Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) has added a new degree program that will be eligible for the SUNY Reconnect program that provides free community college for adults and will get students started towards a career in a high-demand technology field. The associate in science (A.S.) in cybersecurity has been approved by the TC3 Board of Trustees, the New York State Education Department, and the State University of New York (SUNY). Students can start enrolling now for classes starting in the Spring 2027 semester.

TC3’s cybersecurity program will provide students with a solid foundation in computing, networking, and information security. Graduates will be able to identify vulnerabilities, implement protective measures, and apply ethical practices in safeguarding information assets. Five new courses were created for this degree program, including one that focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) prompt engineering and another that looks at ethical hacking and pentation testing. An internship opportunity is also included in the new course offerings.

“Cybersecurity is a versatile field with a growing number of career options, and all of them demand an educated workforce,” said David Green, associate professor of computer science and the faculty member who led the creation of the new cybersecurity program. “Our cybersecurity program gives students options: a solid foundation to go straight to work, in our area as well as statewide and nationally, or to transfer into a four-year program.”

TC3 graduates looking to pursue a bachelor’s degree will be able to take advantage of transfer agreements TC3 has secured with several institutions, including SUNY Oswego, SUNY Canton, and Syracuse University. Those looking to enter the workforce immediately after completing their TC3 degree will find opportunities like cybersecurity technician, information security analyst, and security operations center (SOC) analyst. 

As a field identified as being in need of a growing, educated workforce, the cybersecurity program is SUNY Reconnect-eligible, meaning New York State residents between 25 and 55 years of age will be able to have their tuition, fees, books, and supplies paid covered.