Virginia Cybersecurity Degree Programs

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Virginia Cybersecurity Degrees Overview

Virginia is one of the biggest states not only in terms of education opportunities for cybersecurity, but beginning a new career in the industry.

There are 20 total institutions that have been designated as one of the National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE), and that includes a mixture of community colleges and bigger universities.

Jump to list of campus and online Virginia cybersecurity degrees.

Are there NSA CAE designated cyber security degrees in Virginia?

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

George Mason University
Lord Fairfax Community College
Marymount University
Norfolk State University
Northern Virginia Community College
Old Dominion University
University of Virginia

Why consider NSA CAE designated institutions for cyber security in Virginia

In many cases, coursework and full programs are available to pursue online, and some curricula will provide an emphasis in a particular subject category. Many of these institutions will fall under Cyber Defense, either setting an education (CAE CDE) or research (CAE-R) standard.

There is a separate designation for two-year degrees, which are generally reserved for community or specialized school. A handful of colleges have been designated as a CAE in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO). All of the accreditation is by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Online Cyber Security Programs in Virginia

Among the many online programs available in Virginia, Strayer University has a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Cybersecurity. The courses students will take in the concentration itself are Network Server Administration I, Computer Forensic Technology, Perimeter Defense Techniques, and Network Penetration Testing. The first class is focused on how to work with the Windows server environment, and can be swapped out with an Advanced Routing course for those that are pursuing a Cisco track.

Liberty University Cyber Security Programs

Another similar program that is offered fully online is at Liberty University. There are 120 credit hours required to complete the Bachelor of Science in Information with an Information Assurance specialization. Each course is delivered in eight-week increments and the school will accept up to 75 percent of transfer credits toward their curriculum.

Example courses include Cyber-Security, Information Security Planning, and Network Security. Pursuing an online program is an easier way to complete a cybersecurity degree in higher education, and Pennsylvania has many institutions that offer certifications, undergraduate, and graduate programs.

Courses can be offered in a synchronous format, where students can watch lectures remotely and take part in a virtual classroom, or watch videos of lectures recorded on demand. Coursework is typically completed at the students' own pace, but they will have to meet weekly deadlines.

List of the best cyber security degrees in Virginia

Undergraduate Cybersecurity Degrees

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

Virginia Graduate Cybersecurity Degrees

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

Master’s in Cyber Security Degrees in Virginia

There are many programs in the state of Virginia that focus on further education after a Bachelor’s degree, and there are plenty of online options as well.

George Mason University MS in Applied Information Technology

George Mason University has a Master of Science in Applied Information Technology with a concentration in Cyber Security through the Volgenau School of Engineering. This program is geared toward students that have had many years of experience in information technology and holds a Bachelor’s degree. At least 30 credits will be needed to complete the program, and most courses are available online and will differ in each semester. There are core courses in Algorithms and Data Structures Essentials, Database Management Systems, Fundamentals of Computing Platforms, and Information: Representation, Processing, and Visualization.

Admission requirements for the Volgenau School of Engineering, specifically in this program, are the submission of college transcripts, a personal statement on career goals they have set up, two letters of recommendation, and an updated resume. No GRE or GMAT scores are needed unless the student does not hold a Bachelor’s degree. Those that have completed a Master’s degree in applied IT have found opportunities as a cybersecurity analyst or engineer, intelligence analyst, and project management analyst.

Working in Cyber Security in Virginia

With the wide variety of institutions available in the state of Virginia, there are many opportunities for students to gain an education in cybersecurity to prepare for any level of job position. Those that do not have much experience should consider looking at associate degrees or certifications through Cisco or CompTIA.

Those that are in the IT industry but are looking for a career change, a graduate certification or Master’s degree within cybersecurity would be a perfect option. Because Virginia is very close to Washington, DC, where there are plenty of government opportunities in cybersecurity, there are also many conferences, workshops, and communities to help build knowledge and network with other professionals.

• Undergraduate Degrees:
  There are two programs that have been designated under Cyber Operations through the CAE, and the first one is at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (better known as Virginia Tech University). They have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering with a Minor in Networking and Cybersecurity. Students will need to complete 131 credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA in order to graduate. When it comes to elective options, students must complete three credit hours from networking design, nine credit hours from technical networking, three credit hours from engineering and science, and then two or three credits that can be from any category and are pass or fail courses.

  Old Dominion University has a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations through the College of Arts and Letters. The program is taken on-campus only and will explore topics in computer science and computer engineering, and students will be doing plenty of hands-on labs and projects in order to better prepare themselves for real-life situations. There are also related programs, such as a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a specialization in Cybercrime, and a Minor in Cybersecurity. In general, these programs will need four years to complete and will feature courses like Digital Forensics, Enterprise Risk Management, and Cryptography for Cybersecurity.

• Masters and Continuing Education:
  Norfolk State University’s College of Science, Engineering, and Technology offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity, a program that fully specializes in the industry that is needed more properly-trained workers to protect US companies and agencies from cyber attacks. Courses consist of Computer and Network Forensics, Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing, and Healthcare Information Security for those going into that industry. There are 36 total credit hours needed to complete the program, and each class will have no more than 20 students for more individualized learning. The program does conclude with a capstone project that showcases what the student has learned in their coursework.

  James Madison University has master of Science in Information Security that can be completed online. This program features the latest innovations in working on cybersecurity class material through interactive labs. Courses are in small sizes to have more individualized potential with professors. Students can select between a thesis and non-thesis curriculum, the latter having two special topics courses and a comprehensive exam instead, and students will have two chances to pass and graduate. Graduates from the program have become high-level executives in the federal government and at major corporations.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:
  There are many opportunities for employment in Virginia, with popular cities being Chantilly, Arlington, Herndon, and McLean. Major companies that are actively hiring cybersecurity professionals include ManTech International, General Dynamics Information Technology, and Booz Allen Hamilton. General Dynamics is an American-based defense company that was founded 120 years ago and focuses on the development of aerospace technology. A cybersecurity analyst at General Dynamics would have duties in identifying and reporting cyber threats in their networks, creating status reports and sending them to higher-level executives, and document any existing problems and collect all evidence of the actions from malicious attacks.

Virginia Cyber Security Careers

Virginia has the sixth-highest amount of tech employees according to CompTIA, and a large portion of these workers represent cybersecurity and systems analysts. The IT services industry is growing at a 2.2 percent year-over-year margin.

For information security analysts specifically, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that Virginia has the highest amount of employment with over $14,000 workers, and they are fifth-highest in average salary with over $111,780 being the annual mean wage. As expected, the Washington, Arlington, and Alexandria metropolitan location is also one of the highest areas in cybersecurity employment and salary throughout the country.

Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations

Because of the location, there are many opportunities to connect and network with various cybersecurity professionals, especially when it comes to the government.

DC Cybersecurity Professionals

One of the largest meetup groups is DC Cybersecurity Professionals with over 7,200 members and is based in Arlington. This group has met consistently and have talked about the latest topics in information security since 2012. They welcome all knowledge levels of cybersecurity and events have consisted of introduction courses in artificial intelligence and cloud security, workshops, and happy hour networking events.