Cybersecurity is the first line of defense against the threats to an organization's network, programs and data. It is designed to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability of data. Cybersecurity remains to be one of the most critical issues affecting individuals and organizations today.
A degree in cybersecurity prepares students with skills to monitor, mitigate, and prevent online threats. Students will learn the fundamentals of information security, networking, server fundamentals, operating systems such as Microsoft and Linux, programming skills, computer forensics, ethical hacking, analyzing network traffic, and enterprise security. Students gain hands-on experience through their lab work, projects, and the capstone course. The Cybersecurity Capstone course makes the students work in a team to design, install, secure, defend their network, and then report their findings.
This program gives students a good core foundation in cybersecurity, a field with immense career growth potential. The program provides extracurricular activities such as JJC Cyber Wolves Cybersecurity club and participating in competitions such as the National Cyber League (NCL) and the Department of Energy CyberForce. The competitions provide a virtual training environment for college students to develop, practice, and validate their cybersecurity skills.
JJC students participated in the NCL Spring 2026 competition. JJC's Spring 2026 power rankings were 31st nationally from more than 510 colleges/universities, 11th in the central region and 2nd in Illinois. Schools are ranked based on their top team performance, their top student's individual performance, and the combined individual performance of their students.
Industry Certifications You Can Prepare For
Students will have the opportunity to take industry certification exams that are based on certain courses.The program has courses that will cover the following industry certifications:
Cisco: CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNA Cybersecurity
CompTIA: A+, Network+, Security+, and PenTest+
ISC2: Certified in Cybersecurity
LPI: Linux Essentials
Python Institute: PCEP (Certified Entry-Level Python Programmer)
Did You Know...
JJC's cybersecurity program has a partnership with Lewis University, making it easier than ever for you to transfer! Your first two years is to complete your Associates of Applied Science in Cybersecurity degree, stay a third year to take your general education courses for the bachelor degree, and the fourth year at Lewis to complete the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. There is an option to stay one more year to earn the Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree. Take a look at our transfer guide below.
Transfer Guide to Lewis University
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 28 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The program does not require students to bring a laptop to class, but they may. A computer will be useful outside of the classroom to complete assignments or to gain more exposure to the topics taught.
The following are minimum specifications for the desktop/laptop computer a student should purchase. The brand, model, shape, size and color are up to the student to decide. Carefully consider service and support options as desktop/laptop maintenance is the student's responsibility. A Microsoft Windows-based system is highly recommended. A large percentage of cybersecurity applications require the Windows operating system. These applications will not run natively on macOS. Chromebooks do not meet the operating system and hardware requirements to run the Cybersecurity program applications.
Below is a list of vendors that provides discounts for students:
| Description | Recommended | Minimum Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor Type | 64-bit Intel Core i7 (8 cores) or 64-bit AMD Ryzen 7 (8 cores) equivalent or better Support for virtualization technologies (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) | 64-bit Intel Core i5 2.4 GHz (4 cores) or 64-bit AMD Ryzen 5 equivalent (4 cores) Support for virtualization technologies (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB - 32 GB | 8 GB - 12 GB |
| Hard Drive | 1 TB or more SSD | 515 GB SSD |
| USB | At least 2 USB ports | At least 2 USB ports |
| Networks | Wired and WiFi | WiFi only |
“JJC's Cybersecurity program gave me the hands-on foundation that I needed to pivot into the field after spending years in a completely different career. I came in with no formal technical background and worked my way through server fundamentals, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and networking and network security. The program pushed me to apply all of it, not just study it. The capstone in particular forced me to stand up real infrastructure as part of a team rather than work through theory, which is exactly the kind of experience that translates to an actual job. Outside the classroom, Professor Pieklo's support for competition gave me some of my most valuable experiences. I served as Team Lead in the Department of Energy's 2025 CyberForce Competition and competed in multiple other Capture The Flag (CTF) events through the National Cyber League, Department of Energy, and many more, which sharpened my skills under pressure and helped me figure out where I wanted to specialize. The instructors consistently brought real field experience into the material and connected assignments to the way security actually works in practice. I'd recommend the JJC Cybersecurity program to anyone serious about breaking into the field, especially someone making a career change who's willing to put in the work.”
Chris Berger, JJC Fall 2025 Graduate
Cybersecurity AAS
