Texas Cybersecurity Degree Programs

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Texas Cybersecurity Degrees Overview

Texas has the most CAE cyber operations institutions, with four colleges, and there are 21 different schools that carry one of the three cyber defense designations. Dallas, San Antonio, Houston, Irving, and Corpus Christi are some of the locations where these programs are offered within the state of Texas. There are numerous online cybersecurity degree options in Texas for those candidates looking for more flexibility in their schedules.

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing industries in the nation with the rise of sensitive information in technology, and Texas has plenty of educational options for those that are entering a career.

Jump to list of campus and online Texas cybersecurity degrees.

Are there NSA CAE designated cyber security degrees in Texas?

Yes. Here is a list of Texas universities that are NSA CAE Designated Institutions and have a cybersecurity degree.

El Paso Community College
Hill College
Laredo Community College
Our Lady of the Lake University
South Texas College
Southern Methodist University
Texas A&M University – College Station
Texas A&M University San Antonio
Texas A&M University-College Station
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at San Antonio
University of North Texas

Are there online Cybersecurity degree programs in Texas?

Yes, there are online cybersecurity degrees in Texas. Texas has a number of options available for prospective students at all degree levels. Universities that offer an online cybersecurity degree include: University of Dallas' Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Sam Houston State University's Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security, Southern Methodist University's online Master of Science in Cybersecurity, and Baylor University's online MBA with cyber focus.

The ongoing advances in technology have opened the door to a large number of academic institutions now offering online or hybrid cybersecurity degree programs. This move is to encourage professionals in the workforce and young people graduating from high school to consider the degree.

Why consider NSA CAE Designated Institutions for Cybersecurity in Texas?

The National Security Agency (NSA) endorses cybersecurity programs in higher education by providing accreditation in one of the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) designations. Most of these academic institutions qualify for the Cyber Defense, (CAE-D) or Research (CAE-R) standard.

There is a separate designation for two-year degrees, which are generally reserved for community or specialized schools. A handful of colleges have been designated as CAE in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) and 4 of them are located in Texas.

In depth review of Texas Masters in Cybersecurity degrees

University of Dallas Master of Science in Cybersecurity

Today's prospective student will find a number of different college departments beyond computer science collaborate or manage cybersecurity degrees. At the University of Dallas, the Satish and Yasmin Gupta College of Business houses the master degree. The degree focus is to equip graduates with a thorough understanding of the complex cybersecurity environment and how to defend infrastructure and networks against cybercrime. Corporate business is looking for professionals that are proficient in maintaining the confidentiality, integrity and the availability of data as required by policy and procedure learned by students during the degree.

This program is available 100% online. It is a 30-hour credit program that includes 10 classes and can be completed in 1-2 years. Requirements include a degree in a bachelor degree from a regionally accredited college or university and be in good academic standing. The program does not require the degree to be in a computer science or information technology field. Required upper-level degree foundational courses are in management and strategy, marketing and cybersecurity.

The last semester students take a course titled Strategic Cybersecurity Practicum. The course is designed to incorporate degree material from prior classes and incorporate into a practicum exercise in cybersecurity to show cybersecurity proficiency.
The overall topic and content portfolio of the degree covers curriculum in data protection, operational and strategic cybersecurity management and compliance and legal issues. The content is current with up-to-date news and case studies about the current cybersecurity challenges.

A unique part of the cybersecurity masters program is MiniMasters. As students complete required coursework they can earn a badge to show proficiency. This badge can be shared with prospective employers and on the business social media platform LinkedIn. It can increase job opportunities right away as employers view a resume for key proficiency tasks of the candidate.

University of Dallas Center for Cybersecurity

It is a resource for prospective students, current students, graduates and the community. The center offers cybersecurity activities, events, news, resources and information technology services. Lectures are offered on various cybersecurity topics. The club within the organization competes in cybersecurity competitions across the globe to test their knowledge level in the protection of all types of systems and software. The university also offers a Master of Science in Cyber Intelligence (STEM) that is 42 credit hours and an MBA with a Cybersecurity concentration.

Sam Houston State University Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security

Sam Houston State University has a Master of Science in Information Assurance and Security, and it is available completely online. The 30-credit hour curriculum and 3 onboarding options to get enrolled. Candidates must have a degree in Computer Science or Management Information Systems, or already established a professional background in a related field before pursuing this degree. Students that receive a B or lower in core curriculum will be required to complete a written comprehensive examination on core subjects to prove proficiency. An oral exam may be required on core subject matter as well. STEM work courses may be required for students who need to meet the minimum standard for technical competence.

There are 6 required core classes. An overview here shows the topic and content on a variety of industry security solutions, techniques and decision-making concepts to a secure environment protected from cybercrime or insider theft.

• Operating System Security - Shares a full range of concepts and techniques regarding operating systems. It highlights the administration, testing and security for operating systems.
• Database and Network Cybersecurity - The development, deployment and maintenance of security with a commercial focus. Methods of vulnerability exploitation are taught along with database authenticity.
• Business Continuity Management and the Principles and Policy Structure on Information Assurance - Students learn how to keep an enterprise system functioning under critical circumstances. Risk assessment and continuity in case of disaster as directed by IT experts are explored, implemented and studied. Cybersecurity training and awareness programs are reviewed by students as they learn how to examine physical and electronic strategies for data protection.
• Graduation Required Directed Management and Development Project - The approved project will prepare students with the skills to protect corporations from network intrusions, analyze security risk, and implement disaster recovery efforts when necessary.

The university offers several other cybersecurity degree programs. All in the Department of Computer Science and they are Digital and Cyber Forensic Science Ph.D.; Computer and Data Science, MS; Digital Forensics, MS; and three separate cyber graduate certificates in cybersecurity, data assurance and digital investigation.

Southern Methodist University (SMU) Master of Science in Cybersecurity

The degree is managed by the Lyle School of Engineering and offers a fully online Masters degree in Cybersecurity. There are three different start times for flexibility. The Lyle School of Engineering has a set of admission requirements. The Master degree has an additional set of requirements, and each should be reviewed fully as part of the career search decision. The program can be completed in less than two years and will cover the latest innovations in the industry. Core courses cover typical subjects on computer system security, data, software and network security.

The program has two options, one is a 24-credit hour curriculum and a master's thesis or 30-credit hours of coursework of which 24-credit hours must be earned at SMU. Each path has 12-core credits and 12-elective credits. The additional 6 hours are either the thesis or 6-credit hours of a concentration instead.

Entering students must pass a technical competency test if the bachelor degree isn't in computer science. Elective courses offer advanced learning in data mining, network and system security and fault-tolerant computing. The program gives students the ability to interact with faculty professors direct and participate in live online classes may have as few as 15 students on average.

The university does have a NSA CAE approval and coursework models the philosophy goals and objectives of the accreditation requirements.

The school of engineering hosts Darwin Deason Institute for Cybersecurity. It is a collaborative effort between private, public and academic professionals, industry experts and academic professors work toward solutions to cybersecurity challenges. Students can participate in research activities.

University of Houston Master of Science in Cybersecurity

Cullen College of Engineering Technology Division houses the masters degree. The program is driven toward undergraduates with degrees in technology disciplines. However, degrees outside of computer science are considered with the proper work experience or professional background skills. The program offers advanced training with experienced professionals, and hands-on experiences working with real-world data, as students learn about the latest innovations in cybersecurity.

The GRE/GMAT is not required for the program. 30-credit hours are needed to complete the program which can be done in 2-years with a recommended sequence. 21-credit hours are required and 9-credit elective hours must be approved by the faculty advisor. Students will find subject matter in enterprise computing and security, cryptography, risk analysis and network security as foundational topics of the degree.

The elective options offer a variety of content so students can create a concentration. The path to graduation offers three options. One is an advisor-approved 9-credit elective course set. The second can be a thesis or a project approach that replaces 3 hours of electives, but the other 6 hours still must be approved by an advisor. Students are responsible for ensuring they have met prerequisites for upper-level courses before enrollment as dropped courses for failure to meet the requirements means no refund for the student.

Examples of Elective Course Material Subject Matter

• Advanced Techniques in Digital Forensics
• Design of Data Analytics Solutions
• Text Mining
• Cloud Computing
• Information Visualization
• Data Science for Cybersecurity

Designated by the CAE in 2007, this program has long established its reliability in cybersecurity education. Core coursework supports the models set by NSA CAE. One course focus in particular is on the legal context involving data and the data life cycle. A critical thinking course highlights the ongoing transformation of technology and how it interfaces with other components including society in general around the world. IT professionals must learn to practice diplomacy as digital crime and its disruptive nature of it can put cybersecurity teams in very difficult positions.

Baylor University Master of Business Administration in Cybersecurity

The Hankamer School of Business manages the master degree program in cybersecurity. Students entering the degree are required to take anywhere from 48-60 credit hours depending on the business foundation courses background of the candidate. A set of required business courses are part of the admissions requirement. Other admission requirements are similar to most colleges.

This degree integrates business management tools with cybersecurity concepts. Students explore how to mitigate information risk and discuss critical topics of the day like current threat analysis techniques, network security and cyber defense protocol. Learning communication techniques are taught, so both IT and leadership understand the implications of a security failure and can communicate that position effectively across all channels.
A course content and topic highlight is in Organizational Strategy in Cybersecurity. Today's graduates understand data security isn't just about the IT department. All departments must understand the big-picture strategy of the company and implement their critical tasks and activities to support the overall defense of the network and computer systems.

Elective courses focus on creating an effective strategy where professors teach integration of cyber protocol with topics on each different department of business including communication, marketing, brand management and marketing analysis sharing how the integration of cybersecurity is strategized across the company.

Students enrolled in a cyber-related degree program have the opportunity to be part of competition teams in cybersecurity defense. Students use hands-on techniques defending their systems against outside professional hackers and other students while learning at the same time.
Baylor University is research focused so graduates may find they qualify to be a Chief Information Office (CIO), lead IT project manager or cybersecurity consultant after earning the masters degree.

Baylor offers a number of focused bachelor degree in both the computer science and engineering degree programs in addition to the online master. However, students may find not all programs are available in the online platform.

List of the best cyber security degrees in Texas

Undergraduate Cybersecurity Degrees

Click to view all online Associate and Bachelor in Cyber Security degrees that are taking applications.

Texas Graduate Cybersecurity Degrees

Click to view all online Graduate level Cyber Security degrees (Master and Doctorate) that are taking applications.

In Depth review of Texas Certificate, Associate, and Bachelors degrees in Cybersecurity

The state of Texas has at least a dozen and more universities and colleges for candidates focused on undergraduate cybersecurity degrees. The associate degree programs offer foundational coursework that prepares students with a skill set for many entry level positions in cybersecurity like information analysts. Associate degrees can usually be taken online and offer working professionals an option to advance a career while remaining employed.

Students should be prepared with the usual admissions application paperwork. Transfer credits, work experience and waiver options are available in most colleges, too. In general, the academic environment is making admissions to programs less restrictive to attract more candidates.

University of Texas at San Antonio Bachelor of Science in Computer Science Cyber Operations Track

The University of Texas at San Antonio is in a special group of 20 other schools around the country and only 3 in the state of Texas to hold all three NSA CAE approved institutions in Cyber Operations, Cyber Defense and Cyber Research.

The Department of Computer Science manages the Bachelor of Science Cybersecurity track. Admissions to the program is set by the Computer Science department degree except for one class on computer architecture, which can be taken as an elective. The Cyber Operations Track has a built in 33-credit hour required set of coursework that is designed as a 4-year degree path along with the general university requirements for graduation. The computer science curriculum in general covers basic computer knowledge and information needed for the cybersecurity track, so no prior programming is necessary.

Cyber operations encompass a variety of components and look at the larger scope of cyber-related operations, both technical and non-technical. Content in programming languages, and software reverse engineering with industry experts and professors who teach the latest in digital forensics, applied cryptography and ethics using real-world settings and software platforms.

Course Titles within the Cyber Operations track

• Cryptography
• Cellular and Mobile Technologies
• Distributed and Cloud Systems Security
• Secure Software Development and Analysis.

Students who complete the cyber operations track with have the CAE-CO designation recorded on their transcripts.
Other concentration tracks offered through the College of Computer Science Degree are Cloud and Systems, Data Science and Software Engineering. All are 4-year Computer Science degrees with a cyber-related focus.

St. Philip’s College Associate of Applied Science Information Technology Cybersecurity Specialist

Located within the Business Information Systems department, the degree is offered by on-campus live classroom and fully online. 60-credit hours The degree prepares graduates to carry responsibility in all facets of network security like design, implementation and 24/7 security protocols. Students learn how to properly install security software, monitor networks for intrusions or malware, respond to cyber incidents and investigate to determine the severity and follow the next step process for mitigation.

Two milestone courses indicate success in the program for students. First, students focus on implementing and supporting client operating systems. Basic and entry level foundational content is taught. Routers play a critical component in keeping data safe, so an entire course is taken by students to learn about local area networks (LAN) and wide area networks (WAN). Internet Protocol (IP) addressing techniques and intermediate routing protocols round out the subject matter.

Additional coursework is found in how to implement and manage an incident response including gathering forensic evidence with the understanding it could be needed for a legal case in the future.

The college coursework supports material found in several industry certifications like the CompTIA Security+, or CompTIA Linux+ (OSA) Certified Security Professional (CSP), Cyber First Responders (OSA) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH). Students can coordinate testing through their department. A career position would be focused on a cybersecurity analyst or cybersecurity specialist.

El Paso Community College Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity

One of the community colleges designated by the CAE is El Paso Community College who offers an Associate of Applied Science in Cybersecurity.
Students have a full-time or part-time option which is available for anyone considering working while enrolled in the program.

A 2-year program for fulltime students with summer participation. Part-time students may need up to five years to complete the 60-credit curriculum, but not only will they complete a degree from an accredited university, they will also receive a certification as a Computer Support Technician. Many courses are Cisco certified and taught by a Cisco certified instructor.

Basic course work covers foundations of firewalls and network security and computer systems forensics. A course covering switching, routing and wireless essentials offers current technology and solutions to cybersecurity intrusions.

Graduates should be proficient in writing basic program coding, troubleshoot networks and computer systems and applying critical thinking techniques to overcome cybersecurity challenges. A unique experience has students in a required set of 2 courses to obtain 320 hours of training with an IT department. Students coordinate as directed prior to registering for the courses.

Many of the courses required and electives can apply to a variety of industry IT certifications. Graduates of this degree can enhance their degree by continuing specified certificate coursework and eventually become a CISCO Certified Network Professional. This certification is an industry known as a highly specialized skill set in networking. Students considering a 4-year degree are encouraged to consider network security or cybersecurity as a major.

Texas Cybersecurity Continuing Education and Certificate Programs

Prospective students will find academic certificate programs at all levels of cybersecurity degrees and anyone looking for a specific set of skills is likely to find a certificate for it in the state of Texas. Some certificates are designed and administered by the university. Cybersecurity coursework offered also prepares students to take industry certifications which can enhance resumes or open a job opportunity up for the right candidate. Continuing education (CE) for industry careers may also cross over and students or working professionals can apply credits to CE from a certificate completion.

Texas A&M University-San Antonio Cybersecurity Engineering Certificate

Every business sector today is faced with cybersecurity decision-making. Aligning with future goals for data security, the College of Engineering hosts a cybersecurity certificate focused on coursework for students in engineering giving them a way to enhance their skill set and better protect the computer systems and data in the engineering sector.

A total of 12 semester hours are required with 2 core classes and 2 electives chosen by the student with approval. The certificate is geared towards engineering students and covers the data protection protocol for large-scale interconnected operations. Foundations of cybersecurity, advanced networking and security of hardware equipment and software programs are taught by industry experts on the current data protection concepts.

CompTIA a nonprofit organization for the information technology sector offers 2 specific sets of coursework for certificates that can be completed by a student online. One curriculum set is focused on networking in general. Networking concepts, infrastructure, operation, security and troubleshooting tools are taught to prepare students to take the certificate exam.

The second certificate is a basic industry certification and establishes a core knowledge level for students to achieve. Both certificates are career enhancements that improve opportunities graduates chances to interview for specific positions in engineering or computer science support positions. These are self-paced asynchronous certifications and include over 200 short modules with videos and notes that cover concepts on security. Lab work allows students to become proficient at course objectives, passing practice exams along the way. Students will be issued a voucher to take the exam upon completion of coursework.

University of Texas at Austin Cybersecurity Certificate Program

For looking for a quick format, this program is only 33 weeks and all online. Offered by the Center for Professional Education and geared toward professionals looking to shift careers into an information security role or explore if cybersecurity to see if a career change matches the candidate.

While it is not a CAE institution, it has received a Brandon Hall Gold Award for Best Advance in Unique Learning Technology. The program is offered 100% online. However, students should know this is a hands-on class and a minimum of 25 hours per week should be set aside to fully participate. Prospective candidates need to consider the time commitment if working a fulltime job.

Three courses are packaged together into one program that takes 31 weeks to complete:

• Cybersecurity: Immediate Immersion
  A 6-week course designed to help students decide if the career is a fit. Content highlights include analyzing suspicious user behavior, recognizing malware and identify the features of an exploit kit attack.
• Cybersecurity Defense:
  As the title says, this 12-week course is about defending systems and data. Students learn how to analyze remote intrusions to build solutions, conduct forensic investigations and learn how to create reports that speak to both IT and non-technical stakeholders. This initial course is a month-long foundational course designed to determine if a career in cybersecurity is the best option for the student.
• Cybersecurity Attack:
  The good guys go on the attack against cyber criminals, learning how to fend off hacking, software exploitation and get real-world training on how to evade the constant attack computer systems are under in a complex cybersecurity world.

The development of the certificate program was funded in part by the Department of Defense. A curriculum set that is modeled after the DoD and collaboration with industry experts.

Texas Cybersecurity Careers

With Texas gaining numerous major tech companies, opportunities in the cybersecurity sector will continue to grow. Texas was the fastest growing state in terms of adding tech jobs according to CompTIA and the outlook is strong with projections of opportunities increasing by 18% over the next two years for information technology positions. The estimated median wage of $91,885 for a tech occupation is 131% higher than the median wage for all occupations in the state and has a positive outlook.

Companies hiring entry level positions like a computer support specialist do not always require a bachelors degree but can still command a salary of $57, 910 across the country.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics offers statistics showing both Dallas/Forth Worth and the Arlington area as well as Houston as strong technology cities for job opportunities. The Woodlands and Sugar Land have a strong employment outlook for computer systems analysts. The annual mean wage in those areas range from $106, 780 to $116, 770.

Information security analyst positions have a strong presence in Texas too, as its lists over 13,530 workers. The average salary for these employees sits at over $101,800 annually and an hourly wage of just over $54.46.

Start Working Right Away with a Cybersecurity Degree in Texas

The higher education environment is exploding in cybersecurity degrees and certifications for candidates regardless of prior knowledge about computer or network security. Those new in the information technology sector should look at associate degrees and certifications because they have less stringent requirements for admission and can be completed quickly. Specific skill sets required in IT industry sectors like network security protection can be obtained through a certificate program offered at many colleges in Texas. The state also provides plenty of job opportunities in entry level positions. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics, notes a growth rate of 15% for the computer and information technology sector occupations. That is much faster than the average for all occupations. The annual median wage is $97, 430 in contrast to $45,760 the median wage for all occupations.

Cybersecurity Employment Options

Deloitte, CDW, and GM Financial are examples of companies that have entry-level positions available in cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. For example, a cybersecurity analyst at GM Financial is tasked with gathering information and using risk management tools to make decisions on data protection of the organization’s security protocol, create reports and deliver presentations to higher-level management. Bank of America has a supply chain tech risk specialist position that evaluates the protection of data within the supply chain and the cloud. Texas continues to show a strong outlook for employment in all areas of information security.

Academic Insight into Salary and Cybersecurity Careers

El Paso Community College career information for graduates notes several salary expectations for graduates. Graduates with the AAS in Cybersecurity may look for employment as a Cybersecurity Technician. Salary range for that position are $30,000 to $98,350 depending on the student background, location, education and experience. Other noted entry level job positions in the industry range between $40,000 to $208,000 as a Security Analyst which is a top industry position today and can on average command salary range of $60,060 to $163,000.

Texas Cybersecurity Technology Employers and Organizations

AT&T is headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Dallas, but much of their cybersecurity staff is spread out across the state and world. Remote positions or take a global position with the company in IT. Graduates have job opportunities for those seeking to work with AT&T. There are regional managers located in Texas and there are government-related opportunities in San Antonio.

Dell is another company that holds its headquarters in Texas with many cybersecurity opportunities in Round Rock and Austin. An information security officer at Dell is responsible for gathering information and working with stakeholders in order to improve cybersecurity defenses, and leads daily tasks like tracking vulnerabilities and installing software to patch those same vulnerabilities. Professionals in this position may also be in charge of tracking and evaluating metrics on network security.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) is a marketable skills initiative that helps students connect with employers and share their skill set in an appropriate style for the position. The skills may be interpersonal, cognitive and applied skill areas. Statewide support is offered for graduates and students where resources and industry news is available.