Kentucky

Kentucky Cyber Security Education Degrees & Requirements

Associate’s Degree

These degrees are two-year college degrees that require about 60 hours of college credits. Qualifications for an associate degree program typically include a high school diploma or a GED. Many community colleges offer cyber security degrees in applied science that can prepare students for entry-level positions. Some students use a two year degree to set the stage to transfer to a four-year program and achieve a bachelor’s degree.

There are three general types of associate degrees in common usage; they are the Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), and the Associate of Applied Science (AAS). The AA and AS degrees can help students prepare for a bachelor’s degree, as many four-year schools accept them as proof of completion of two years of college study. Applied Science degrees focus on preparing students to enter the workforce.

Bachelor’s Degree

These are four-year degrees in which the typical program requires about 120 credit hours of study, or around 40 classes. There are two major types of bachelor’s degrees: Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS). Bachelor of arts degrees tend to involve a focus on humanities studies, while BS degrees tend to emphasize mathematics and/or the sciences. BA programs require a higher amount of coursework in the liberal arts areas than do BS programs. Liberal arts programs may have courses in foreign languages, fine arts, and/or social sciences. Most cyber security degrees are science based programs that emphasize mathematics and computer science.

Master’s Degree

These are advanced degrees, reaching a level of education that demonstrates mastery of a subject. The master’s degree is considered a level beyond the bachelor’s degree and often requires students to have a bachelor’s in a related field in order to enter a master’s program. Master’s programs may require holders with degrees in unrelated fields to take additional coursework.

Most master’s degrees require one to two years of study and some require a special project, internship, or master’s thesis prior to graduation. Master’s degrees have grown in popularity and some fields regard the master’s degree as the preferred level of education.

Certifications in Kentucky

Earning a certificate is a faster process for gaining and demonstrating knowledge. Whereas associate, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees take from two to six years, many certificates require one year or less. Certificate programs can run along with or independent of a degree program. Certificates essentially take the core of a subject and teach it in a short period of study but these programs will also have a narrower focus than an associate or higher level degree program.

For many students, certificates enhance an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree but do not replace it. For many professionals, certificates can demonstrate new capabilities and higher levels of knowledge while also fulfilling the need for ongoing education.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Accreditation is an outside review of the quality of education and resources provided by a school, college, or university. There are two types of accreditation: institutional accreditation covers the entire college or university and its programs and can be regional or national, while specialized accreditation applies to specific subjects taught by a school, college, or university. Accreditation agencies are not viewed as equals by employers, educators, and other educational institutions. The most widely accepted accreditation comes from regional agencies qualified by the US Department of Education. The DOE regional accreditation agency for Kentucky is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

In the field of cyber security, the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program is an industry leader. This organization is co-sponsored by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The CAE-CD was established to meet expanding federal government needs for advanced cyber security professionals. This organization seeks to increase skills and knowledge within states, local governments, and private industry.

Three Kentucky colleges have recognition by the Centers in Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE). These schools offer programs that meet the standards of the leading cyber security standards. They are the public Northern Kentucky University, University of Louisville, and the private University of the Cumberlands.

CAE Accredited Programs in Kentucky:

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

CAE-2Y / 2019-2024

Murray State University

CAE-CD / 2019-2024

Northern Kentucky University

CAE-CD / 2019-2024

Owensboro Community and Technical College

CAE-2Y / 2019-2024

University of Louisville – Graduate Certificate of Cybersecurity

CAE-CD / 2019-2024

University of Louisville, Kentucky

CAE-CD / 2019-2024

University of the Cumberlands

CAE-CD / 2017-2022

Kentucky Colleges Offering Certificates and Associate Degrees

The below-listed colleges and schools offer two-year degrees and one to two-year certificate programs in computer science, information science, and/or cyber security-related programs of study. Associate degrees and certificates can launch a career in cyber security, prepare you for a bachelor’s degree, or enhance an existing career path. Some schools offer programs that equip graduates to enter the job force at an entry-level.

Community Colleges are accredited institutions that most often offer degrees below the level of a bachelor’s degree. Many community colleges offer programs that allow students to transfer to a four-year college or university. Some community colleges have specific agreements that guarantee acceptance of their credits towards a bachelor’s degree at a four-year college or university.

Beckfield College - Florence

Tuition Cost

In-State: $13,295

Average Net Price: $19,454

College Retention Rate: 18%

Ashland Community and Technical College

Tuition Cost

In-State: $4,248

Out-of-State: $14,400

Average Net Price: $5,733

College Retention Rate: 59% (Full-time Students); 46% (Part-time Students)

Big Sandy Community and Technical College

Tuition Cost

In-State: $4,248

Out-of-State: $14,400

Average Net Price: $5,398

College Retention Rate: 61% (Full-time Students); 34% (Part-time Students)

Bluegrass Community and Technical College

Tuition Cost

In-State: $4,328

Out-of-State: $14,480

Average Net Price: $7,117

College Retention Rate: 57% (Full-time Students); 39% (Part-time Students)

Conferences and Workshops:

Conferences and workshops offer opportunities for information security professionals, students, and other interested persons to gather and exchange views. The list below describes some noteworthy annual Kentucky conferences and workshops.

Kentucky Digital Government Summit

The 2020 meeting is sponsored by Government Technology, a division of e.Republic,Inc. E.Republic,Inc. is a technology research company focused on public-sector innovation for state, local governments, and education. The Kentucky Government Technology Summit in Frankfort, Ky is an annual event that brings together governments and industry leaders to discuss and promote Digital solutions to public policy and governance.

NKU Cyber security

Symposium is an annual event hosted by Northern Kentucky University. It is a one-day event, consisting of four hour-long sessions. It has a broad agenda and participants can choose among six specialty tracks that include current topics of concern like healthcare cyber security.

DerbyCon

Located in the center of Louisville, this five-day event attracts a wide range of infosec participants. The program appeals to nearly everyone in the cyber security sector including professionals, entrepreneurs, and hackers. DerbyCon offers five days of workshops, training sessions, and current issue presentations.

Louisville Metro InfoSec Conference

ISSA Kentuckiana Chapter has been sponsoring this annual one-day gathering since 2003. Members get in free, while all others must pay for entry to a packed agenda of security experts from the private sector.

Graduates have to acquire sufficient hands-on technique to apply for entry-level jobs certain to safety, rather than much more basic IT settings. If you need a Kentucky-based online baccalaureate, your sole selection most likely to Sullivan University, which advertises a BS in Local Area Network Protection as well as Forensics. The program is a much more ingenious variation of the associate program of the precise very same name, adding a lot more offensive as well as defensive coursework to ensure that graduates can stay clear of attacks and expect powerlessness prior to the truth in improvement to investigating them later.

For-profit Sullivan College sports an MS in Cyber Defense. Students should anticipate a wide program that covers essential legal as well as additional policy troubles, valuable applications, along with IT management methods. A Baptist institution, College of the Cumberlands, likewise makes a look by positioning its MS in Info Devices Safety entirely online.

Fundamentals searching for a state education and learning have 3 on the internet certification programs to select from. The most straightforward is the Security+ Certificate from KCTCS. It's a single training program made to aid you pass the CompTia Security and also protection+ qualification evaluation, a conventional primary action for newbies in the area. KCTCS's Details Protection Professional Certification is much more required: It's a lighter-weight version of the CIT degree with the general education and also discovering programs stripped away; trainees take four core programs in the method plus 2 CIT electives.

Its Cybersecurity Certification is likewise 6 training courses long yet is much less concentrated on attack as well as security and even more in harmony with fundamentals of safe and also safe and secure networks, data sources as well as running systems. Two numerous other undergraduate choices to state are the Cyber Security Administration Certification as well as additionally the Cyber Security Professional Certificate at Sullivan College. The previous is fit for individuals searching for entry-level employment, more than likely as network administrators.

Right here's what we have actually found: Ed Swinford Scholarship: Basics in the Department of Modern technology, which runs EKU's Network Safety and security and security and Electronic devices program, can request this award if they have a 3.0. The choice committee suches as the honor goes to somebody curious about a coach in the field.

Right here are 3 groups that do satisfy consistently: (ISC2) Kentucky Triangle Phase: InfoSec professionals holding cutting-edge certifications can join this stage of the International Information And Facts System Protection Qualification Consortium for regular conferences, which contain presentations from government officials and additionally technology specialists. The location jumps around from Louisville and Fort Knox entirely right into southern Indiana.

Although ISSA is a professional company, it welcomes student participants to its routine monthly phase meetings, where individuals saturate up talks from place professionals. Participants likewise gain from cost cuts on qualification training. If it's networking you look for, you'll likely have luck on the workshop circuit. Right here are the four most significant yearly occasions in the state: DerbyCon: This is the occasion Kentucky's details security pros in addition to cyberpunks eagerly prepare for all year long.

Louisville is looking to resolve its modern technology scarcity by participating in President Obama's TechHire initiative. That led to Code Louisville, which informs previous miners to come to be younger software application programmers. But cyber safety and security and protection experts may prefer to concentrate their energies on a number of famous companies, such as Humana, a Fortune 100 healthcare company based in Louisville that often utilizes security experts.

When considering the various career options, a few may not be considered cybersecurity related in that they are not focused on protecting information systems or networks. A number of career paths exist within the field that are focused on the information technology aspects of security.

The first is in computer science degrees that focus on the overall security of information systems in general. These include both hardware and software, and also include security engineering in the IT area. They usually have a number of different areas to cover to create an entry level position.

There are also programs which focus specifically on security engineering in the IT arena. This is very similar to engineering in that there are various areas to study and a set of certifications that must be achieved before working in this field. It is not uncommon for many positions to require at least a BS in Security Engineering.

If you are looking into a job in the Information Security field, one may choose to go to an accredited university. A variety of different degree programs are offered with the majority of these focusing on the Security Engineering area. A Bachelor of Science in Security Engineering is a common course that most employers look for when hiring employees to work in their information systems.

While there are many degree programs available in the Information Security field, there is not one specific degree which is required for employment. Some degree programs do focus on the different areas of the information technology industry but there is no particular focus on this particular field of work. An individual can earn degrees in any number of different areas of the Information Technology Industry.

Degrees in Cybersecurity can often be earned by obtaining online classes or through a regular school that offers computer science courses. These classes can often be taken at home or taken in a classroom setting. While many employers are beginning to make more use of the Internet and the ability to connect to information via the Internet, many still prefer to work with people in person.

Careers in the IT field in Kentucky tend to come in two types: government positions and private consulting. Government positions tend to focus on managing the computer systems of certain agencies and often help train and maintain the systems in that agency. Private consulting positions are often found in the Information Technology Industry and focus on providing security for the internal information systems of companies and other businesses.

If you are looking into getting the education to work in the Information Security field, Kentucky offers many different types of degrees. The majority of these can be completed online and the coursework is typically the same as what is required at a traditional university. A degree in Cybersecurity can open up a variety of job opportunities including those in the Information Security Field.

A Bachelor's Degree in Cybersecurity usually focuses on information technology security in general. This includes learning about security procedures as well as the basics of how a computer system works. Once this foundation has been established, you may be able to specialize in a specific area such as network security, which is required if you are planning on working in a government environment or consulting company.

A Master's Degree in Cybersecurity focuses more on a specific type of information security. You will learn the fundamentals of information security, which includes understanding the physical and logical design of a computer system. along with the importance of securing a system. This program may also teach you how to test information that is sent from a company to another company and also how to prevent security risks.

Master's degree programs in Cybersecurity may also cover the more specific area of networks, which covers information security in the larger context of the entire company. There are typically more advanced courses that are required for this certification program and also a greater amount of hands-on training.

A PhD in Cybersecurity may be the only way to earn a Master's in Information Security in Kentucky. This program will allow you to complete the required number of credits to advance your education to the next level. It will allow you to apply these courses in a laboratory setting and take a final exam. This exam will test your knowledge and prepare you for future positions in the Information Security Field.

Kentucky Cyber Security Jobs and Salary

Computer related occupations are an important part of the Kentucky economy. They fill important roles in the functioning of an increasingly computerized state economy and they also provide a substantial amount of income for Kentucky workers. The Bureau of Labor statistics reports fourteen classifications of computer related occupations, involving about 33,000 positions. They are technical occupations in high-demand with an overall average annual salary range of $72,000.

Computer and mathematical occupations occupy less than three percent of all current Kentucky jobs. The Computer and mathematics occupations show an annual projected growth rate of 1.5% per year through 2026. The 1.5% annual growth estimate is among the highest rates for Kentucky occupational groups. Available career paths include the below-described positions.

Information Security Analysts have a total employment in Kentucky of about 800 jobs with an annual average wage of $84,000.

Computer Systems Analysts hold about 4,310 total jobs in Kentucky, with an annual average wage of $71,500.

Computer Programmers have about 1,270 jobs in Kentucky, with an annual average salary of approximately $73,000.

Database Administrators hold about 960 positions in Kentucky, with an average $79,000 annual salary.

Network and Computer Systems Administrators comprise a significant number of Kentucky jobs at about 3,190 total positions. Their average annual salary is about $65,000.

Resources

Kentucky currently has a relatively low number of cyber security organizations, and some do not maintain regular meetings. The benefits of working with these organizations are important for students as they can gain valuable insights and networking opportunities. Regular meetings are a helpful part of the Kentucky cyber security community; their agendas can highlight areas of interest for students and areas of change, growth, and innovation. They include the (ISC)2 Kentucky Triangle Chapter and ISSA Kentuckiana.

ISC2

Kentucky Triangle Chapter (International Information System Security Certification Consortium) offers information and security professionals a vibrant setting for networking information and innovations. The chapter regularly invites government and leading industry voices to contribute to its educational events.

ISSA

Kentuckiana is the Information Systems Security Association chapter located in Louisville. ISSA members are Infosec professionals and the organization also welcomes student attendance and participation at chapter meetings. The meetings are often based around presentations from government officials and industry leaders from the private sector.

OWASP

Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) is an online community that provides an interactive platform for exchanging ideas, projects activities, and information for improving the security of software. OWASP projects offer students and professionals opportunities to engage in the state of the art problem solving, innovation, and research. OWASP is open to everyone and each user can have access to materials and information.

ISACA

formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association - provides information and guidance for participants in the fields of cyber security and information technology. The Kentucky Chapter of ISACA offers student memberships that can support active networking, education, and industry insights. This group does not have regular meetings but they do offer a scholarship with three $500 awards.