There are five universities and colleges in the state of Tennessee that have been noted by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as being pivotal educational experiences in the cybersecurity agency.

NSA CAE Designated Institutions for Cyber Security in Tennessee

Among these institutions, there are popular public universities such as the University of Memphis that have received this certification, both in cyber defense and cyber research. Other notable universities include the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Tennessee Tech University.

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

Jackson State Community College
LeMoyne-Owen College
Tennessee Tech University
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
University of Memphis

Click to jump to the full list of Tennessee cybersecurity schools.

Online Cyber Security Programs in Tennessee

At this time,there are no online opportunities for cybersecurity education in the state of Tennessee. However, residents in the state are open to looking at other schools across the nation to receive the best education from a designated CAE.

Online courses provide an ability to break into the cybersecurity industry or for information technology experts to transition into a new career. Typically, online programs will be available in mostly asynchronous format with requirements to complete assignments and exams within specific deadlines.

Students will need to check with the institution to see if they have the correct computer devices and software needed to complete the program. Common requirements include a Windows or Mac computer, internet access, and the Google Chrome or Firefox internet browser.

Master's in Cyber Security Degrees in Tennessee

Obtaining a Master's degree will help working professionals gain a better understanding of cybersecurity and open themselves up to higher-level executive positions in their organization.

Students should be able to demonstrate competence in computer science with other work experience or a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. Holding at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA is recommended, but students can also submit GMAT or GRE scores to improve their chances (in some cases, these are also required for admittance).

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga features a Master of Science in Computer Science with a specialization in Cyber Security.

It requires 33 total credit hours with a thesis, or 36 credit hours with a capstone project. The program is roughly divided up evenly with core courses and electives. Students that are coming into the program without a computer science background will need to take a fundamentals course and learn to structure programs and work on computing systems.

Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in Tennessee

Tennessee does not have the convenience of completing programs online, but there are plenty of opportunities at any skill level within cybersecurity to sharpen skills or to jump into the profession. Cities that host CAE-designated institutions include Memphis, Chattanooga, Jackson, and Cookeville.

• Undergraduate Degrees:
  Jackson State Community College offers the Associate of Applied Science with a concentration in Cyber Defense. Required courses in the curriculum include Database Concepts, Unix/Linux Operating Systems, and Digital Forensics. In addition to the core curriculum, there is a communication requirement, one humanities course, one natural science or mathematics course, one social or behavioral science course, and an additional general education course. Students that complete this degree will be prepared for the CompTIA certification exams.

  Tennessee Tech University offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity concentration. There are 120 credit hours needed to complete the four-year degree and concentration-specific courses include Information assurance and Cryptography, Statistical Methods, Computer Networks, and IT Security. Students will be learning various systems, computer languages, and other related courses in order to be prepared for entry-level cybersecurity positions.

• Masters and Continuing Education:
  Students can get a quicker education with a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. It takes 12 semester credits, or four total courses to complete the program. Required options (two courses) are in Computer Security, Cryptography and Data Security, and Network and Internet Security. The other six credits will be in courses such as Cyber Ethics, Computer Forensics, and Cyber Law. Admission requirements are the same as entering into a Master’s degree.

  The University of Memphis’ Fogelman College also offers a Master of Science within Information Systems. There are elective courses in Enterprise Network and Security, Information Security Management, and Cyber Ethics and IT that relate to cybersecurity. Students looking to get into the program will need to submit GMAT or GRE scores, transcripts that have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, and an application.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:
  Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville have plenty of opportunities for cybersecurity professionals. A government cybersecurity associate at KPMG works with other clients in order to bring data security solutions to them. Deloitte, another professional solutions service, has numerous positions like an endpoint protection platform administrator, who will respond to any malicious activity reports from their clients and they will develop a knowledge base that makes the service more proficient at handling outside intrusions.

Tennessee Cyber Security Careers

According to CompTIA, Tennessee sits at around the middle of the pack when it comes to technology employment across the United States with the 22nd-most employment (over 174,000). That number is growing with IT services jumping 3.1 percent year-over-year, and continuing improvement telecommunications, internet services, and tech manufacturing. The average information systems and cybersecurity employee that is in the mid-range portion of their career will make between $82.350 to $104,730 in the state based on Salary.com, with higher paying opportunities Fayetteville, Kelso, and Lynchburg.

Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations

FedEx is one of the bigger employers of information security analysts in Memphis. They need network protection for their delivery system in order to effectively ship products around the world. Clearwater Compliance in Nashville focuses on the healthcare industry and analyzes risk when it comes to the distribution of medication and services to patients.