Colorado has one of the highest levels of cybersecurity employment among Western states, and the list of institutions designated as National Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reflects this (DHS).
This mix of two-year community colleges and four-year institutions offers programmes that have been rigorously reviewed to ensure that graduates are suitably prepared for jobs in the cybersecurity field.
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 Colorado
Here is a list of Colorado cybersecurity degrees that are from NSA CAE Designated Institutions:
- Arapahoe Community College
- Colorado School of Mines
- Colorado State University-Pueblo
- Colorado Technical University
- Pikes Peak Community College
- Pueblo Community College
- Red Rocks Community College
- Regis University
- United States Air Force Academy
Online Cyber Security Programs in Colorado
There are a few undergraduate programmes available online, but graduate programmes are the most common.
UC Boulder: MS in Technology, Cybersecurity, and Policy
The Master of Science in Technology, Cybersecurity, and Policy at the University of Colorado-Boulder is a unique combination of computer science disciplines, emerging technology, and legal studies. This programme can be completed on-campus or online, and it can be combined with a Master of Business Administration or a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. For undergraduate students, there are accelerated pathways to completion as well as professional credentials.
Courses for the MS at UC Boulder
A Master’s degree takes two years to finish on its own, and it culminates in a thesis dissertation or a graduate project. The final project will demonstrate what the student has learnt during the programme, and the thesis topic must be accepted by the faculty before it can be pursued.
Immersive Cyber Defense, Digital Forensics, and Security Auditing and Penetration Testing are examples of advanced cybersecurity courses. Graduates of this programme have been hired 100% of the time shortly after graduation.
Master’s in Cyber Security Degrees in Colorado
Students can choose from a variety of graduate degrees around the state, with one of them being in Colorado Springs, which has a big number of cybersecurity career prospects.
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 |
The U of Colorado System: Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity
Students will be able to obtain skills in risk assessment, penetration testing, and working with the most innovative tools to correctly create and operate an organization’s secure network through this branch of the University of Colorado system, which offers a Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity. The programme requires 30 credit hours to complete and includes a thesis, project, or portfolio.
A Bachelor’s degree in a related field, such as computer science or engineering, is required for admission to the Master’s degree programme. These students must have earned this degree within the last five years and have a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better. They must also have at least two years of expertise in software development or network management. If they excel in other categories, any of these standards that have not been met can still be reviewed. Transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose are all required in the application process. In many circumstances, Master’s degree programmes will ask for these kinds of criteria.
Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in Colorado
In the state of Colorado, there are 12 approved CAE institutions that offer a wide spectrum of cybersecurity courses. Colorado Springs, like Denver and the United States Air Force Academy, offers a few possibilities in addition to its various job opportunities. In many cases, at least a portion of the classes offered by these higher education programmes will be available online. These choices expand inside graduate degrees, allowing working professionals to keep their jobs while learning more about cybersecurity or improving their current position.
Undergraduate Cyber Security Degrees
- A fully online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a focus in Cybercrime and Security is available from Colorado Technical University. Courses start at various times throughout the year, and a total of 182 credits are required to graduate. The programme will provide students with a general understanding of how to handle network vulnerabilities and dangers. Fast Track tests, which can help speed the programme for people who already have proficiency in particular course topics, are one of the university’s unique features. Through testing, students will receive immediate credit for what they know.
- Red Rocks Community College offers a Cyber Security Associate of Applied Science degree that can be completed in five semesters. It is assumed that potential pupils are already computer literate. Introduction to Python programming, networking and information assurance principles, ethics, technical writing, IT disaster recovery, and public speaking are just a few of the courses available. Students can work as computer systems analysts, database administrators, or software developers after earning this degree, or they can continue their study.
Masters Cyber Security Degrees and Continuing Education
- The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Denver offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity. Protecting information systems containing sensitive data, as well as detecting and addressing any security vulnerabilities, are among the subjects covered in the programme. A background in cybersecurity is not required for admission to the programme, although some computer science coursework is required, and a placement exam will be performed to evaluate whether more prior study is required. After finishing this degree, graduates have gone on to work as information security engineers and threat intelligence analysts.
- A Master of Science in Information and Cyber Security is available at Regis University, which is also in Denver. Students will be prepared to take industry certifications from Cisco, the Electronic Commerce Council, and the International Security Audit and Controls Association as part of the curriculum (ISACA). The programme requires 36 credit hours to complete, with each course being delivered in eight-week intervals. Six times a year, classes begin, with the online version starting in August. The university also offers cybersecurity and information assurance certifications.
Colorado Cyber Security Careers
Information security analysts employ about 3,600 people in Colorado, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. When compared to the rest of the country, this is on the higher end of the scale, and salaries are also above average, with a mean wage of $102,820 per year.
In the 90th percentile, these figures exceed $156,000. Colorado Springs is the fourth-highest metropolitan region in terms of employment concentration, just trailing renowned destinations like Maryland, Washington, DC, and Arizona.
Cyber Security Employment Options
In contrast to other standard educational options, the United States Air Force Academy provides a one-of-a-kind and crucial cybersecurity experience. Students who major in Cyber Science will be able to use their computer talents to generate solutions and become leaders in the information security field.
Prior programming experience is not required to complete the programme and is not required to succeed. Students in the Air Force have the opportunity to become intelligence experts and cyber operations officers who will operate and maintain network connectivity, but they also obtain skills that will help them succeed in any IT department.
Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations
Root9B, which was created in Colorado Springs in 2011, is one of the causes for the high level of cybersecurity employment. They develop cutting-edge software for worldwide networks and provide threat intelligence, digital forensics, and risk management services.
Their primary service automatically detects and neutralises possible attacks at government agencies and other private networks. Cybersecurity specialists are in high demand, whether they work in programming or architectural engineering.
Available Online Cyber Security Programs for Colorado
List of Campus Based Colorado Cyber Security Programs
- CAE-R:Reasearch Program
- CAE-CO:Cyber Operations
- CAE-CD:Cyber Defense
- CAE-2Y:2 Year Program
Campus-Based and Online Cyber Security Programs:
There are 12 cybersecurity programs in Colorado.
- 2 Year Cyber Security Program 2 Year Cyber Defense CAE-2Y
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD
- 2 Year Cyber Security Program 2 Year Cyber Defense CAE-2Y
- 2 Year Cyber Security Program 2 Year Cyber Defense CAE-2Y
- 2 Year Cyber Security Program 2 Year Cyber Defense CAE-2Y
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD
- B.S. in Cyber Science Cyber Operations CAE-CO
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD
- Cyber Defense CAE-CD