So many universities in the US offer online degrees in security. A degree in Security or Cybersecurity can be taken at many levels. For instance, some universities offer online certificates, some offer bachelor’s degrees, while others even offer online master’s degrees. With the right degree in this field, you may land a well-paying job in many industries.
What Is Security?
Security is a diverse field that is mostly studied in combination with computers, engineering, and technology as Cybersecurity. It is the study of potential issues and finding solutions for them. The degree includes topics like intellectual property, brand equity, and possible legal consequences for a business/individual/government if they lose their data in a cyber-attack.
What Can You Do with a Security Degree?
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that if you want to pursue a career in the field of Security/Cybersecurity, you must at least earn a bachelor’s degree. The details for careers explained below were reported by BLS in 2019. It will give you an idea of future careers with prospective salaries with this degree.
Computer Network Architects
Their job is to create and implement computer and information networks like LAN/WAN and other communication networks. They also carry out analysis, modeling, and planning for networks. Computer Network Architects are also required to build security measures for network and computers.
|Annual Median Salary, 2019||$112,690|
|Job Outlook, 2018-2028||5%|
|Annual Mean Salary, 2019||$115,110|
|State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019||California||18,210|
|State with the Highest Salary, 2019||Virginia||$128,530|
Information Security Analysts
They plan and execute various security measures in order to protect computer networks and systems of an organization. Their duties include continuous expansion of security measures with the increase of cyberattacks.
|Annual Median Salary, 2019||$99,730|
|Job Outlook, 2018-2028||32%|
|Annual Mean Salary, 2019||$104,210|
|State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019||Virginia||15,010|
|State with the Highest Salary, 2019||New York||$121,750|
Network and Computer Systems Administrators
They are required to not only install and organize but also maintain data communications networks, operating systems, local/wide area networks, and physical and virtual servers for an organization. They must also review logs of systems and applications to verify the completion of scheduled jobs. They may have other duties to fulfill too besides the ones mentioned here.
|Annual Median Salary, 2019||$83,510|
|Job Outlook, 2018-2028||5%|
|Annual Mean Salary, 2019||$88,410|
|State with the Highest Employment Level, 2019||Texas||35,890|
|State with the Highest Salary, 2019||Maryland||$110,890|
What to Expect from a Security Degree?
Since there are various degree levels offered by different universities, naturally, the curriculum for each level and institution will be different too. For example, the Master of Science in Applied Information Technology, Cyber Security Concentration offered at George Mason University includes courses in the following areas.
- Cyber Security
- Data Analytics in Social Media
- Big Data Analytics
- Knowledge Mining
- Cyber-Human Interaction and so on.
How to Choose a Security Degree?
Before selecting a degree or an institution, you must carefully consider various features of your desired degree or university. Such as,
- The accreditation of the chosen program
- The diversity and relevance of the curriculum
- The reputation of the institution
- The capability and research acumen of faculty
- The requirements for admission and graduation etc.
Security Degree Admission Requirements
Every university and degree has its own criteria for admission for prospective students. For example, if you want to apply for a graduate level degree at the George Mason University, you must submit a complete online application package with a processing fee. Moreover, you must provide all requested documents like,
- Official transcripts
- Letters of recommendation
- Official Test scores (GRE/GMAT or IELTS/TOEFL) if required
For further details, please visit the official website of your chosen institution.