{"id":49,"date":"2025-01-17T15:02:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T15:02:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2025-volume-6-issue-1\/get-hands-on-with-san-jacs-new-cybersecurity-bachelors-degree\/"},"modified":"2025-02-18T19:18:02","modified_gmt":"2025-02-18T19:18:02","slug":"get-hands-on-with-new-cybersecurity-bachelors-degree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2025-volume-6-issue-1\/get-hands-on-with-new-cybersecurity-bachelors-degree\/","title":{"rendered":"Get hands-on with new cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree"},"content":{"rendered":"

Practice makes perfect.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s the thought of San Jacinto College\u2019s new cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree program<\/a><\/span>, launched in fall 2024. It\u2019s one thing to study network security, cryptography, and ethical hacking. It\u2019s another thing to practice them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Enter San Jac\u2019s security operations center, a lab equipped with high-performance computers and industry-standard software and monitoring tools. Not every student can land an internship. That\u2019s where the security operations center, also known as the SOC, comes in.<\/span><\/p>\n

Working alongside College information technology staff, students analyze live data and practice monitoring, detecting, and responding to cyberthreats.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo other community college I know of in Texas has operationalized this level of practical, SOC-based training, where students gain experience that compares to entry-level cybersecurity roles,\u201d Rizwan Virani, senior director of cybersecurity programs, said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Live cyberthreat training<\/span><\/h3>\n
\"San

<\/span> Bachelor’s student Travis Dodson-Perez (right) trains in the new Security Operations Center.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n

San Jac has offered a cybersecurity Associate of Applied Science for years. But adding the Bachelor of Applied Technology made sense for two reasons: It gives graduates (1) the higher degree many employers want and (2) the hands-on experience the role requires.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remote jobs, cloud technology, and artificial intelligence have transformed the work landscape. Industry partners and San Jac\u2019s IT staff designed the program\u2019s curriculum to address industry needs and emerging cyberthreats.<\/span><\/p>\n

A critical piece was the security operation center.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur SOC training is uniquely hands-on, allowing students to work with live data and simulated cyber threats in a controlled environment,\u201d Virani said.<\/span><\/p>\n

This space includes network monitoring, incident response, and forensic analysis systems. Plus, cloud software ensures the latest technology rather than outdated systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur graduates will be job-ready day one going into industry,\u201d Virani said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Student perspective<\/span><\/h3>\n

Travis Dodson-Perez, one of the program\u2019s first students, is excited to jump into the security operations center \u2014 but for more reasons than training alone. He helped set up the space.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dodson-Perez, who earned the cybersecurity associate degree in 2019, already works as a technical analyst for San Jac. This past fall, he enrolled in the bachelor\u2019s program to advance his skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe SOC is an incredible resource in its current configuration and will deliver an exceptional learning experience when I get the chance to be in there for course-related work,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hearing rumors about a cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree several years ago, Dodson-Perez paused his university coursework, eager to study at San Jac once again. After finishing his bachelor\u2019s degree, he plans to continue working at the College, equipped to tackle more advanced network security issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSan Jac is an incredible place to work and attend classes,\u201d he said. \u201cNo other bachelor’s degree would make me as proud to earn.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Validated training<\/span><\/h3>\n

In fall 2024, San Jac received program validation for its cybersecurity associate degree from the U.S. National Security Agency\u2019s National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity. It can seek the same designation for its bachelor\u2019s degree program after three years.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does this mean for students?<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re receiving a high-quality education that is nationally recognized and respected by employers, increasing your job market competitiveness,\u201d Virani said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Students can also access scholarship and internship opportunities only available to Center of Academic Excellence institutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

High-demand job market<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re interested in cybersecurity, you can expect plenty of jobs and growth opportunities.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to cyberseek.org<\/span><\/a>, the U.S. currently needs about 500,000 more cybersecurity professionals, with approximately 18% of cybersecurity jobs remaining unfilled. Texaswages.com<\/span><\/a> reports that information security analysts in the Gulf Coast region earn a median annual salary of $113,284.<\/span><\/p>\n

At San Jac, you may pursue the entire four-year cybersecurity pathway or complete the program in two years if you already have an Associate of Applied Science in cybersecurity. Plus, you\u2019ll pay the same low tuition for upper-level courses as you would for freshman or sophomore classes.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur program graduates will leave not only with a four-year degree but also with four to five industry-recognized certifications, setting them apart from other candidates in the cybersecurity job market,\u201d Virani said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learn more about the cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree<\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cybersecurity summer camp<\/span><\/h2>\n

This summer, the security operations center will host a five-day Cyber Chicas camp for 20 Pasadena ISD students. The camp will teach students about the College\u2019s cybersecurity programs, give them hands-on experience, and connect them with advisors and industry representatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Courtney Morris<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Practice makes perfect. That\u2019s the thought of San Jacinto College\u2019s new cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree program, launched in fall 2024. It\u2019s one thing to study network security, cryptography, and ethical hacking. It\u2019s another thing to practice them. Enter San Jac\u2019s security operations center, a lab equipped with high-performance computers and industry-standard software and monitoring tools. Not… read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":90,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,1],"tags":[],"article_type":[],"class_list":["post-49","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cybersecurity","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nGet hands-on with new cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree - Spring 2025, Volume 6 \u2013 Issue 1<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sanjac.mycareerfocus.org\/spring-2025-volume-6-issue-1\/get-hands-on-with-new-cybersecurity-bachelors-degree\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Get hands-on with new cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Practice makes perfect. That\u2019s the thought of San Jacinto College\u2019s new cybersecurity bachelor\u2019s degree program, launched in fall 2024. It\u2019s one thing to study network security, cryptography, and ethical hacking. It\u2019s another thing to practice them. Enter San Jac\u2019s security operations center, a lab equipped with high-performance computers and industry-standard software and monitoring tools. 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