One of the newest offerings in the Central Methodist University program list is one well-suited to today’s increasingly online society: Cybersecurity. As one of the fastest-growing industries of the modern world, cybersecurity jobs are in high demand, with more than 8,000 openings in Missouri and half a million throughout the country, according to Cyber Seek.
Offered as a web-based program for on-campus students, majors in cybersecurity will be able to take full advantage of both the online program and the Fayette campus experience. Adding this major to CMU’s online catalog will not only open those doors to students, but it is also expected to prop up other programs as well.
“Bringing cybersecurity to CMU was important to make our criminal justice and computer science programs stronger,” said tAno Mateu, CMU’s cybersecurity program director and lead instructor. “Cybersecurity is available as a major and minor, and that makes it even more flexible for our students.”
As a major, cybersecurity is intended to prepare students for employment in corporations and government intelligence branches playing different security roles. Studies in cybersecurity include network essentials, law, risk compliance, operations, incident response, and forensics. Majors will receive theoretical training classes and obtain practical, hands-on experience through exercises and research.
Part of what makes the CMU program unique is that the school has partnered with every community college in the state to allow students to transfer credits from their institutions upon joining the program. Students who have already begun studies in computer science, criminal justice, networking, and cybersecurity will be able to finish their degrees online with CMU.
Additionally, the program will provide the type of hands-on learning experience synonymous with Central Methodist. Advanced classes in the major will have the opportunity to take advantage of labs and other resources in the government’s cybersecurity realm, including the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Labs.
For Mateu, and CMU provost Dr. Rita Gulstad, bringing the cybersecurity program to Central has been a long but worthwhile endeavor.
“It’s been a fun ride. A couple of years ago when I started my master’s in Cyber and Information Security, I envisioned bringing cybersecurity to CMU,” Mateu said. “It’s been a long process. I designed the study plan with learning outcomes and once approved, I started designing the courses online. After working with our provost and her fantastic team, the cybersecurity program is ready to enroll students and benefit our current criminal justice and computer science programs.”
To learn more about the cybersecurity degree, visit the program page on the CMU website or like the Facebook page.