Best Cyber Security Schools In Illinois – Before We Get Into The Topic, Let’s Learn Some Basic Of This Topic
Find Illinois Cyber Security Degrees
12 institutions in Illinois have been designated, with the bulk of them specializing in cyber defense and offer two-year programs.
There are no cyber operation classifications and only the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is involved in cyber research. DePaul University and Illinois State University are two of the more well-known universities on this list, in addition to the flagship Urbana-Champaign site.
Consider a featured online cybersecurity program currently taking applications:
| School | Level | Program | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
Utica College |
Bachelor | Online BS in Cybersecurity | Website |
Aurora University |
Bachelor | Online BS in Cybersecurity | Website |
University of West Florida |
Master | Online Cybersecurity, M.S. | Website |
Norwich University |
Bachelor | Online BS in Cyber Security | Website |
Fairleigh Dickinson University |
Master | Master of Science in Cyber and Homeland Security | Website |
Cyber Security Degrees In Illinois
The Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) is a public research university
- Illinois State University is a public university in Illinois.
- Logan College, John A.
- Lewis University is a public university in Lewisburg,
- Lincoln Land Community College is a community college located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Moraine Valley Community College is a community college in Moraine Valley, Illinois.
- Rock Valley College is a community college in Rock Valley, California
To see the full list of Illinois cybersecurity schools, click here.
NSA CAE Designated Institutions For Cyber Security In Illinois
The National Security Agency (NSA) has designated higher education cybersecurity programs as one of its National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE). Many of these universities will come under Cyber Defense, which will set an education (CAE CDE) or research (CAE-R) standard with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Two-year degrees have their own label, which is usually reserved for community or specialized schools. A few colleges have been designated as Cyber Operations Centers of Excellence (CAE) (CAE-CO).
Online Cyber Security Programs In Illinois
Obtaining a cybersecurity degree in higher education through an online school is a more convenient option, and Pennsylvania has several universities that offer certificates, undergraduate, and graduate programs.
Courses can be delivered synchronously, in which students can watch lectures remotely and participate in a virtual classroom, or in an asynchronous model, in which students can watch recorded lectures on demand. Coursework is often conducted at any time of day, either at the students’ own pace or by meeting weekly deadlines to keep up with the rest of the class. All communication takes place through a content management system provided by the institution or a third-party service like Blackboard.
Featured online cybersecurity programs:
| School | Level | Program | Admissions |
|---|---|---|---|
University of Delaware |
Master | Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity | Website |
St. Ambrose University |
Bachelor | Bachelor of Business Administration – Cybersecurity Management | Website |
Bethel University |
Bachelor | Online B.S. Cyber Security | Website |
Lindenwood University |
Bachelor | Online BA Cybersecurity | Website |
Point University |
Bachelor | Bachelor of Science in Information Technology in Information Systems Security | Website |
Online BS in Information Systems Security at the University of Illinois Springfield
The Department of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Springfield offers an online Bachelor of Science in Information Systems Security. The curriculum requires 36 credit hours to complete, not including an entrance and exit assessment at the start and conclusion of the program.
Foundations of Network Security and Information Assurance, Systems Programming Languages, Windows Network Administration, and the Systems Security and Information Assurance capstone project are all mandatory courses. Three electives from the computer science department are required, allowing students to tailor their degrees.
Master’s In Cyber Security Degrees In Illinois
Because of the complexities of information technology and network security, it is suggested that persons seeking technical or administrative positions pursue a Master’s degree. This program provides the education needed to succeed in a certain career or make the crossover to cybersecurity for individuals who work in a different part of the IT industry. Students will typically need an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 cumulative GPA, prior coursework in computer science and mathematics, and official transcripts, an updated resume, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement declaring why they are pursuing this degree to be accepted into a Master’s program.
The Illinois Institute of Technology’s Armour College of Engineering offers a Master of Cybersecurity Engineering program that examines the theories behind data privacy and the methods we use to protect sensitive information, as well as regulatory classes with a focus on e-commerce, social networks, and forensics. Object-Oriented Programming and Computer Simulation, Digital Communication Principles, and Statistical Pattern Recognition are just a few of the computer engineering classes that need up to 13 credit hours. The curriculum requires at least 30 credit hours to complete, and graduates will be prepared for roles as cybersecurity systems engineers or specialists.
Getting Started Working In Cyber Security In Illinois
There is a path for anyone interested in a cybersecurity job, regardless of their computer science background. There are a dozen colleges in Illinois that offer certifications and undergraduate or graduate degrees for persons with no prior work experience who are looking for entry-level positions or who want to improve their career into a managerial or executive role. Chicago, the state’s largest metropolis, has a plethora of cybersecurity options.
Bachelor’s degrees:
John A. Logan College offers a variety of concentrations for the Associate in Applied Science degree. The National Security Agency has identified one of them as working toward a degree in Cyber Security and Information Assurance. This program is 65 credit hours long and normally takes two years to finish. The first semester covers the college’s fundamentals, as well as computers and network infrastructure. Students will thereafter be able to work with a variety of operating systems, cloud networks, hacking, penetration testing, and Cisco services. Computer Forensics is another AAS specialization that needs 71 credit hours and offers a comparable curriculum with an emphasis on criminal justice, cyber criminal activities, and how to investigate intrusions.
DePaul University’s College of Computing and Digital Media offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity with a focus on mastering Cisco equipment at the CDM Security Lab on campus. Security Daemons, a student group, meets regularly for activities and competitions at collegiate cyber defense events. With online courses, the curriculum is more flexible because all lectures are recorded and available on-demand and many courses will have extra material available through the school’s learning management system.
Continuing Education and Master’s Degrees:
Lewis University offers an online Master of Science in Computer Science with Cyber Security as one of the concentrations. The curriculum requires 33 credits in total, which are divided into six concentration courses, three electives, a research course that everyone in the MSCS program takes, and a thesis that concludes the program. Students will learn how to conduct risk assessments, obtain a grasp of how cyber attacks can have a significant impact on a business, and how to develop software and prevent intrusions from outside sources and other unauthorized access.
The graduate certificate in Information Assurance and Security offered by Illinois State University is designed for IT professionals who want to learn more about the tools needed to establish and maintain a secure information system. This is also a certification available at Illinois Tech, and it satisfies the requirements for training with the United States government’s Information Systems Security Professionals and Systems Certifiers. Database administration, network security, and cryptography are common topics covered.
Job Opportunities in Cybersecurity:
Chicago has the most diverse range of cybersecurity jobs, regardless of education or experience. Deloitte and KPMG, two of the most well-known firms, are members of the Big Four accounting firms. Accenture, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Allstate, and Amazon are among the organizations that are actively hiring. An IAM Specialist (Identity and Access Management) at KPMG’s cybersecurity department employs those services to keep track of sensitive identity data as well as perform auditing and reporting procedures.
Illinois Cyber Security Careers
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the metropolis areas of Chicago, Naperville, and Elgin in the states of Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin have one of the highest levels of employment for information systems analysts. The profession employs over 3,220 people, which is just slightly less than Washington, DC, New York City, and Dallas-Fort Worth. On an annual basis, the average wage is a little over $99,400. According to CompTIA, Illinois hires the fifth-highest number of tech experts in the US and continues to do so at a rapid pace.
Illinois Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations
Crowe is a technology and consulting firm that specializes in providing security solutions to businesses. Risk analysis, penetration testing, data privacy, and cyber resilience are some of their services. The latter refers to the ability to respond to current attacks to limit damage, avoid additional data exploitation, and get back on track with swift disaster recovery efforts. The company has frequent job openings in the Illinois cities of Chicago and Oak Brook.