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How Long Will it Take to Get a Degree in Cybersecurity?

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Recently, we explained what cybersecurity is and what cybersecurity graduates do in the workforce, and here we’ll discuss how long it might take to earn your degree in cybersecurity.

With new advancements in technology comes the need for more qualified professionals to help secure and protect an organization’s systems. As a result, earning your B.S. in Cybersecurity can be a valuable investment in your future, but how long will earning your degree take? 

To find out, this article will take a closer look at how long it might take to earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, why earning your bachelor’s in cybersecurity is worth it, what you’ll learn in a cybersecurity program, and why you should consider getting your degree online. 

Reviewing this material will help you decide if cybersecurity is really the right choice for you! 

When you’ve finished reading this post, fill out our information request form to receive additional details about our 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity

If you’re ready to get started, submit your application today.

How Long Will It Take to Get My Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity?

When considering getting your Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, it is important to understand how long it might take to complete a program before enrolling.

Typically, it takes 4 years to get a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity if you don’t have any qualifying transfer credits. CSU Global makes it easy to graduate sooner by utilizing transfer credits, and we’re dedicated to accepting as many of your transfer credits as possible.

The more transfer credits you have, the sooner you can graduate, saving both time and money, and alloiwng you to reach your goals more quickly and more affordably. 

We’ll accept up to 90 total credit hours, which would put you at senior-year status from the get-go. For full details on our how transfer credits work at CSU Global, please view our Guide for Transfer Students.

Even if does take four years to complete your bachelor’s in cybersecurity, you can be rest assured that your degree will give you the academic credentials, skills, and abilities needed to launch a successful career in this exciting, growing, and lucrative industry.

Is It Possible to Get My Degree Faster Than 4 Years?

If you choose to study Cybersecurity at CSU Global, you may be able to get your Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Cybersecurity faster. Why? 

Because we offer several Alternative Credit Options, including our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program, which allows those with professional experience in their field to earn transfer credits and graduate earlier.

This is an excellent option for anyone with experience in their field, but who haven’t yet completed a related degree program, and is especially useful for anyone looking to advance into more senior-level or management roles that require a bachelor’s degree.

To qualify for a PLA, you’ll need to identify a course (or courses) that matches your professional experience, then apply for the PLA by explaining how your experience directly relates to the course’s learning outcomes.

If approved, you’ll complete a portfolio project to earn credit for the course, which you’ll receive in the form of transfer credits, allowing you to earn your degree sooner earlier, and more affordably.

For full details on how our PLA system works, please visit: “What is a PLA?”.

Is a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity Really Worth Getting?

It takes a lot of time, money, and hard work to get a degree in cybersecurity, so it’s natural to wonder if it’s really worth it. 

In short, it is. Why?

Cybersecurity is a vital field focused on the protection of modern businesses as they continually face cyber attacks, making it an essential discipline for nearly every organization, but especially large ones that are the target of sophisticated attacks.

As cyber attacks become increasingly prevalent and also more  advanced, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals has grown significantly.

In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for information security analysts, a common role in cybersecurity, is expected to increase by 35% between 2020 and 2030, which is significantly higher than the average growth rate for all occupations.

Earning a degree in cybersecurity is the most effective way to equip yourself for a fulfilling and thriving career in this challenging field as it’s the best way to ensure you’ll be prepared to safeguard crucial information, network systems, and technology from cyber-attacks.

Completing a degree in cybersecurity can help you prepare for the problems, issues, and responsibilities of becoming a successful cybersecurity professional. Without a degree, it may be challenging to secure a reputable position in the field, as the competition to secure better jobs in the industry will be high. 

Getting your degree won’t just prove that you can bring value to potential employers, but it will also ensure that you’re prepared to overcome the complex challenges cybersecurity professionals face on a daily basis.

What Will You Learn in a Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Program?

If you choose to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program at CSU Global, you will gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel in the cybersecurity industry. 

The program will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the field, the various types of cyber threats and attacks faced by modern organizations, and the latest strategies for safeguarding sensitive systems and data. Earning your degree in the field will prepare you to complete critical job functions, including:

  • Protecting sensitive, valuable data and information from cyber threats.
  • Differentiating between various security models.
  • Evaluating relevant network weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
  • Understanding ethical and legal issues surrounding information security.

To help improve your marketability, our curriculum is also aligned with many of the professional certification exams employers demand, including:

  • (ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council ECES)
  • EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council ECIH)
  • CompTIA A+, Network +, Security+, and Project+

Finally, getting your degree will also help you gain competence in the areas associated with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (ISC-CISSP) exam, which is an important certification for cybersecurity professionals.

Upon graduating from our program, you will be well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to immediately contribute to any organization in the field of cybersecurity.

What Can You Do With a Degree in Cybersecurity?

Completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity from CSU Global will equip you with the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to take on challenging positions in this competitive and challenging industry. 

The expertise, awareness, and knowledge you develop during our online B.S. in Cybersecurity program will prepare you to pursue excellent industry roles, like:

  • Vulnerability Analyst
  • Systems Engineer
  • Software Developer or Engineer
  • Penetration Tester
  • Network Engineer or Architect
  • System Security Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Manager or Administrator
  • Cybersecurity Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Consultant
  • Cybersecurity Analyst

Earning your degree in cybersecurity will equip you with the skills and knowledge to excel in a variety of different career paths, regardless of the specific niche you choose to focus on.

What Are the Best Jobs for Cybersecurity Graduates?

Earning your online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity from CSU Global will open up a wide range of career opportunities in a rapidly growing field. Some of the many positions you could pursue after graduation include:

Keep in mind that this is just a very short list of the many different roles you could pursue after finishing your degree in the field.

In reality, there are hundreds of relevant job titles and positions that your degree would prepare you to succeed in.

Can I Get My Degree in Cybersecurity Online?

If you already have a busy schedule due to family or work responsibilities, then you should think about getting your degree online.

Online degree programs tend to offer much more flexibility and freedom than traditional on-campus programs, and choosing to study online with CSU Global comes with many important advantages, including:

  • No set times or locations for classes.
  • Monthly class starts.
  • Accelerated, eight-week courses.

If you’re worried about finding enough free time to study, or if you simply want to get your degree as efficiently as possible, then you should think about studying online.

Our 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity was designed specifically for busy adults, and our program will make it as easy as possible for you to juggle your existing responsibilities with your academic studies.

What’s the Best School for Studying Cybersecurity?

Our program provides far more than just a diploma; instead, we prepare graduates for a successful, lifelong career in this challenging, yet rewarding field.

This program is widely recognized as one of the best programs in the industry, as it currently holds several excellent rankings, including:

  • A #3 ranking on Top 10 Online Cyber Security Undergraduate Certificate Programs for 2021 from Security Degree Hub.
  • A #10 ranking on Best Online Cyber Security Degree Programs of 2022 from Intelligent.

CSU Global itself also recently earned several impressive rankings of its own, including:

  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges & Schools in Colorado from Best Accredited Colleges.
  • A #1 ranking for Best Online Colleges in Colorado from Best Colleges.
  • A #10 ranking for Best Online Colleges for ROI from OnlineU.

Our cybersecurity faculty have recent industry experience and the program’s coursework is aligned with professional certification exams that employers demand for cybersecurity professionals, including:

  • (ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
  • (ISC)2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
  • EC-Council Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council ECES)
  • EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council ECIH)
  • CompTIA A+, Network +, Security+, and Project+

Completing this program will provide you with competence in the areas associated with the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam, preparing you to deliver real results from your first day in the industry.

Finally, to help save you time and money on the costs of your degree, we offer competitive tuition rates, a Tuition Guarantee that ensures your low tuition rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation, and the opportunity to earn credits via our Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) program.

For additional details about our fully accredited, 100% online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, please give us a call at 800-462-7845 or fill out our Information Request Form.

Ready to get started today? Apply now