WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., July 25, 2019 — Cybersecurity. It’s a word that strikes fear in just about everyone today as they consider their safety on the World Wide Web.
West Liberty University wants to educate business students interested in this growing field with its new program, Cybersecurity Information Assurance, beginning this fall.
“We have both a major and a minor for students interested in the field of cybersecurity,” said Dr. Gayle Jesse, assistant professor of Computer Information Systems. “This field promises to be one of growing opportunities for individuals with the right skills to protect businesses and personal assets, so we are very excited to offer it.”
Jesse is overseeing the new program and promises that students will benefit from both hands-on action and lots of individual support.
“A degree in Cybersecurity Information Assurance prepares students to be an active participant in today’s professional world where computer safety is in high demand,” she said.
“We’re preparing students to earn basic level certification and pass the CompTIA A+ exam, so that they will be ready for the professional world. The College of Business also is becoming an authorized Pearson Vue Testing Center, so students can test right on campus and become certified. This convenience makes our program very attractive and somewhat unusual,” Jesse said.
CompTIA A+ is the industry standard for establishing a career in IT and the preferred qualifying credential for technical support and IT operational roles.
WLU’s program includes preparation for three major tests, the A+, Network + and Security +.
“Our goal is to prepare our students for all three of these tests so they can be successful in their job searches and careers,” Jesse said.
WLU’s curriculum provides instruction in the area of Cybersecurity Information Assurance within the Business Information Systems arena. Coursework is centered around cyber threats, cyber vulnerabilities, cyber risks, digital forensics, network security, and network penetration.
The curriculum emphasizes Hypertext Markup Language (HTML & CSS), Java, and Operating Systems. Additionally, students will obtain Personal Computer (PC) and Networking skills that are needed for the communication of IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
The Gary E West College of Business cybersecurity program is housed in Main Hall. One classroom is a dedicated cybersecurity lab; other labs are available for cybersecurity students as well.
West Liberty University is West Virginia’s oldest public university and today it offers more than 70 undergraduate majors, plus a growing number of graduate programs, both online and on campus. For more information, please call 1.866.937.8542 (WESTLIB), visit westliberty.edu or follow WLU on social media. To view more about WLU, please visit westliberty.edu/youtube.