March 28, 2024

Cybersecurity Degrees Offered at SMHEC

Higher Education

Bachelor’s, Master’s Added at Higher Ed Center

Two new cybersecurity degrees through the University of Maryland University College are about to be added to the offerings at the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center. A master’s of science in Cybersecurity Policy will begin in February 2016. A bachelor’s of science completion degree will be offered starting in the summer and fall of 2016 in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity has become a major concern for consumers, business leaders and government officials. Right now, demand for these highly skilled workers exceeds supply. One-third of the top 20 jobs requiring a baccalaureate degree in St. Mary’s County alone during 2013 would have benefited from UMUC’s Cybersecurity/IT related programs. In 2014 and 2015 this number of jobs has grown larger.

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy provides practitioners with the framework and knowledge to protect an organization’s cyber assets. The program focuses on prevention, detection, countering, and recovery from cyber incidents. Students learn about technical tools and organizational practices like access control, training, evidence collection, and disaster recovery, as well as business continuity planning.

Using a multidisciplinary approach, the program is designed to provide students with a broad analytical framework for evaluating and solving cybersecurity problems. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Policy requires the successful completion of 36 credits of coursework.

In the B.S. in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity, students learn the operational procedures and technologies to design, implement, administer, secure, and troubleshoot enterprise networks. The curriculum is designed to combine the benefits of a traditional college education with hands-on training in state-of-the-art computer technology. The computer networks and security curriculum integrates technical skill with communication skills and superior general education knowledge.

The bachelor’s degree program in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity begins with courses designed to build foundational IT skills. Students then focus on the network security side of IT, and other cyber security and digital forensics topics. Students write a proposal to design a network, including a plan to administer and maintain the network; learn how to install and configure advanced Windows server services; implement advanced server infrastructure; and troubleshoot IT problems.

UMUC was named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security.

The classes for the academic programs will be presented at the Center plus some hybrid classes. The Cybersecurity B.S. classes can build on the CSM two-year Cyber foundation courses.

Classes at SMHEC are offered during evening hours and Saturdays. Students can take classes in Southern Maryland and get a degree from a world-class university at SMHEC. See how your horizons can be global through the Cybersecurity degrees and the other academic programs at SMHEC. For additional information call UMUC’s Coordinator at SMHEC at 301-737-2500 ext. 215, or visit their website.

The SMHEC campus is located at 44219 Airport Road, in California, Md.

For more about the Southern Maryland Higher Education Center, visit their Leader member page.

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