Recently we explained what you can do with a degree in cybersecurity, including what jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree in this field.

Here, we’re going to explain some more basic information, including whether or not you need a degree to launch a career in cybersecurity, how to choose which kind of degree you get, and why you should consider studying cybersecurity online instead of at a traditional, in-person school.

This post will give you all the details you need to determine how to prepare yourself for launching a successful, lifelong career as a cybersecurity professional. 

After you’ve read through the 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.

What Kind of Degree Can I Get in Cybersecurity?

The most common cybersecurity degree programs are:

  • Associate’s Degree in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity
  • Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity

Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees also come in two types: “Arts” degrees and “Science” degrees (B.A. vs. B.S., and M.A. vs. M.S., respectively).

For cybersecurity professionals, the B.S. and M.S. degrees are a better fit than the B.A. and M.A. degrees because they’re more likely to focus on technical elements and topics, providing you with more useful skills and knowledge that will directly apply to an eventual job working in the industry.

Accordingly, if you’re serious about starting a career in cybersecurity, then you should choose to enroll in a B.S. or M.S. program.

Do I Really Need a Degree to Break Into Cybersecurity?

You could start a career in cybersecurity without first getting a degree, but that’s probably not the ideal way to achieve the best possible results from your career.

Why? Because if you don’t have a degree then it’ll be harder to get hired into some of the best cybersecurity jobs.

If your goal is to launch a lifelong career in the field, and you want a role and a career that moves past entry-level work, then you should be thinking about earning at least a bachelor’s degree.

Getting your degree will provide you with opportunities to develop your cybersecurity knowledge, skills, and abilities, preparing you for better industry jobs, while also helping you convince hiring managers that you’re capable of overcoming the unique challenges people face while working in this industry. 

In short, there’s no better way to prepare yourself for a successful career than by completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity.

What Type of Degree Should I Get? Bachelor’s vs. Master’s Degrees

When it comes time to choose between pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you’ll need to spend a bit of time comparing the two options.

To find out which type of program would work best for you, think about your educational background, your work experience, and your professional goals.

The purpose of this exercise is to pick the program that best suits your skills, experience, personal qualities, and career aspirations.

Who Should Get a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity?

Anyone who doesn’t already have a bachelor’s degree (in any field) should choose the Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity.

The bachelor’s program will develop your understanding of key cybersecurity procedures and practices, allowing you to figure out how critical components of the cybersecurity industry operate and interact with each other.

As a bachelor’s student, you’ll study:

  • How to protect data and information from cyber threats.
  • The difference between various informal security models.
  • How to evaluate various network vulnerabilities.
  • The ethical and legal issues surrounding information security.

What Jobs Can I Get With a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity?

After completing your Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity, you’ll be eligible for a variety of industry roles, including jobs like:

  • IT Support Specialist
  • Computer Network Support Analyst
  • Junior Cyber Security Analyst
  • Network Support Specialist
  • Network Security Operator
  • System Administrator
  • Security Administrator
  • Cyber Security Operations Analyst
  • IT Security Specialist
  • Network Vulnerability Analyst

As you can see, getting a bachelor’s degree will open many doors for you, providing you with far more options than you’d have should you try to start your career without a degree.

Who Should Get a Master’s in Cybersecurity?

Anyone who already has a bachelor’s degree (in any topic), extensive experience working in the cybersecurity industry, and wants to land a role in leadership or management would likely be a better fit for a Cybersecurity Master’s Program.

A master’s program will develop your knowledge surrounding various advanced cybersecurity functions, and it will also go much deeper into the critical components of the cybersecurity industry, including:

  • Threat Assessments
  • Risk Identification
  • Network Security
  • Encryption
  • Disaster Recovery
  • Risk and Compliance Management

After completing a master’s program, you’ll be prepared for much more complex, important, and senior-level roles in cybersecurity, including tasks like:

  • Analyzing complex computing problems.
  • Designing, implementing, and evaluating computing-based solutions.
  • Communicating effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  • Applying security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats.

What Jobs Can I Get With a Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity?

After completing a Bachelor’s Program in Cybersecurity, you’ll have additional options for potential careers and positions, including excellent roles like:

 

Should I Get My Degree 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 program 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.

Our program may also be far more affordable compared to in-person schools, as our tuition rates haven’t been increased in 10 years.

To get a feel for how our cost per credit hour compares to any other cybersecurity programs that you may be considering, make sure to have a look at our tuition rates page.

Why Should I Choose CSU Global’s Cybersecurity Program?

Our online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, which is the most respected accreditation possible.

All of our cybersecurity courses are taught by faculty who have recent, real-world experience in the field, and our programs are designed to provide you with relevant, workplace-related knowledge and skills.

Our program is widely recognized as one of the best programs in the industry, as it’s been awarded several excellent rankings, including:

  • A #3 ranking on Top 10 Onlne 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.

And CSU Global itself is also regarded as an industry leader in higher education, having recently achieved important 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.

To ensure that you’re learning relevant, important skills, all of our cybersecurity faculty have recent industry experience and the program’s coursework is aligned with professional certification exams that employers want from 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 your degree, we also offer competitive tuition rates and a tuition guarantee that ensures your rate won’t increase from enrollment through graduation.

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