In this complex digital age, choosing the right cybersecurity schools and degree programs are essential as cyber threats continue to increase exponentially.
Important factors to consider in cybersecurity schools include: accreditation, curriculum, degree level, faculty expertise, hands-on experience, program flexibility, program reputation and program specialization.
So, how do Boise State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience and online Master of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience fit into those key components?
- Accreditation: Both programs align with leading industry training and technology providers, including VMware IT Academy, Palo Alto Academy and Cisco Networking Academy, ensuring you will gain relevant, up-to-date skills.
- Curriculum: The innovative curriculum instructs and produces cybersecurity professionals with operational thinking, tools and methodologies to ensure system resiliency and maximum risk reduction. It also helps you identify courses, certificates, minors and other academic pathways that align with your career goals. By focusing the coursework on your area of interest, you will be ready to advance your career earlier and without additional investment.
- Degree level: Based on your level of education, you can choose to complete a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cyber operations and resilience. The online Bachelor of Applied Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience is for students who have earned an associate of applied science or have some technical associate credits, while the online Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience is for students with an associate of arts, associate of science or no prior college credits. The master’s degree is designed for professionals with backgrounds in cybersecurity, the military or law enforcement, and offers technical and non-technical tracks, allowing you to tailor your education to your career goals.
- Faculty expertise: Boise State’s cybersecurity faculty is comprised of industry practitioners experienced in physical operations, cyber operations and resilience. Their experience in the field strengthens the program’s focus on application, not just theory, giving you unique opportunities to learn from a potential future employer or mentor.
- Hands-on experience: You will learn how to take a holistic approach to creating more resilient systems by focusing on the interrelationship of systems. This approach, which is not rooted in niche mathematics or computer science, is unique to Boise State among cybersecurity schools. You will learn to anticipate, detect, mitigate and manage cyber, physical and interdependent infrastructure threats.
- Program flexibility: Boise State’s online cybersecurity degree programs are stackable, asynchronous and 100% online with no in-person requirements. This gives you the flexibility to balance school around your busy schedule, while also gaining valuable real-world experience in the cybersecurity field.
- Program reputation: Boise State’s cybersecurity programs are ranked in the top online bachelor’s degrees in the country by U.S. News and World Report. The online Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations and Resilience is listed among the nation’s best online cybersecurity schools by Forbes.
- Program specialization: The undergraduate cybersecurity programs offer certificates in cyber operations, applied computing, systems and networking and cyber for all — all of which can be added to your bachelor’s degree or earned as stand-alone credentials. The master’s program offers certificates in analyst and threat intelligence, governance policy administration and resilience engineering.
In addition to these reasons for selecting Boise State when researching cybersecurity schools, these programs will give you the tools to become a skilled cyber professional prepared to create more resilient systems that are vital to the safety of our economy, government and society.
Learn more about the cyber operations and resilience program
Boise State’s cyber operations and resilience program can open doors to new opportunities and a brighter future — and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you’re exploring if an online program is right for you or need help transferring credits, connecting with a student success coach is the perfect first step.
Ready to learn more? Attend one of our online information sessions or contact a student success coach today.