U.S. News ranked Information Security Analyst as number three in its list of best technology jobs of 2015. To see the expected cost of cybersecurity degrees, go here. I expect my students to work about 4-6 hours a week with the more advanced courses to take at least 8-10. This article is about the difficulty level of most cybersecurity degrees. Since cyber security is a newer degree option available at most colleges, I decided to take a look and see how difficult a cyber security degree is compared to other degree majors.eval(ez_write_tag([[728,90],'startacybercareer_com-box-3','ezslot_5',103,'0','0'])); Get my FREE 5-part series "Strategies for New Cyber Careers". Cyber security content can be difficult to read or memorize. This is somewhat different than other majors, such as history or literature, where the material does not increase quickly in difficulty. The following qualities are characteristic of good cyber security students. While we’ve established above that cybersecurity classes often have labs that are typically less demanding than research-based courses, they still do have a lab. The cybersecurity industry is expected to have 3.5 million high-paying, unfilled jobs this year. However, there are some gaps between them. Most programs did not require higher level or multiple science classes or a higher level math, such as calculus. 5 Proven Strategies for Learning Cybersecurity, 3 Ways to Know if Cybersecurity is for You, 7 Great Reasons to Get Into Cyber in Your 40’s, 7 Reasons Why Cyber Certifications Are Worth It, 5 Best Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners, 7 Elements of Awesome Entry-Level Cyber Resumes, Cybersecurity and Coding: What You Need to Know, 5 Big Reasons You Can Get into Cyber Without a Degree, most important classes in cybersecurity degrees. If you pursue a degree in cyber security, you can often find a path to graduation without being required to take calculus, chemistry or other subjects known to be challenging. By visiting the college, you can get a good feel for if a program is for you and fits your needs and learning style. Cyber security degrees tend to be more challenging than non-research type majors, such as programs in the humanities or business, but are usually not as difficult as degrees in research or lab intensive areas, such as science and engineering. The projected growth in employment opportunities is an encouraging factor for anybody who wants to pursue a career in cyber security. 0.8)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.8}}},"gradients":[]},"original":{"colors":{"30800":{"val":"rgb(59, 136, 253)","hsl":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61}},"f2bba":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.1)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.1}},"trewq":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, 0.3)","hsl_parent_dependency":{"h":216,"s":0.98,"l":0.61,"a":0.3}},"frty6":{"val":"rgba(59, 136, 253, You can communicate with a person who is thousands of miles away while you are on the go. DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. Cyber Security Equals Job Security. From our review, nearly all of the cyber security programs we analyzed assumed that incoming students had low or no technical background. To see our article on the most important classes in cybersecurity degrees, see our article here. And, just like CJ, you can get a 2 yr degree through a half-baked mail order course, possibly even a 4-yr bachelors. Yes, send me the cyber career strategies and weekly newsletter! However, you should note the probable challenges you would encounter on your way to becoming a certified information security analyst. Current UK salaries for cyber security jobs are high, and demand for skilled professionals is set to rise. When comparing college programs at the associate or bachelor’s degree level, an objective review indicates that most cyber security programs are not as difficult as many programs in science and engineering related areas. To get into cyber security field you need to prove that you've got what it takes to be a team player and you also need to get some recognition. Such dynamism presents another challenge that students have to go through when pursing this degree program. To do so, prepare for examinations early. EC-Council University’s Graduate Certificate Program focuses on the competencies necessary for Cyber Security professionals to become managers, directors, and CIOs. How can I determine which cyber security program is for me? That is, you would need at least a degree in programming, computer science, or a similar field to be eligible for this program. One of the factors that makes this degree program challenging is its wide scope of work. For more information, contact a friendly ECPI University admissions advisor today. Despite the highlighted challenges that come with pursuing a degree program in the information security sector, proper preparation will help you succeed. __CONFIG_colors_palette__{"active_palette":0,"config":{"colors":{"30800":{"name":"Main Accent","parent":-1},"f2bba":{"name":"Main Light 10","parent":"30800"},"trewq":{"name":"Main Light 30","parent":"30800"},"frty6":{"name":"Main Light 45","parent":"30800"},"flktr":{"name":"Main Light 80","parent":"30800"}},"gradients":[]},"palettes":[{"name":"Default","value":{"colors":{"30800":{"val":"rgb(59, 136, Qualified applicants with other degrees and relevant work experience in cryptography, secure computer systems, and/or network security are also encouraged to apply. Gainful Employment Information – Cyber and Network Security - Bachelor’s. As reported by CSO, IBM’s Chairman, CEO and President Ginni Rometty said last year: With the continual advancements in technology and the increasing sophistication of cyber criminals, cyber security has moved to the forefront as organizations and governmental agencies scramble to protect their data and information. As such, having to learn how to use all the tools and resources for the three platforms is a daunting task hence the challenge in earning a degree in cyber security. … Cyber security professionals are in high demand as private companies, government agencies, financial businesses, and a wide range of other institutions work to stay ahead of would–be hackers, cyberterrorists, and other cybercriminals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of information security experts is expected to grow 18% between 2014 and 2024. “Cybersecurity is in the Wild West stages, and that creates a lot … You will create the plans and implement strategies for preventing attacks, develop policies to protect the organization against such attacks, ensure compliance of policies, monitor data access and train other employees.Annual Salary Range: $49,003 … Cyber security technical skills are progressively challenging. Tuition for a master’s degree varies … If you are interested in working in the field of cyber security you’ll need proper education to make your start. If you love the domain you are bound to find it challenging in a good way and if you aren’t interested you could find it difficult along with challenging. Cyber security job opportunities typically increase with education level. The computer industry is booming, and everyone wants a piece of the pie. We won't sell or share your email address. Obviously, it is true that some degrees tend to be more difficult than others. Is Cyber Security Hard to Learn? This means that successful students taking this program should possess certain qualities. Obviously, it is true that some degrees tend to be more difficult than others. This rate of change is challenging for students for a few reasons: Cyber security programs often includes labs, While we’ve established above that cybersecurity. This is in contrast to some of the science or engineering related programs that often required higher placement or knowledge before starting the program. Across all industries, it’s a … Any degree is costly, but a cyber security degree pays for itself quickly with the salary you have the opportunity to earn. The first factor that indicates a cyber security program may be less difficult than the other majors listed above is that most cyber security programs that were reviewed did not require higher level math or science general education classes. Cyber security programs do have courses that require labs to be completed, but the labs are usually tied directly into the course material. By visiting the college, you can get a good feel for if a program is for you and fits your needs and learning style. A lot of people ask if a cyber security degree is a difficult degree to obtain. The first factor that indicates a cyber security program may be less difficult than the other majors listed above is that most cyber security programs that were reviewed did not require higher level math or science general education classes. You can communicate with a person who is thousands of miles away while you are on the go. To qualify as a competent expert in the information security field your training sessions would have to cover all the major operating system platforms. Many channels, methods, and platforms exist for interconnected and information sharing. Cybersecurity is experiencing a severe shortage of talent today. A lot of people ask if a cyber security degree is a difficult degree to obtain. The preparation should entail revising past questions and relevant learning resources. To start with, the basic requirement for pursuing this degree is a background in a computer-related field. Many of the courses contained in the cyber programs we reviewed required minimal intensive research. This will also get you a change to meet with instructors if you would like. A cyber security degree is an important step toward your IT security career, but gaining hands-on experience can be just as powerful when it comes to finding a job in the field. If you have always wanted to get into the cyber space, this could be the best time. Given the fact that your hands-on skills will account for the biggest part of your work, it is important to pay close attention during the practical sessions. A good master’s program in cyber security will give students confidence, build character, and help students with networking within the information technology field. Since cyber security is a newer degree option available at most colleges, I decided to take a look and see how difficult a cyber security degree is compared to other degree majors. As Alec Ross, Senior Advise… Cybersecurity Jobs are on the Rise. This will also get you a change to meet with instructors if you would like. Start out with computer science with some cyber security courses thrown in. A cybersecurity degree is not that difficult as it is challenging. He has a degree in Computer Information Science and CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Server+, CySA+, and Cisco CCNA certifications. The effects of that ease of connection is twofold. In many cases, cyber security programs were limited to one lab-based science requirement and a math course requirement that was lower level, such as college math or statistics. The main role of these professionals is to secure their companies from system attacks. Provided you have the drive, the challenges would only make you excel on your quest for becoming a competent information analyst. A cyber security degree typically has average to above average difficulty compared to other degree programs. The cyber space is dynamic. Cyber security degrees tend to be more challenging than non-research type majors, such as programs in the humanities or business, but are usually not as difficult as degrees in research or lab intensive areas, such as science and engineering. One of the most challenging aspects of a cyber security degree, or any cyber security course, is that the technology changes at such a rapid pace. This means that it is challenging for cyber security students to have the hands-on experience for handling all the zero-day security exploits that hackers use. Ask five cybersecurity experts how they got into the field and you're … A cyber security degree typically has average to above average difficulty compared to other degree programs. In fact, cyber security changes at a rate that may be faster than any other major, especially at higher level courses. It appears that in nearly all cases, students without a technical background will be able to enter into a cyber security program with an introductory level of technical knowledge.eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'startacybercareer_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',105,'0','0'])); Another factor that indicated cyber security programs are easier than some other options are that they often do not require extensive research projects. Now that we’ve laid out the factors that may make a cyber security degree more or less challenging than other degrees for you, here is our ranking of common college majors by difficulty. Do you think you’d make a good cyber security analyst? students state that labs are the most challenging assignments they face. Regardless of the learning route, cybersecurity demands focus, continuous learning, and understanding the potential threats to both the internal and external network of a business . Cyber security programs assume minimal technical background. If you have a bachelor’s degree in cyber security or a related field such as computer science or computer engineering, you may have an easier time getting into IT security than your peers, but even then, you may still have a hard time getting a job with no experience to point to on your resume. The harder you work, the more likely you are to succeed without a college degree. With the exploding need for online security, cybersecurity will be … It appears that in nearly all cases, students without a technical background will be able to enter into a cyber security program with an introductory level of technical knowledge. However, such ease of communication could also expose you to privacy invasion by hackers. Specifically, degrees in fields such as biochemistry, physics, mechanical engineering and even computer science appear to be more challenging than common degree programs in cyber security. Writing and research requirements are not excessive, Laboratory requirements are not research-based, Why a cyber security degree is harder than some other options. continue on to a bachelor’s degree at some point. In comparison, some of the cyber security programs required a placement test to verify technical knowledge, but this was often a review of computer basics, such as Microsoft Windows and Office. Most importantly, these labs are not research based as they are in sciences, which tends to make them more manageable to complete. Copyright © 2021East Coast Polytechnic Institute™All Rights Reserved, Cyber and Information Security Technology, Systems Engineering Master's - Mechatronics, Electronic Systems Engineering Technology, 2.5 Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management, Management Master's - Homeland Security Management, Management Master's - Human Resources Management, Management Master's - Organizational Leadership, firms need to hire cyber security experts, What is Cyber and Network Security | ECPI University, Earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer and Information Science with a Major in Cyber and Network Security - Cybersecurity Track Degree, contact a friendly ECPI University admissions advisor today, What Our Students Say About the Faculty at ECPI University. Many cybersecurity students state that labs are the most challenging assignments they face. Cyber security skills are very stackable, meaning that one course builds on the next, and so forth. 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