The Blinn College District is providing a new academic pathway into the high-demand cybersecurity field, which is estimated to have 3 million unfilled jobs worldwide by 2021, according to Cybercrime Magazine.
Beginning in Fall 2020, Blinn will offer an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Cybersecurity and a Cybersecurity Certificate-Level 2 at the Bryan Campus. The program plans to expand to the Blinn-Brenham Campus in Fall 2021 with the completion of the new science, technology, engineering, and innovation building now under construction.
From educational institutions to government organizations to large corporations, the demand for individuals trained in cybersecurity and data protection is universal. With the dominance of the digital environment, there will be an estimated 70% increase in cybercrime by 2024. Increased threats and vulnerabilities also are anticipated due to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing individuals to work remotely in unsecured settings.
Cybersecurity Program graduates are on track for careers as information security analysts and other roles in computer network administration. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts earn a median salary of $99,730 per year. Employment opportunities are surging in this field as technologies continue to evolve. Between 2018 and 2028, the demand for information security analysts is expected to grow 32%, creating an additional 35,500 jobs nation-wide.
“Career opportunities in cybersecurity offer exponential growth in high-wage positions,” Information Technology Program Coordinator Carol Wiggins said. “Through state-of-the-art equipment and our dedication to innovative technologies, we are excited to supply Blinn students with the training and expertise necessary to break into this evolving field.”
Blinn’s Cybersecurity AAS Degree is a two-year program that prepares students to enter the workforce or pursue their bachelor’s degree in computer science or computer information systems at four-year institutions. Graduates of the program also earn the Cybersecurity Certificate-Level 2 upon completion.
The 30-credit-hour certificate is available separately and can be applied to individuals’ current positions or utilized for professional development.
Courses in the program include the Fundamentals of Networking Technologies, Firewalls and Network Security, and Introduction to Digital Forensics, to name a few.
“The curriculum of this program prepares graduates to immediately enter the workforce and take up posts essential to safeguarding businesses, governments, and our personal information,” said Max Hibbs, Dean for the Division of Engineering, Computer Technology, and Innovation. “As cybersecurity attacks continue to become more and more sophisticated, we want Blinn graduates to be at the forefront of helping to tackle this ongoing and ever-changing threat.”
In addition to the new Cybersecurity AAS degree, Blinn also offers an Associate of Science Degree in Computer Science that will transition seamlessly into upcoming bachelor’s degree programs in computer science, computer information systems, and cybersecurity offered by Texas A&M University-Commerce at the RELLIS Campus.
Blinn’s Cybersecurity and Computer Science Programs are part of the Division of Engineering, Computer Technology, and Innovation, which also is home to the College’s Engineering and Information Technology Programs.
Registration is now open for Blinn’s Summer and Fall 2020 terms. For enrollment or financial aid information, visit www.blinn.edu/admissions.
For more information about the Cybersecurity Program, visit www.blinn.edu/cybersecurity.
