Cybersecurity is a growing field, which is in need of more trained professionals to fill vacant roles. Especially in California, cybersecurity is a lucrative and challenging discipline in which you can enter with an undergraduate certificate or associate degree. The California Virtual Campus Online Education Initiative, of California Community Colleges, offers students online certificates in cybersecurity that are completely free of charge (except for textbook costs, if any apply). In less than one year, students will have a Certificate of Achievement in Cybersecurity. Courses that students take in this unique, innovative program, each of which is eight weeks long, include:
- Business Information Systems, Computer Information Systems
- Information and Communication Technology Essentials
- Computer Network Fundamentals
- Routing and Switching Essentials
- Systems and Network Administration
- Introduction to Information Systems Security
- Cybersecurity Operation
- Network Security
Cybersecurity is clearly a major concern, not just in California but in the United States and around the world. In California’s 2020 budget, cybersecurity operations were to receive $38.8 million in ongoing funding, with 85 new positions being upgraded or created at the state government level. The California Department of Technology was set to allocate $5.1 million to improve endpoint protection on state computer networks. An additional $15.1 million was allocated to allow existing information security positions to rely on general funding, ensuring that the state’s security operations center and information security program audits would not need to rely on agency budgets that are continuously fluctuating.
If you are interested in exploring the exciting field of cybersecurity in California, getting an undergraduate certificate or associate’s degree can be your foray into a new career. Keep reading to find out how you can begin on this adventure.
Cybersecurity in the News in California
Recently, it was announced that California’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) is considered to be a law enforcement organization that can receive criminal intelligence information. This is important in the state’s fight against cybercrimes and cyber hackers, which can be just as large a threat, if not larger than those of natural disasters. In 2020, California residents will vote on strengthening the state’s privacy laws with the California Privacy Rights Act of 2020 (CPRA). If passed, the CPRA would provide California consumers with more rights and change the privacy obligations of businesses in the state. It would create a new “sensitive personal information” category, expand consumer rights, create the California Privacy Protection Agency, create a proportionality requirement in the event of a cybercrime, set limitations on data retention, broaden data breach liability, address the idea of profiling, broaden the obligations of service providers, require annual security obligations of businesses, and extend B2B and employee data exemptions. This law will be voted on in November 2020.
Graduating with an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity in California
There are many cybersecurity jobs that are available to those who hold an associate degree. Even a cybersecurity undergraduate certificate can help get your foot in the door with California employers such as:
- Information Security Specialist – American Indian Health & Services, Santa Barbara
- Junior Cyber Security Specialist – Leidos, Oceanside
- Information Systems Security Officer – Agiloft, Redwood City
- Cyber Information Systems Security Analyst – Northrop Grumman, San Diego
- Forensic Computer Analyst–US Postal Inspection Service, Anaheim
- Junior Cyber Consultant – Starburst Accelerator, El Segundo
- Information Security Risk Analyst – California State University, Sacramento
- Security Analyst – UCLA Health, Santa Monica
- Cyber Risk Security Consultant – Cadence Consulting Corporation, San Francisco
- Information Security Auditor – Career Movement, Los Angeles
Cybersecurity Associate Degree Programs in California
Associate degree programs in California that can lead to a career in cybersecurity include (but are not limited to):
- Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
- Associate of Science in Computer Networking
- Associate of Science in Cyber Defense
- Associate of Science in Computer Security & Networking
- Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Networking
California Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs
Associate degree and certificate programs in cybersecurity are not accredited at the program level. The institutions that host these programs are accredited by agencies recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). There are some associate degree and certificate programs accredited at the program level, however, listed below.
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The National Centers of Academic Excellence program was set up by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to give kudos to outstanding undergraduate cybersecurity degree programs in the United States. These programs have been recognized as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in California
The following California associate degree/certificate in cybersecurity programs are Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD):
- Coastline Community College –
—Associate of Science in Computer Networking- Cisco
—Associate of Science in Computer Networking – Microsoft
—Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
—Certificate of Achievement in Cybersecurity
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Cybersecurity and Computer Networking
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Cybersecurity Fundamentals
Computer Department, Cybersecurity Center
11460 Warner Ave.
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2024
Dr. Tobi West, Dept. Co-Chair
(714) 241-6209; twest@coastline.edu
- Cypress College –
—Associate of Science in Cyber Defense
Dept. of Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity Center
9200 Valley View Street
Cypress, CA 90630
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Dr. Ben Izadi, Chair
(714) 801-3354; biadi.cypress@gmail.com
- Long Beach City College –
—Associate of Science in Computer Security & Networking
—Certificate of Achievement in Computer Security & Networking
—Certificate of Achievement in Cloud Computing
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Microsoft Windows Networking Technician
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Cyber Security
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Computer Hardware Technician
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Computer Network Technician
—Certificate of Accomplishment in Unix Network Administrator
Computer & Office Studies
1305 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Long Beach, CA 90806
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Garrett Whelan, Asst. Professor, Computer & Office Studies
(562) 938-3244; gwhelan@lbcc.edu
More Cybersecurity Associate Degree and Certificate Programs in California
Other programs, which don’t hold specific program accreditation but whose schools are accredited, within the state of California include:
- California Institute of Arts & Technology –
—Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems – Networking Concentration
—Certificate in Computer Information Systems
Accredited by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET)
2820 Camino Del Rio S., Ste. 100
San Diego, CA 92108
(877) 559-3621
- Palomar College – Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC)
Computer Science and Information Technology Dept.
1140 West Mission Road
San Marcos, CA 92069
David Meske, Asst. Professor
(760) 744-1150 x 2387; dmeske@palomar.edu
- Rio Hondo College –
—Associate of Science in Cybersecurity
—Associate of Science in Information Systems & Technology
—Certificate of Achievement in Cybersecurity Technician
—Certificate of Achievement in Ethical Hacker
—Certificate of Achievement in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACCJC/WASC)
Business Division, Dept. of Computer Information Technology
3600 Workman Mill Road
Whittier, CA 90601
(562) 692-0921
California Cybersecurity Associate Degree Program Courses
There are similarities to courses that you will find in a cybersecurity associate degree or undergraduate certificate program in California. While their titles might not be the same from one school to the next, their concepts are:
- Computer Hardware and Operating Systems Fundamentals
- Computer Network Fundamentals
- Computer Security/Hacker Prevention
- Linux Fundamentals
- Computer Information Systems
- Python Programming
- Cyber Defense and Analysis
- Ethical Hacker Principles
- Computer Forensic Foundations
Undergraduate Cybersecurity Certificates Available in California
Certificates that are available within California institutions vary widely. Some of the most helpful to aspiring cybersecurity professionals include (but are not limited to):
- Advanced Computer Security Certificate (Stanford School of Engineering, Stanford University, online)
- Information Systems Security Certificate (University of California Irvine, online)
- Computer Forensics Certificate (California State University-Fullerton, online)
- Certificate in Cyber Security (California State University-San Bernardino)
- Advanced Certificate of Accomplishment in Cybersecurity (City College of San Francisco)
- Certificate of Achievement, Cyber Security Technician (Cerro Cosso Community College, online)
Cybersecurity Salaries in California
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that information security analysts in California earned an average annual salary of $114,620 as of May 2019, making it the fifth-highest paying state in which cybersecurity professionals work. Certain areas of the state pay higher than average wages to information security analysts. Take, for example:
- San Jose/Sunnyvale/Santa Clara: $133,040
- San Francisco/Oakland/Hayward: $122,570
- Sacramento/Roseville/Arden/Arcade: $115,420