| IT273 | Networking Concepts | 5 | CompTIA | CompTIA Network+
Note: Study.com Computer Science 220: Fundamentals of Routing and Switching no longer available. |
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.