The first cohort of students are now making their way through South Texas College’s Dual Credit Cybersecurity Program. The program provides students from partnering area high schools the opportunity to pursue a certificate in the field of cybersecurity.
Students participating in the Career and Technical Education pathway are on track to complete their Cybersecurity Specialist Certificate. Completion will come by the end of their senior years in high school.
“The strong partnerships with our ISD partners and the partnerships they have with each other, has given students the opportunity to offer these courses,” said Leonardo Castañeda, director of Academies and High School Projects at STC. “The program serves to address the shortage of professionals in an emerging field due to the demand in protecting one of the most valuable assets that many organizations have, which is data.”
Training the future of cybersecurity
The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have given designation to STC as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. Through the efforts of faculty, students graduate as highly skilled and highly trained professionals in the field. The program offers access to cutting edge technology which is also essential in this field of study.
“Through state-of-the-art equipment and the faculty who are teaching these courses, students are becoming highly prepared to go on and pursue their associate degree or bachelor degree, and we hope they continue with these degrees after they complete the program,” Castañeda said.
The two-year program prepares students to learn practices to protect networks, computers, programs and data.