[SMU Professional and Online Addresses Urgent Need for Cybersecurity Experts with New Online Master’s Degree
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Cybersecurity Master’s degree to help fill 20,000 cyber-related jobs soon to be needed in Texas
DALLAS (SMU) – Students may apply now for SMU’s new online Master’s degree in cybersecurity, which will launch in January 2020. Presented by SMU Professional and Online (SMU PRO) and the Lyle School of Engineering, classes in the interactive 20-month program will be taught by faculty members from the Lyle School’s Computer Science department, in the same school which houses the Darwin Deason Institute for Cybersecurity.
“Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing career choice with tremendous opportunities for employment and positive impact,” says Larenda Mielke, Associate Provost for SMU Global and Online. “Sixty-five percent of organizations report a demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals according to the ICS2 2018 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. In addition, according to Ziprecruiter, the national average salary for a cybersecurity engineer is $117,000. An SMU Master’s degree in cybersecurity offers new career opportunities with training from top SMU experts, along with the convenience of an online program.”
Frederick R. Chang chairs the Computer Science department and is executive director of the Deason Center, and former director of research for the U.S. National Security Agency.
“One of the reasons why cyber intrusions are so prevalent today is that there is a lack of trained, qualified personnel to defend the nation’s cyber assets,” said Chang in recent testimony before the U.S. Congress. “In a survey of North American Information Technology and IT security professionals, 35 percent reported that there is a shortage of IT security professionals at most every level.”
“The challenge to make cyberspace more secure is a long-term, enduring problem. Today’s students will be responsible for designing, creating, operating, maintaining and defending tomorrow’s cyber infrastructure,” he said.
Prospective students are invited to apply for SMU PRO’s online master’s degree in cybersecurity, call program advisor Melvin Alvaregna at 214-768-1186 or email Online@SMU.edu to learn more.