As cyber-crime evolves, the need to protect sensitive information is more critical than ever. The Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Cyber Security program addresses the needs of government agencies, organizations, and businesses throughout West Virginia and the D.C. metropolitan region. The curriculum explores risk, threat, and security assessments, and teaches students how to safeguard businesses, develop a security policy, and respond to incidents.
Program Overview
Modern technology has made business use of computer technology essential. As technology continues to evolve and progress, there is an emphasis placed on safeguarding an organization’s or a company’s information. The Cyber Security program has been created to address the needs of government agencies, organizations, and the private sector within the local West Virginia community and DC Metropolitan area. The Cyber Security program offers an Associate of Applied Science Degree, incorporating vendor certification training, for students preparing for entry-level employment or advancement in a variety of occupations and courses in Cyber Security.
Students will complete hands-on activities that will provide an introduction to basic principles and security concepts related to active mitigation of known common threats. The curriculum discusses risk, threat, and security assessments and utilizing them to develop a security policy, business continuity, disaster recovery, and incident response planning. The program also covers security methods, controls and procedures, ethics, laws, and computer forensics. In addition, the program describes the use of cryptography as a tool, software development processes, and protection. Students will develop an understanding of the information assurance progression and how they can apply this knowledge to support their organization.
Students in the Cyber Security Program are subject to the Blue Ridge Community and Technical College’s requirements for admissions, basic skills testing, and appropriate course placement, including developmental education courses, which may not count toward completion of the program. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College Catalog requirements regarding academic standards, student conduct, and graduation procedures also apply.
Program Outcomes
- Explain the ethics, laws, and regulations as they apply to the Cybersecurity profession.
- Utilize security tools to identify and protect information security assets.
- Identify and demonstrate the understanding of Cybersecurity terminology, principles, concepts, and methodologies.
- Develop various policies, including; Acceptable Use, Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response.
- Research current threats and attacks and identify how to mitigate those threats.
Career Opportunities
The need for cybersecurity analysts expands into industries from financial services, manufacturing, government agencies, utilities, healthcare, and retail. Student knowledge of security methods, controls and procedures, ethics, laws, and computer forensics makes Blue Ridge Community and Technical College graduates an asset to the workplace. With certifications, an estimated entry-level salary is between $55,000–$84,900.
Note: All salary estimations are based on the current position and educational trends. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College cannot guarantee that the projections given will be the salaries students or graduates will ultimately receive.
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