The Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS) in Cybersecurity degree program provides combines highly technical, hands-on curriculum in labs and virtual environments with invaluable collaboration with government agencies, private companies and the military experts fighting every day on cyberspace’s front lines.

The major puts students in the middle of the exploding information revolution where they study technological advances such as object-oriented software, communication networks, multimedia systems, information security and artificial intelligence. Students will learn about computing technologies used by today’s professionals and how to use these technologies to solve real-world problems. Students will learn to analyze problems, design solutions, implement solutions using multiple computing technologies, test and install those solutions, and communicate those solutions to others in written and verbal presentations.

The Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology focuses on highly relevant skills in cybersecurity, computer networking, and end-user design and development. The Information Technology degree goes beyond the science behind computers, teaching students how to design, develop, test and maintain solutions in a wide range of computing and networking application areas.

Information Technology studies are integrated to provide students with the knowledge and skills to meet the computer technology needs of business, government, healthcare, education and other organizations. In addition to core competencies in programming and networking, security and privacy, and other application-focused computing fields, the Information Technology major features a junior-level project to address a community need. Also, students in the Information Technology major are required to complete a two-semester senior capstone project, allowing them to apply the range of their abilities in a real-world context. Students in the Information Technology major are also required to select 9 credit hours of IT senior class electives from various fields such as cyber-security, web/mobile development and computer networking.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of Cybersecurity (information assurance), for those who are presently in IT or a security field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in information security. The curriculum is mapped to the NSA/DHS Knowledge Units necessary for NOVA's designation as a Center of Academic Excellence.

Purpose: This program is designed as an enhanced competency module to provide expertise in security to networking specialists. This curriculum will prepare networking specialists for employment as network security specialists or Internet security specialists. This program also helps prepare students for the Security+ and the CISSP certification exams.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed to prepare individuals to work with young children in safe and healthy environments that are supportive of children's individual physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Job opportunities include employment as assistant teachers, teachers, group leaders, or family child care providers in programs for young children.

Purpose The purpose of this certificate is to allow for exploration of teaching as a career while providing the skills necessary for entry-level employment and meet some professional coursework required for provisionally licensed teachers in Virginia. In this certificate, students may receive Credit for Prior Learning for their work experiences. Students who would benefit from the program include career switchers, provisionally licensed educators, and undergraduates seeking to learn more about the field of education. Upon completion, job opportunities include Substitute Teachers and Instructional Assistants. Recommended prerequisites: There are no required prerequisites for this certificate. It is recommended that the student possess a proficiency in high school English, high school algebra and geometry.

Purpose: This program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in data centers or companies that support data center function as a technician, operator and/or technologist. Coursework will prepare students to earn the DICSI Installer 2 (Fiber Optic) and OSHA 10 industry credentials.

Recommended prerequisites: There are no required prerequisites for this certificate. It is recommended that the student possess a proficiency in high school English, high school algebra and geometry, and possess the ability to utilize hand tools and instrumentation.

Purpose: The curriculum is designed for individuals who seek full-time employment in the graphic design field. Job opportunities include graphic designer, art director, illustrator, production artist, package designer and web content developer, among others in the graphic design marketplace.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of information technology, for those who are presently in that field and who wish to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in information technology.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

Purpose: This program is designed to provide students with skills that support the newest capabilities and advances in digital data analytics. These new features in digital data analytics technology enable the data analyst to collect, analyze and make data accessible for making business decisions. This program focuses on training data analytics specialists who can provide these advantages to their employers and stay on the leading edge of technology. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to study for data analytics exams such as CompTIA Data+, Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate and Google Data Analytics Certificate. Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for those who seek employment in the field of cloud computing, for those who are presently in that field and who desire to increase their knowledge and update their skills, and for those who must augment their abilities in other fields with knowledge and skills in cloud computing.

Credit for Prior Learning:Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

Purpose: This program is designed to provide students with skills that support the newest capabilities and advances in database technology. These new features in database technology enable databases to increase in scale and provide higher security and greater reliability. This program focuses on training database technologists who can provide these advantages to their employers and stay on the leading edge of database technology. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to study for some of the exams for the Oracle Database Administrator Certified Associate.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

Purpose: This program prepares students for entry-level employment in data centers and related industries that require technicians/technologists trained in engineering technology, information technology, fiber optics, electronics, and data processing. Coursework will prepare students to earn the A+ Hardware, A+ Software, Network Troubleshooting, ETA FOI (Fiber Optic), and OSHA 10 industry credentials. Recommended prerequisites: There are no required prerequisites for this certificate. It is recommended that the student possess proficiency in high school English, high school algebra, and geometry and possess the ability to utilize hand tools and instrumentation.

Purpose: This program is designed for individuals seeking employment in a technical support center and for those persons employed who wish to update their skills in the help desk field. This curriculum will prepare students for employment as help desk specialists/technicians, desktop support specialists, and technical support specialists. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to study for the A+ Software, A+ Hardware, Network+, Security+ and AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exams.

Credit for Prior Learning: Students in this program may be eligible for credit for prior learning. See an academic advisor or counselor for further information.

Purpose: This curriculum is designed for persons who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university to complete a baccalaureate degree program in information technology.

Purpose: This program is designed to meet the needs of individuals seeking to further develop skills in acting, directing, arts management, technical theatre, and theatre scholarship. It extends theatre opportunities outside of the classroom and into community, educational, and professional theatres.

Purpose

The program is designed to prepare personnel who collect, process, and perform selected tests on samples for medical laboratory analysis. Medical Laboratory Assistants (MLAs) work in hospitals, medical clinics, and reference laboratories. The curriculum includes learning experiences: on-campus, online, and, in partnership, with affiliated clinical laboratories. Graduates are eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists certification to become certified as a Medical Laboratory Assistant (MLA).

Credit for Prior Learning

Students in this program who have been certified as a phlebotomy technician by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Certification (BOC) are eligible for credit for prior learning in MDL 105 and MDL 106

The curriculum is designed to provide an individual with a sufficient level of knowledge, understanding, and proficiency to perform the tasks associated with meeting a client's needs. These tasks can be performed by a trained, non-lawyer assistant working under the direction and supervision of a lawyer. A paralegal or legal assistant will have a basic understanding of the general processes of American law, along with the knowledge and proficiency required to perform specific tasks under the supervision of a lawyer in the fields of civil and criminal law. Occupational objectives include employment in corporate law firms, government agencies, and any of the varied law-related fields. Paralegals or legal assistants are prohibited by law from offering legal services directly to members of the public.

Advising Note: It is strongly recommended that students meet with an advisor before enrolling in classes or as early as possible in their first semester of enrollment.

Completion Requirements: To remain in the program, students must complete each of the legal specialty (LGL) courses in the program with a 'C' or higher. Students must complete LGL 110 Introduction to Law and the Paralegal Assistantduring their first semester of enrollment and complete the other legal specialty (LGL) courses in the order outlined. Course substitutions are made on a case-by-case basis. In all cases, the grade for substituted courses must be a 'C' or higher.

Special Approval Status: The Paralegal Studies Program is approved by the American Bar Association.

Transfer from Other Institutions: Students must complete 25 percent (17 credits) of their coursework at NOVA. Program guidelines require that at least 50 percent of legal specialty (LGL) credits be completed at NOVA. In addition, ABA guidelines require that at least 10 of those credits be taken in traditional (face-to-face) format. The Paralegal Studies Program accepts the transfer of legal specialty courses completed at other institutions as long as those institutions are regionally accredited and the program director determines that the course objectives and practical skills are comparable to the courses offered in NOVA's Paralegal Studies Program. In all cases, the grade for transfer courses must be a 'C' or higher.

Purpose This program is based on the standards of the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and prepares students to become knowledgeable fitness professionals in health clubs, recreation departments, and fitness facilities in private, commercial, corporate, or government settings. Emphasis is placed on preparing students to sit for a nationally recognized certification exam in Personal Training.

PurposeThe curriculum is designed to prepare students for diverse career options within the field of photography and digital imaging. Coursework will stress both technical and aesthetic elements, enabling students to solve a wide range of visual problems with imagination and originality.

The computer science curriculum integrates theory and practice by including foundational topics that underpin the discipline and by emphasizing the value of abstraction and good engineering design in project development. Elective courses provide an opportunity for deeper study in areas of interest. An important part of the curriculum is the inclusion of professional practice activities such as research experience, teamwork, oral communication and technical writing, and project development. While being sensitive to changes in technology, the curriculum also seeks to prepare students for lifelong learning to enable them to meet future challenges.

A student expecting to major or minor in computer science should enroll in CSCI 111-CSCI 112 in the first year. If credit is given for one or both of these courses, then a student should enroll in CSCI 211 or CSCI 210. A student interested in future graduate studies should complete the two calculus sequences, MATH 131-MATH 132. A student interested in computer hardware is encouraged to select PHYS 210 to meet one of the collegiate science requirements.

Cybersecurity is a computing-based discipline that involves the creation, operation, analysis, and testing of secure systems, networks, and applications to protect against a variety of digital threats. The cybersecurity curriculum is based on national standards and builds on a computer science foundation. The curriculum emphasizes four main areas of cybersecurity: information security, software security, network security, and system security. Mindful of the rapid changes in technology, the curriculum seeks to prepare students for lifelong learning to enable them to meet future challenges. A student expecting to major in cybersecurity should complete CSCI 111 and CSCI 112 in the first year.

Capstone experiences offered by the Department of Computer Science include CSCI 401, CSCI 403, and CSCI 485, all of which are available to majors in cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity is a computing-based discipline that involves the creation, operation, analysis, and testing of secure systems, networks, and applications to protect against a variety of digital threats. The cybersecurity curriculum is based on national standards and builds on a computer science foundation. The curriculum emphasizes four main areas of cybersecurity: information security, software security, network security, and system security. Mindful of the rapid changes in technology, the curriculum seeks to prepare students for lifelong learning to enable them to meet future challenges. A student expecting to major in cybersecurity should complete CSCI 111 and CSCI 112 in the first year.

Capstone experiences offered by the Department of Computer Science include CSCI 401, CSCI 403, and CSCI 485, all of which are available to majors in cybersecurity.

The computer science curriculum integrates theory and practice by including foundational topics that underpin the discipline and by emphasizing the value of abstraction and good engineering design in project development. Elective courses provide an opportunity for deeper study in areas of interest. An important part of the curriculum is the inclusion of professional practice activities such as research experience, teamwork, oral communication and technical writing, and project development. While being sensitive to changes in technology, the curriculum also seeks to prepare students for lifelong learning to enable them to meet future challenges.

A student expecting to major or minor in computer science should enroll in CSCI 111-CSCI 112 in the first year. If credit is given for one or both of these courses, then a student should enroll in CSCI 211 or CSCI 210. A student interested in future graduate studies should complete the two calculus sequences, MATH 131-MATH 132. A student interested in computer hardware is encouraged to select PHYS 210 to meet one of the collegiate science requirements.