A 2018 report by CompTIA, a leading technology industry association, noted that South Carolina’s technology jobs grew by 4028 jobs in 2018, with the tech sector increasing its contribution to the state’s economy. Tech workers accounted for 5.8 percent of the state’s workforce in 2018. It generated $12.6 billion to South Carolina’s total economy, or 6.3 percent of it.
The outlook for the tech sector in South Carolina remains positive, CompTIA notes. There was a 48 percent increase in technology-related job postings in 2018, particularly postings related to emerging technologies like cybersecurity. South Carolina ranks 27th in the nation in net tech employment. Jobs for cybersecurity analysts in South Carolina, in particular, grew by 4.3 percent in 2018.
If you would like to become part of this burgeoning sector, your best bet is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. To discover how you can begin this journey in South Carolina, keep reading.
Cybersecurity in the News in South Carolina
The South Carolina Council on Competitiveness launched a technology and cybersecurity growth initiative that was recently renamed SC Tech. Founded in 2019, so far SC Tech has formed cybersecurity panels, hosted an apprenticeship summit and opened a job portal to help South Carolina tech firms recruit talent during the coronavirus pandemic. Part of the initiative’s mission is to expand the state’s cybersecurity and technology cluster and maintain its place as a desirable and competitive state in which to do business.
South Carolina has been successful in building a manufacturing foundation, but is still working on attracting high tech companies to the state. Now, the state plans to focus on attracting more information technology businesses. Charleston has been somewhat successful in this endeavor, and Columbia is currently working on attracting tech talent. The upstate and midlands counties of South Carolina in particular are trying to draw more tech companies and talent in.
Jobs in Cybersecurity Within South Carolina
Jobs including the following may be attainable in South Carolina with a bachelor’s in cybersecurity:
- Information Technology Specialist (Cyber Security) – US Department of Energy, Aiken
- Cyber Security Analyst – Open SAN Consulting, Charleston
- Cyber Security Analyst – SAIC, North Charleston
- Cyber Security Specialist II – BAE Systems, Summerville
- Information Security Analyst II – Greenville Health System, Greenville
- Cybersecurity Engineer I – TIME Systems, Charleston
- Cyber Security Engineer – Talentiqo, Columbia
- Cyber Security Specialist II – Planet Forward, Hartsville
- Information Security Specialist I – Prisma Health, Columbia
- Analyst, Information Security – LPL Financial, Fort Mill
South Carolina Cybersecurity Undergraduate Degrees
Make sure to choose a college or university that is regionally accredited by an agency listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) when you are selecting a bachelor’s in cybersecurity program in South Carolina.
Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degrees in South Carolina
Bachelor’s degree programs in cybersecurity in South Carolina go by the following names:
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Bachelor of Science/Arts in Computer Science, Cybersecurity Minor
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity Minor
- Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Analytics
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Computer & Information Systems Security
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Mathematics
Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and National Security Agency (NSA) established the National Centers of Academic Excellence program to emphasize the finest undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity degree programs across the country.
Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in South Carolina
These South Carolina bachelor’s in cybersecurity degree programs are designated as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) under the NSA-DHS National Centers for Academic Excellence program:
- Clemson University –
—Bachelor of Science/Arts in Computer Science, Cybersecurity Minor
—Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Cybersecurity Minor
Clemson University Cybersecurity Center
Clemson, SC 29634
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2023
Harlan Russell, Contact
(864) 656-7214; harlanr@clemson.edu
- The Citadel –
—Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations
—Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Cybersecurity Minor
Center for Cyber, Intelligence & Security Studies
17 Moultrie Street
Charleston, SC 29409
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2021
Dr. Shankar M. Banik, Contact
(843) 953-5039; shankar.banik@citadel.edu
- University of South Carolina –
—Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Cybersecurity-Information Assurance Specialization
Dept. of Computer Science & Engineering
M. Bert Storey Innovation Center, 1st and 2nd Floors
550 Assembly St.
Columbia SC 29201
CAE- Cyber Defense Education- Accredited through 2020
Dr. Jose M. Vidal, Undergraduate Chair
(803) 777-0928; vidal@sc.edu
Additional Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degrees in South Carolina
There are more bachelor’s in cybersecurity programs in South Carolina, such as:
- Anderson University –
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Analytics
—Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Criminal Justice
– Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Mathematics
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Center for Cybersecurity
Anderson, SC 29621
Dr. Kenneth Knapp, Director
(864) 231-2000; kknapp@andersonuniversity.edu
- Limestone University – Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Computer & Information Systems Security
Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
Computer Science Dept.
1115 College Dr.
Gaffney, SC 29340-3799
Jane Watkins, Ph.D., Chair of Computer Science
(864) 488-4548; jwatkins@limestone.edu
- University of South Carolina Upstate – Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
Accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC)
College of Science & Technology
800 University Way
Spartanburg, SC 29303
Jeannie M. Chapman, Ph.D., Dean of College of Science & Technology
(864) 503-5768; jchapman@uscupstate.edu
Cybersecurity Coursework in South Carolina
Both CAE-CD programs and cybersecurity programs not under the CAE program must include the same types of courses. Coursework that you will typically encounter in a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program in South Carolina includes:
- Cryptography
- Cybersecurity Foundations & Ethics
- Programming for Security
- Cloud Security
- Cybersecurity Contingency Planning
- Cyber Threat Intelligence
- Network Security
- Security with Linux
- Digital Forensics
- Ethical Hacking
- Risk Management & Compliance
South Carolina Cybersecurity Certifications
Besides having a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in South Carolina, you should investigate some of the following cybersecurity certifications that are quickly becoming industry standard and are required for many of the open information security analyst positions in the state:
- ISC2 Certifications
- CompTIA Certifications
- Cisco Associate Certifications
- SonicWALL Certifications
- GIAC Security Certifications- Cyber Defense
Occupational Outlook for Cybersecurity Professionals in South Carolina
The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce said that information security analysts are among the top 20 fastest growing occupations from 2012 to 2022. The projected growth rate for this occupation is 3.45 percent each year. Going even further, occupational projections for the state from 2016 to 2026 note a projected increase of 22.29 percent in job opportunities for information security analysts. Top industries in South Carolina for information security analysts are Professional, Scientific and Technical Services; Telecommunication; Administrative and Support Services; Credit Intermediation and Related Activities; and Management of Companies and Enterprises. The typical wage as of 2016 for information security analysts in South Carolina was $70,550 annually. This is expected to increase as well. All of this information adds up to the fact that now is the perfect time to get your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in South Carolina.