There are two different universities in North Dakota for students that are interested in cybersecurity that are designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) recommends the Bismarck State College and North Dakota State University.

There are no schools that have designation in cyber defense, but the state college is an accredited two-year university and NDSU is a cyber research institution.

Here is a list of North Dakota cybersecurity degrees that are from NSA CAE Designated Institutions:

Bismarck State College
North Dakota State University

Click to jump to the full list of North Dakota cybersecurity schools.

Online Cyber Security Programs in North Dakota

Bismarck State College has an Associate of Applied Sciences in Cybersecurity and Computer Networks which is available on-campus and online. Students can take courses live through the internet or view lectures on-demand. Coursework will consist of education in networking, security, and working with the Windows and Linux operating systems. These degrees have the ability to be customized with an industry certification. Graduates have gone onto positions such as a computer technician, help desk support, and systems administrator.

Master's in Cyber Security Degrees in North Dakota

North Dakota State University has a Master of Science in Computer Science that has enough coursework for preparation in cybersecurity. There is a focus on the subject where nine credits will be taken as electives. Options include Computer Crime and Forensics, Social Implications of Computers, and Foundations of the Digital Enterprise. Up to nine credits can be used for transferring purposes, and there is an option to take a comprehensive exam for the core curriculum or a thesis paper that culminates the program.

Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in North Dakota

Both programs at Bismarck State College and North Dakota State University will prepare undergraduates for cybersecurity, with NDSU being the lone school that has an accredited Masters and PhD program. For admittance into the Master's program, students will need a Bachelor's degree that had a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and prior coursework that is equivalent toward the following courses offered at NDSU: Computer Science II, Discrete Mathematics, Database Systems, and Comparative Programming Languages.

North Dakota Cyber Security Careers and Organizations

There is a North Dakota Cyber Security Conference that meets annually at the NDSU Memorial Union. The one-day event will have multiple exercises that attendees can pick from, and there are multiple meetings with sponsors of the event in between sessions. These exercise will consist of general education, governance, and innovations in technology. This event also provides good exposure of cybersecurity education and networking opportunities.