Beginning April 29, American National University’s $$Roanoke Valley Campus and National College campuses in Virginia and West Virginia will begin offering classes leading to an associate’s degree in cybersecurity. This program – the first of its type in any of these locations – is the first part of a planned continuum of courses available to students allowing for progression in their education from associate’s degree through the doctoral level.
“This curriculum was developed to meet the emerging needs of businesses and government in a field that is poised for dramatic growth,” said Tom Jackson, institutional director of information technology programs for American National University and National College.
The program was developed in consultation with the University of Fairfax, the world’s foremost institution dedicated solely to graduate education in the cybersecurity field. The new associate’s degree program, and a bachelor’s degree program in cybersecurity which is planned for American National University, will provide a seamless progression to master’s and doctoral level degrees at the University of Fairfax.
“Like American National University and National College, the University of Fairfax offers the most relevant career education because all of our courses have been developed by and are taught by practitioners,” explained Dr. Chris Feudo, president of the University of Fairfax.
“One need only look at today’s headlines to realize the relevance of cybersecurity in this day and age,” explained Tom. Added Dr. Feudo: “We all know that budget cuts are forcing governments to cut back on personnel, in every area but one: cybersecurity. In fact, the federal government alone will need to hire thousands of additional cybersecurity specialists in the near future.”
In addition to a foundation in information technology and networking fundamentals, the program will prepare graduations for certification in no less than five separate areas of cybersecurity:
- CompTIA A+ Certified Professional
- CompTIA Network+ Certified Professional
- CompTIA Security+ Certified Professional
- Microsoft Certified Professional (Server 2012)
- EC Council| Network Security Administrator Certification
After an April launch in Roanoke Valley; Charlottesville; Danville, VA; Harrisonburg; Lynchburg; Parkersburg; and Princeton, the program will be introduced to the Tyson’s Corner campus of American National University and National College campuses in other states, as early as the fall of 2013.
PHOTO: Dr. Chris Feudo (left), president of the University of Fairfax, and R. Thomas Jackson (right), institutional director of IT programs for American National University and National College, have nearly 50 years' combined experience in cybersecurity.
