With increasing regularity, organizations and government agencies are making headlines as the victims of cyberattacks and data breaches. In fact, the number of reported breaches increased by as much as 44.7% in 2017.1 Experts predict that hackers will continue to find new targets and break through cyber defenses in 2018, particularly at companies that hold sensitive personal information, such as education and healthcare.2
Looming threats on the horizon have caused companies across multiple industries to increase security protocols. As a result, the job market is experiencing a demand for cybersecurity professionals. As of June 2017, there were an estimated one million unfilled cybersecurity jobs nationwide.3
Online Cybersecurity Programs at CTU
At Colorado Technical University (CTU), our cybersecurity degree programs provide students with the potential to learn how to diagnose, combat and avert cybercrimes. Our degree programs strive to help students fuse critical thinking, technology and state-of-the-art forensic and investigative techniques to safeguard data and networks from cyberattacks and identify the hackers behind security violations.
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Across a wide spectrum of organizations, cybersecurity professionals are instrumental in the development of network security systems and protocols that protect critical data. CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree program provides students with the opportunity to develop fundamental knowledge for the cybersecurity field. Our core curriculum consists of industry-relevant concepts including computer forensics, vulnerability assessment, security compliance and software assurance.
Our bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity has been recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the U.S. National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Examples of courses you may take in the bachelor degree program include Database and Web Vulnerabilities and Security, Problem Solving Concepts with Python, and Data Structures.
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Computer Systems Security
CTU's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (BSCS) degree with a concentration in Computer Systems Security is designed to teach students how to examine and take measures against hacking, spam, worms, malware and computer viruses through cyber sleuthing and evidence gathering. Coursework in this curriculum focuses on helping students prepare to work with both technical experts and management to evaluate business systems and procedures and make recommendations on how to secure essential business information. Courses students could take include Computer Architecture, Computer Forensics, and Cloud Computing, Privacy and Security.
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity – Information Assurance
If you’re interested in keeping organizations safe from terrorists and hackers, CTU's Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (BSCS) degree with a concentration in Information Assurance might be the right degree for you. Our program is designed to help students leverage the latest methods, techniques and tools to secure both the public and private sectors' critical assets and information as well as identify and neutralize any threats. Courses include Advanced Networking, Security Architecture and IT Management Strategy, to name a few. In addition, this degree program curriculum is designed in accordance with standards set by CompTIA, an industry-recognized independent provider of IT certifications, which means coursework can help students prepare for the CompTIA Security+ and Network+ certification exams.
Related Degree Programs
In addition to a general degree in cybersecurity, CTU students can pursue various cybersecurity-related degree concentrations:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Engineering
If you have an interest in developing software and computer systems to help prevent cyberattacks and detect network breaches, CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a concentration in Cybersecurity Engineering could be right for you. Students in this degree program study new models, methods, technologies and tools in computer science and software engineering to construct cyber-defense software solutions. Examples of courses students can take include Security Compliance, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, and Vulnerability Assessment and Management. This degree program includes hands-on programming and real-world situations taught by industry professionals - all of which can help you prepare for an exciting profession in the field of cybersecurity.
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice – Cybercrime and Security
To effectively combat the increasingly prevalent threat of cybersecurity, criminal justice professionals need more than a layman’s understanding of hacking, spam, worms, malwares and computer viruses. Coursework in CTU's Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice degree with a concentration in Cybercrime and Security provides students with the opportunity to explore the nature of cybercrime threats and become familiar with the tools available to neutralize these threats and investigate crimes. Students in this degree program take courses such as Introduction to Cybercrime, Cybersecurity and Policy, and Terrorism and Organized Crime.
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology – Security
CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree with a concentration in Security explores the general methodologies used to assess and manage information security risks in a business environment. The project-based curriculum provides students with industry-relevant, firsthand instruction on how to design, develop and deliver high-quality IT security projects. In addition, students will have the opportunity to build a portfolio of projects that demonstrate their knowledge and skills to prospective employers. Examples of courses in this cybersecurity concentration include Disaster Recovery, Security Architecture and Network Infrastructure Administration.
Bachelor of Science in Management – Cybersecurity Management
CTU’s Bachelor of Science in Management with a Cybersecurity Management concentration (BSM-CSM) is designed to help you prepare for management opportunities in the cybersecurity field. In addition to providing you with the opportunity to build a solid practical management foundation, the BSM-CSM program teaches students how to protect data, ensure the privacy and integrity of sensitive information and successfully address security weaknesses. Students also have the opportunity to analyze business strategies and goals related to cybersecurity activities and to explore risk management and security management issues. Examples of courses you could take include Security Compliance, Contemporary Issues in Cybersecurity Management and Principles of Network Security.
CTU Fast Track™
The CTU Fast Track™ program is a great way for students who already have knowledge and experience in the cybersecurity field to earn credit towards their degree. With Fast Track, you can take a series of exams that test your knowledge of core cybersecurity course objectives. If you pass, you can earn college credit for this knowledge and complete your cybersecurity course requirements faster. By passing a CTU Fast TrackTM exam, you can save up to 30% in time and money. As an added bonus, Fast Track exams are available at no extra cost to all CTU students.
Cybersecurity Degrees and Members of the Military
CTU is proud to be a military-supportive school, and we value our relationship with active members of the military, veterans and their families. No matter where you are on your journey toward a degree in cybersecurity, CTU is committed to helping you achieve your goals. We design our classes to provide the necessary flexibility to balance your education with your military duty.
From financial aid to career services, CTU offers dedicated resources to students in the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses. For example, you can work with staff who are trained in admissions and financial aid to explore specific grants and scholarships for the military community. Our Admissions Advisors and Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) teams can also evaluate your military training and experience to determine its academic value and potential eligibility for credit toward a cybersecurity degree.
Are you interested in enrolling in a CTU cybersecurity program? Request more information today.
1. “2017 Annual Data Breach Year-End Review.” Identity Theft Resource Center. Retrieved from: https://www.idtheftcenter.org/2017-data-breaches (Visited 3/22/18).
2. Kleczynski, Marcin. “A Look at the Five Biggest Future Cyberthreats of 2018.” Forbes. Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2018/01/02/a-look-at-the-five-biggest-future-cyberthreats-of-2018/#39bd95fd49d2 (Visited 1/2/17).
3. Rayome, Alison DeNisco. “Want a Career in Cybersecurity? Here are 10 Jobs to Explore.” TechRepublic. Retrieved from: https://www.techrepublic.com/article/want-a-career-in-cybersecurity-here-are-10-jobs-to-explore/ (Visited 1/2/17).
For important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended these programs, go to www.coloradotech.edu/disclosures. CTU cannot guarantee employment or salary. Not all programs are available to residents of all states. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
CTU has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity for academic years 2014-2021 for its cybersecurity and information assurance programs.
Colorado Technical University does not guarantee third-party certifications. Certification requirements for taking and passing certification examinations are not controlled by Colorado Technical University but by outside agencies and are subject to change by the agencies without notice to Colorado Technical University. Therefore, Colorado Technical University cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take certification examinations, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment. The ability to reduce time in school and/or reduce tuition depends on the number of Fast Track exams successfully passed. Fast Track program credits are unlikely to transfer. Not all programs are eligible for possible 30% reduction in time and money.