Illinois

Illinois Cyber Security Education Degrees & Requirements

Associate’s Degree

A two-year degree is a great way to launch your career in cyber security. Community college programs don't always offer courses in cyber security and it’s difficult to find an associate degree program specifically focused on cyber security. That is because the field is fairly new and because that sort of specialization requires a more thorough background in the subject. However, you should be able to find a traditional program in information technology or computer science and then augment your learning with online courses from another school. With that said, you can earn an associate degree in either of these subjects and land a job in an IT department that will provide the security experience you desire.

Bachelor’s Degree

It’s easier to find a bachelor's degree in cyber security, or at least a technology degree that includes specialty courses in the field. Depending on your university, you may need to apply directly to the program or department. Check the department website for specific prerequisites, but be prepared to need courses such as Calculus, Introduction to Programming, or Introduction to Cyber Security.

Master’s Degree

Cyber security is a hot topic in graduate school Computer Science departments. More and more programs are offering it as a special focus or as a degree to itself. There are many fully accredited programs available online, as well as those on traditional campuses. You may even be able to hone your studies to specific areas such as computer forensics or penetration testing.

Certifications in Illinois

Certifications are a fantastic way to expand on your degree without returning to school full-time. Non-academic institutions offer a wide array of specialized cyber security courses that allow you to advance your credentials. Often these are offered through a professional association, but they might also be offered through a corporation, such as Microsoft or Cisco Systems.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Academic accreditation is a vitally important part of your education. This is because, when a program has been accredited, it has received a thorough audit from an independent agency. The agency has taken a close look at student outcomes, attrition rates, graduation rates, and more. Thus, when they sign off on a program, you can be assured that it will meet your academic and professional needs.

In the cyber security field, you should especially look out for programs that are known as Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). This credential comes from the National Security Agency / Department of Homeland Security and can be bestowed on any degree-granting program with an excellent cyber security program, whether it is a 2-year, baccalaureate, or graduate program. Your CAE-approved degree will take you far, especially if you decide to work for the federal government or enter the military.

You should also seek out the best-accredited program possible if your employer offers tuition reimbursement. Many companies only reimburse students who attend accredited programs, and they may even discriminate depending on what sort of accreditation the school has. Regional accreditation will often pass muster, but a national credential, such as CAE, will always be acceptable.

CAE Accredited Programs in Illinois

College of DuPage

CAE-2Y / 2017-2022

DePaul University

CAE-CD / 2014-2021

Illinois Institute of Technology

CAE-CD / 2014-2020

Illinois State University

CAE-CD / 2014-2020

John A Logan College

CAE-2Y – 2016-2021

Lewis University

CAE-CD / 2016-2021

Lincoln Land Community College

CAE-2Y / 2018-2023

Moraine Valley Community College

CAE-2Y – 2014-2020

Rock Valley College

CAE-2Y / 2019-2024

Roosevelt University

CAE-CD / 2018-2023

University of Illinois at Springfield

CAE-CD / 2014-2020

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

CAE-CD / 2014-2021

CAE-R / 2014-2021

Computer Science IT Programs in Illinois

Illinois State University

Illinois State offers an undergraduate major with a focus in cyber security that can help you launch a brilliant career. The program is housed in the information technology department alongside other programs such as Computer Science, Network and Telecommunications Management, or Web Computing, among others.

Programs Offered:

Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance - Bachelor’s Degree & Postgraduate Certificate

Computer Science - Bachelor’s Degree

Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst - Postgraduate Certificate

Information Technology - Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees

Tuition Cost

In-State: $14,516

Out-of-State: $26,040

Average Net Price: $19,489

College Retention Rate: 79% (Full-time Students); 68% (Part-time Students)

DePaul University

DePaul is a private, Jesuit university located in the heart of Chicago's Northside. As such, you can find innumerable cyber security internships and other opportunities nearby. Once you graduate, you'll find so many tech firms and startups in the Loop or elsewhere in Chicagoland.

Programs Offered:

Computer and Information Sciences – Doctoral Degree

Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance – Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees

Computer Programming/Programmer – Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees

Computer Science – Bachelor’s, Master's & Doctoral Degrees

Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst – Master’s Degree

Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration – Master’s Degree & Postgraduate Certificate

Information Science/Studies – Bachelor’s, Master’s Degrees & Postgraduate Certificate

Information Technology – Bachelor’s Degree

Tuition Cost

In-State: $39,975

Average Net Price: $30,584

College Retention Rate: 86% (Full-time Students)

Illinois Institute of Technology

IIT is a private technical university that prepares students for success in their chosen field. Its urban campus is located a short distance from Chicago's Loop, one of the nation's key centers for finance. There are bound to be countless opportunities to work in cyber security.

Programs Offered:

Computer and Information Sciences – Bachelor’s Degree

Computer Science – Bachelor’s, Master's & Doctoral Degrees

Computer and Information Systems Security/Information Assurance – Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees

Information Technology – Bachelor’s & Master's Degrees

Tuition Cost

In-State: $47,646

Average Net Price: $25,814

College Retention Rate: 86% (Full-time Students)

University of Illinois at Springfield

This branch of the U of I public university system is located in the state's capital. The school offers a great range of technology majors, including cyber security. In fact, their computer science department is nationally recognized by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education.

Programs Offered:

Computer and Information Systems Security/information Assurance – Bachelor’s Degree

Computer Science – Bachelor's & Master's Degrees

Computer Systems Analysis/Analyst – Bachelor's & Master's Degrees

Tuition Cost

In-State: $11,813

Out-of-State: $21,338

Average Net Price: $10,733

College Retention Rate: 77% (Full-time Students)

Loyola University Chicago

This private University is located in Chicago, which will provide you with abundant access to all the city has to offer. The city is brimming with top firms that need cyber security experts, and your experience with them will launch a brilliant career. In spring of 2019, the Computer Science Department began preparations for inclusion in the NSA/DoD Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

Programs Offered:

Computer and Information Sciences – Bachelor’s Degree & Undergraduate Certificate

Computer and Information Systems Security/information Assurance – Bachelor’s Degree

Computer Science – Master's Degree

Computer/Information Technology Services Administration and Management– Master’s Degrees

Information Technology – Bachelor's & Master's Degrees

Tuition Cost

In-State: $44,048

Average Net Price: $35,033

College Retention Rate: 85% (Full-time Students)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a top University that is home one of the best computer science departments and is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET. With a nationally recognized degree, you can launch a career in nearby Chicago or wherever you choose.

Programs Offered:

Computer Science – Bachelor's, Master's & Doctoral Degrees

Information Science/Studies – Master's & Doctoral Degrees

Computer and Information Sciences – Bachelor’s Degree

Tuition Cost

In-State: $15,094

Out-of-State: $31,664

Average Net Price: $15,829

College Retention Rate: 93% (Full-time Students); 40% (Part-time Students)

Conferences and Workshops:

InfoSec Cyber security International Symposium

2019 marked the third year this conference has taken place in Chicago. When you attend the symposium, you can expect to meet global leaders in cyber security. Topics you might discuss include new advances in security technology, case studies of incidents, infrastructure policy, and more.

ForenSecure

This conference has been held at the Illinois Institute of Technology and likely will be there again. Though hosted on a university campus, the focus is industry and the practical applications and implications of cyber security. For future events, you can submit a proposal and exhibit your wares, deliver a speech, or simply attend and meet thousands of other cyber security professionals.

Global Cyber Security Initiative (GCSI)

This conference is a one-day event held on the campus of the Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology. The topics are wide-ranging and make for a very full day of learning. By the time the day is over, you'll be primed to revolutionize your approach to cyber security

Illinois Cyber Security Jobs and Salary

Cyber security is a hot career topic these days. There is a tremendous need to hire qualified professionals who can address the growth of cyber-criminals. Computer science departments across the nation are scrambling to offer courses and degree programs that will prepare you to work in security. The profession is growing so fast and has arisen so suddenly, that the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't yet fully address the occupation.

The BLS does show that information security analysts in Illinois are earning a median salary of around $98,640. That is for workers with under five years of experience who typically have a bachelor's degree. On the national front, the agency shows that the security analyst profession is slated to grow by 32%, which they note is much faster than average.

The State of Illinois shows that the profession is slated to grow by approximately 16% through 2024. The total number of security professionals is projected to be somewhere around 3,325. However, note that many who work in cyber security might be categorized as Network Administrators, Network Architects, Database Administrators, or Information Technology workers, among other job titles.

Database Administrators, for instance, are slated to experience approximately 13% growth through 2024. Their annual mean wage in Illinois is currently $96,230 and there are currently 3,570 such professionals in the state. The Illinois Department of Labor projects that there will be approximately 5,145 Database Administrators by the year 2024.

The profession can also be folded into headings such as management consultant or other titles self-ascribed by consultancies. Currently, many penetration testers work as independent contractors who perform mock attacks on a system in order to assess its strengths and weaknesses. However, this profession is not yet specifically accounted for by labor statisticians.

The Cyber Security Certificate Programs Online in Illinois is made up of courses that will allow you to have a better understanding of the ways in which cyber security is done and will also help you to make better decisions when it comes to the things that you do and say on your computer. As well as learning about how to secure information and data, you will also get to learn about the basics of how the system works and what you can do in the way of protecting your own personal information.

There are various different degrees that you can choose from with any of these programs. They include but aren't limited to, Computer Information Systems Security, Cyber Security, Computer Security Management, Data Security Management and Information Technology Management, Information Assurance Management and Security Management. You will find that each one of these programs will provide you with the training that you need in order to become an informed and proficient person in the areas of computer and network security, as well as how to be more financially secure.

There are so many different aspects of these classes and they also cover other subjects as well. It all starts with getting to know the concepts that you will want to keep in mind when you're in the class, as well as understanding just what you can't do when it comes to keeping your information systems safe and secure.

Learning how to protect yourself online is a good place to start, but this course isn't all there is to this type of education. You will also learn about the various types of attacks that occur on the Internet, and how to get the most out of the type of protection that you can get for your systems. You will also learn the different types of vulnerabilities that you can find on your systems and then get a basic idea of how to work to improve the security of your systems.

These courses are also available online and you will find that there are various different companies that offer this type of education. One of the things that you can look for is to look for a company that offers both on site classes and e-learning classes. This will allow you to have a complete education on just about any aspect of cyber security, and you will also be able to do this at your own pace and at your own convenience.

The cyber security certificates online in Illinois are going to require that you pass various tests that are based on real life situations. These tests will provide the necessary skills for you to understand the types of attacks that you will face as well as the types of protections that you can install on your systems. to ensure that no matter what happens you are going to be safe.

The certified information systems security specialists in these certification courses online in Illinois are going to train you on the best ways to go about securing your systems so that you never have to worry about security issues ever again. The courses are designed to get you trained on the basics of information security and how to protect your information, your systems and your data.

So while you're looking for the classes that are available to you to learn these different things, you can look to Illinois to find the classes that you need to become an expert and skilled professional in these types of subjects. By getting the Cyber Security Certificate Programs Online in Illinois, you will be able to enhance your knowledge of these types of things and get the education that you need to avoid the problems that come with not having security, and getting your system or systems protected.

Resources

State of Illinois Cyber Security Strategy

The state government has put together a collection of resources for everyone to use in the service of thwarting the growth of cyber-threats. Their website offers printable, informative posters, curriculum, tip sheets, and even games that help deliver tips for average users. As a cyber security professional, you could make use of these materials to help educate workers in your firm.

ISSA Chicago

The Chicago branch of the Information Systems Security Association is a dynamic group of professionals who meet for periodic meetings and conferences. As a member, you can be active in Chicago and in the national organization. Your membership will open many educational, professional, and even personal opportunities.

IAAP – Chicago

The International Association of Privacy Professionals has chapters in Chicago and throughout the state. In fact, the IAAP has chapters all over the Western Great Lakes Region, including Champaign-Urbana, Rockford, and Milwaukee, WI, to name a few. This professional association will provide abundant opportunities for fellowship, career development, and more.

ISACA Illini

The Illinois chapter of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) creates an association of cyber security professionals. They host events throughout the year, and you'll be connected to the national organization, as well. When you attend regular meetings and events, your professional life will be enhanced and your firm will be all the safer.