Cybersecurity

Updated Cybersecurity Program – Coming Fall 2026

Launch Your Future in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of today’s fastest-growing and most in-demand career fields and our program is growing with it. River Valley Community College is updating its Cybersecurity program for Fall 2026 to reflect current industry standards, emerging technologies, and the skills employers value most.

Designed for students beginning their IT journey, this refreshed program builds a strong foundation in information technology, security principles, and modern cybersecurity practices.

What’s New

Our updated curriculum replaces the previous healthcare IT emphasis with broader, more flexible coursework that supports a wider range of careers and transfer opportunities. Highlights include:

· Security and AI Concepts – Explore how artificial intelligence is shaping cybersecurity and threat detection

· Ethical Hacking – Learn how to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen system security

· Modernized IT Foundations – Gain industry-relevant skills aligned with today’s workforce needs

· Career-Focused Flexibility – Prepare for employment or continue toward a bachelor’s degree

RVCC is an excellent place to begin your academic journey with:

· Affordable tuition

· Small class sizes

· Personalized faculty support

· Hands-on learning experiences

We are also developing transfer pathways with regional universities, helping students continue seamlessly into bachelor’s degree programs. As a regionally accredited institution, RVCC credits may also be transferred to many other colleges and universities.

Career Opportunities

Graduates may pursue entry-level roles such as:

· Cybersecurity Technician

· IT Support Specialist

· Security Operations Center (SOC) Technician

· Junior Security Analyst

· Network Support Technician

With additional education and experience, students can advance into careers such as Cybersecurity Analyst, Penetration Tester, Security Consultant, or Systems Administrator.

Enroll for Fall 2026

Now is the perfect time to enter a growing field, gain valuable technical skills, and build a pathway toward long-term career success.

Interested in learning more? Contact RVCC today to discuss your goals, course planning, and transfer opportunities.

To develop and train cybersecurity technology professionals, who can help companies manage and protect their systems and utilize their skills in any technology including within a medical environment.  

Program Goals

The goal of the Cybersecurity and Healthcare IT program is to prepare students for a career in computer technology, and successfully inform them of ways to apply their skills.

Program outcomes

The program will provide students with a strong foundation of understanding in cybersecurity. Students will learn:

• the broad discipline of cyber security and develop a foundation of knowledge of the field
• to write clearly and effectively for defined audiences through a variety of strategies
• the purpose behind their field of study, how to best interact with the people in their work environment and the career path that is best aligned with their personal goals
• how to use multiple operating systems commonly found in the Cybersecurity Technology field today
• basic security principles for information assurance
• the basics of descriptive and inferential statistics
• the basics of the web development process and types of attacks that can occur
• computer networking through the introduction of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, the TCP/IP protocol suite, routing and switching protocols, Wide Area Network services, and network design & implementation
• a programming language and be able to design and implement simple programs dealing with numerical and string processing
• to implement, maintain and protect a Microsoft Windows Server Domain
• to perform ordinary tasks in the Linux operating systems
• the methods in which emerging technologies can be deployed on current and future platforms
• how to succeed in an information technology position through an Internship or Capstone course

Cybersecurity and Healthcare IT is an open enrollment program. We accept students once they are accepted to River Valley; no other requirements necessary. At RVCC, we believe all students should be able to complete a degree and be able to transfer or start their career as smoothly as possible.