Et cetera : Kirkwood to Offer New Cybersecurity and Compliance Program this Fall

Workforce demand for graduates expected to grow significantly by 2032

Kirkwood Community College will be offering a new Cybersecurity and Compliance program starting this fall. The two-year program is expected to fill a major workforce need with demand for information security analysts projected to grow by 32 percent by 2032 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

As cyber threats grow in sophistication, employers will need trained, skilled professionals capable of protecting their organizations from online threats. Developed through direct industry feedback, the Cybersecurity and Compliance program will train students on how to defend against cyberattacks in addition to giving them the knowledge and skills to comply with governmental regulations and adhere to best practices.

According to Kirkwood Business and IT Dean Tamara Alt, the new program will equip students with the tools to help protect the technology and data for any organization.

"We're very excited about the new Cybersecurity and Compliance program and what it means for area employers," said Alt. "Because our program was designed with industry collaboration, our students will graduate with everything they need to make a difference for their future employer. The program is designed to arm the next generation of information security professionals with the expertise to not only meet, but exceed the industry standards in the fight against cybercrime. We envision them as digital knights who will know how to reinforce an organization's defenses against increasingly resourceful and skilled cyber adversaries."

Kirkwood will offer the majority of the program's coursework online, with minimal on-campus commitments. Additionally, for those seeking an expedited path, the college's competency-based FlexForward option provides an accelerated, self-paced online learning environment, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all students. Taught by former Ruffalo Noel Levitz Chief Information Security Officer Paul Ruffalo, courses will range from Auditing Practices and Compliance Procedures to Network Attacks and Defense, which will give students a full spectrum of knowledge from identifying vulnerabilities to fortifying defenses.

"Digital security breaches are not a matter of if, but when," said Alt. "Moving forward, it will be imperative for every single business or organization to have the right people in place to combat these threats. With the demand for information security analysts expected to skyrocket, now is the time for students interested in this career field to get the necessary education and training in order to become a cybersecurity leader of tomorrow."

For more information on the Cybersecurity and Compliance program, including enrollment and curriculum details, please visit www.kirkwood.edu/cybersecurity or contact the Kirkwood Admissions office at 319-398-7600 or admissions@kirkwood.edu.

With more than 140 majors and programs, Kirkwood Community College boasts 16,000 annual college-credit students, while maintaining one of the lowest tuitions in the state. All degree-seeking students are eligible for federal financial aid and the college offers more than $3 million in scholarships each year to students from all walks of life. Kirkwood is a convenient, innovative and visionary educational leader that strives to remain affordable and accessible.