Pathways to Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Careers

该项目正在与学校系统、学士学位机构和包括国防信息系统局（DISA）在内的雇主一起开发网络安全职业路径。活动包括建立一个新的A.A.S.学位（专门为那些希望立即进入劳动力市场的人设计的），一个新的A.A.S.学位（为转校生设计的更以计算机科学为基础的副学士学位），一个新的证书课程（为那些只需要基本认证就可以进入网络安全领域的人设计的），以及与当地高中的联系。这些功能使学生，包括高中学生在毕业前参加大学课程，遵循一个顺利的教育途径进入工作，认证考试，或学士学位课程的额外教育。该项目还在开发一个渗透测试实验室，以进行广泛的实践培训，为教师提供专业发展，与网络安全初创公司建立联系，并为那些在网络安全以外的领域获得学位但希望以网络安全技术人员的身份开始新职业的学生提供课程。网络安全/信息保障计划的职业道路是基于大学和职业过渡计划（CCTI）开发的模型。根据CCTI的定义，“职业道路”是一系列严格的学术和职业课程，从九年级开始，最终获得副学士学位，和/或行业认可的证书或执照，和/或学士学位甚至更高。按照这一模式，该项目的具体长期成果包括：(1)增加了高等教育的入学率和持久性；(2)提高高等教育水平的学术和技能成就；(3)获得更高的高等教育学位、证书或其他认可的证书（包括在职网络安全员工所需的超越传统副学士相关课程的专业证书）；(4)增加稳定就业或继续教育的机会。该项目的新课程以混合/在线形式提供，时间安排灵活。这种灵活性以及各种各样的项目可能性，使学院能够吸引更多有准备的学生进入网络安全/信息保障途径，并为完成高等教育学习的学生提供获得额外专业证书并进入网络安全领域的新机会。

This project is developing a cybersecurity career pathway with school systems, baccalaureate institutions, and employers, including the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Activities include the establishment of a new A.A.S. degree (designed specifically for those who wish to enter the workforce immediately), a new A.S. degree (a more computer science-based associate degree for transfer students), and a new certificate program (designed for those who just need basic certifications to enter the cybersecurity field), as well as outreach to local high schools. These features enable students, including high school students taking college courses before graduation, to follow a smooth educational pathway into jobs, certification examinations, or baccalaureate programs for additional education. The project is also developing a penetration testing lab to enable extensive hands-on training, providing professional development for teachers, making connections with cybersecurity start-up firms, and offering curricula for students who have completed degrees in fields other than cybersecurity but want to start new careers as cybersecurity technicians.The career pathway for the cybersecurity/information assurance program is based on the model developed by the College and Career Transitions Initiative (CCTI). As defined by CCTI, a "career pathway" is an articulated sequence of rigorous academic and career courses, beginning in the ninth grade and leading to an associate degree, and/or an industry-recognized certificate or licensure, and/or a baccalaureate degree and beyond. Following this model, specific long-term outcomes for the project include (1) increased enrollment and persistence in postsecondary education; (2) increased academic and skill achievement at postsecondary levels; (3) increased attainment of postsecondary degrees, certificates, or other recognized credentials (including professional credentials needed by incumbent cybersecurity employees that go beyond traditional associate degree-related curricula); and (4) increased entry into stable employment or further education.The project's new curricula are being offered in hybrid/online formats with flexible scheduling. This flexibility, along with the variety of program possibilities, enables the college to attract more prepared students into the cybersecurity/information assurance pathway and gives students who have completed postsecondary studies new opportunities to obtain additional professional credentials and move into the cybersecurity field.