This coming fall marks the introduction of Oregon’s first Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity, offered by Oregon Institute of Technology, “Oregon Tech.” First announced in January, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) approved the degree for fall 2019 enrollment at both Klamath Falls and Portland-Metro campuses.
As “industry’s university,” and one of the top polytechnic universities in the Pacific Northwest, the program aligns with Oregon Tech’s mission to provide applicable, hands-on experience for students in the changing workforce environment. Cybersecurity experts, Professors Dan Carrere and Tracey Coon, along with Information Technology Professors, Jeff Dickson and Lindy Stewart, teamed up to develop the cybersecurity degree for Oregon Tech to meet the significant need facing Oregon and the country. The program allows students to venture into this highly sought-after and exciting field, confident that security professionals are essential in today’s data driven society. “It is up to future generations of cybersecurity professionals to protect our most critical infrastructures,” said Coon.
The curriculum is holistic in its approach, as students are taught how to think as an “ethical hacker,” learn to protect business information systems, and are introduced to cyber operations and analysis. This three-tiered approach integrates core business coursework, as well as generating skilled graduates ready to transition seamlessly from the classroom to the workforce.
According to Professor Coon, “We’re creating business-savvy cybersecurity professionals who not only protect organizations and their information systems, but also serve as key business partners. In other words, the days of information technology and cyber folks sitting in the dark basement are gone. Oregon Tech’s cybersecurity graduates will be critical to business success and will be trained to understand business just as much as cyber.”
As technologies advance and businesses strive to keep current with the most advanced safety and security standards, it stands that students in possession of a cybersecurity degree will have abundant job opportunities. Graduates of this program can go on to work as security analysts, security engineers, cryptographers, security architects, security administrators, cryptanalysts, security software developers, and security consultants to name a few. Security professionals are needed in all industries including public and private businesses, as well as across a multitude of government agencies. The Global Information Security Workforce Study finds that the cybersecurity workforce gap is on pace to hit 1.8 million by 2022 – a 20% increase since 2015.
Oregon Tech will start accepting applications for Cybersecurity immediately with the online degree expected to launch in the fall of 2020, as well as partnership opportunities with community colleges and others that would be part of the program. The program is part of the Business Management department, which provides students with technology-infused business skills, giving graduates the edge in today's data-driven global marketplace. Current programs within the department include Accounting, Business Management, Cybersecurity, Health Informatics, Healthcare Management, Information Technology, Operations Management, Marketing, and Technology & Management.
