{"id":1592,"date":"2026-10-01T09:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T16:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=1592"},"modified":"2026-10-16T11:14:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T18:14:19","slug":"cybersecurity-online-certificate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/cybersecurity-online-certificate\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing for a career in cybersecurity?"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>A look inside Oregon State&#8217;s cybersecurity online certificate and computer science bachelor&#8217;s degree<\/h2>\n<p>The exponential rise of technology across industries has produced incredible innovations worldwide. It has also paved the way for new and nefarious means of cybercrime.<\/p>\n<p>Now more than ever, cybersecurity professionals are needed.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon State University offers two online options for people interested in a cybersecurity career. They include an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/certificates\/cybersecurity\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and a cybersecurity applied option within a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/computer-science\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bachelor of Science in Computer Science<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here\u2019s what you should know if you\u2019re considering a career in this growing field.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Why are positions in cybersecurity so important and valuable at this time?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology risks continue to rise, putting businesses, individuals and communities at risk. Artificial intelligence tools increase the danger, as modern tools allow people to discover vulnerabilities and launch attacks at scale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Cybersecurity professionals are our needed, front-line defense to thwart these attacks. The demand for professionals in this field continues to increase. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/computer-and-information-technology\/information-security-analysts.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> projects a 21% increase in the number of jobs in this field between 2025 and 2035. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How will students benefit from earning a certificate in cybersecurity online from Oregon State?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/certificates\/cybersecurity\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undergraduate Certificate in Cybersecurity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> consists of 28 credits including electives in topics like information systems security, open source software and mobile software development to help you to customize your education to meet your career goals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Students who complete the certificate program will be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe the common threats to system security and explain their mechanisms of action<\/li>\n<li>Assess system requirements pertaining to confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and functionality to users<\/li>\n<li>Implement secure solutions to common threats by selecting and applying appropriate principles, protocols and techniques<\/li>\n<li>Evaluate system designs, implementations and protocols to identify and ameliorate weaknesses<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How will students benefit from earning a computer science bachelor\u2019s degree online from Oregon State?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon State\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/online-degrees\/undergraduate\/computer-science\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bachelor of Science in Computer Science<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> online program includes a cybersecurity option. Students who choose this path gain foundational knowledge that can help them to secure data on behalf of the companies and clients they work with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oregon State offers computer science students a unique opportunity to practice their skills in real time through ORTSOC: Oregon State\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/cybersecurity-training-program\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">student-powered security operations center<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Under the guidance of staff, senior computer science students monitor, test and defend the networks of ORTSOC clients, which include cities, counties, schools and nonprofits. The organizations get robust protection while the students gain real experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students who complete the cybersecurity option of the bachelor\u2019s degree will be able to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Analyze complex computing problems and apply principles of cybersecurity to identify solutions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Design, implement and evaluate solutions to meet a given set of requirements<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments based on legal and ethical principles\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities in cybersecurity\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apply computer science theory and to produce cybersecurity solutions\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What opportunities will an education in cybersecurity provide?<\/h2>\n<p>After studying cybersecurity online, individuals will be prepared to serve a variety of security roles as well as perform web and IT jobs more competently. And students will walk away with competency and in-demand skills that employers need. Those skills include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Securing communication between a client and a server<\/li>\n<li>Detecting when communication is compromised<\/li>\n<li>Reasoning about the extent to which a system design is prone to cyberattacks<\/li>\n<li>Finding and exploiting security flaws in existing systems<\/li>\n<li>Investigating a cyber intrusion and understand how it happened<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bachelor\u2019s degree program is designed for students who want to explore computer science broadly, with an ability to focus on cybersecurity as an option. The certificate program is meant for students who already have a computer science degree and need another layer of training to solidify their skillset or advance in their cybersecurity career.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What are three helpful tips for becoming a cybersecurity professional?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">No matter what option you choose, it\u2019s wise to prepare for the career ahead of you. These suggestions may help:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Get a broad view of cybersecurity by taking classes online so you can find a specific subarea where your passion lies.<\/li>\n<li>Do a capstone project as part of a cybersecurity online program, overlapping that subarea so you can build competence and demonstrate your passion to potential employers.<\/li>\n<li>Keep your eyes open as you progress through your career for narrower certificates relevant to your very specific career track. These additional certificates can be useful for documenting your expertise in really deep and specialized skills.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h2>How can I get started?<\/h2>\n<p>Request information about the cybersecurity online options and receive support from our dedicated enrollment services specialists.<\/p>\n<h3 id=\"rfi-button\" class=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/contact\/form\/\">Learn more<\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minute read<\/span><\/span>The exponential rise of technology across industries has produced incredible innovations worldwide. It has also paved the way for new and nefarious means of cybercrime. Now more than ever, cybersecurity professionals are needed. Learn more about Oregon State&#8217;s online cybersecurity options.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,681,6,678],"tags":[160,20,25,24,595],"class_list":["post-1592","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-alternative-credentials","category-ecampus","category-faculty-and-programs","tag-college-of-engineering","tag-computer-science","tag-online-education","tag-online-learning","tag-school-of-electrical-engineering-and-computer-science"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-pG","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":3066,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/cybersecurity-training-program\/","url_meta":{"origin":1592,"position":0},"title":"At Oregon State, a real-world cybersecurity training program builds job-ready experience","author":"Jean Dion","date":"June 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Students studying computer science at Oregon State build job-ready skills through the innovative practicum program ORTSOC. It\u2019s open to students pursuing the cybersecurity option of a bachelor\u2019s degree in computer science online with Oregon State.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An Oregon State computer science student points at a computer screen while talking to someone sitting across the table","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ORTSOC-blog-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ORTSOC-blog-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ORTSOC-blog-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/ORTSOC-blog-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1988,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/computer-science-student-smart-scholarship\/","url_meta":{"origin":1592,"position":1},"title":"Computer science student earns Department of Defense SMART scholarship","author":"Steve Lundeberg","date":"April 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Vidhi Kadakia, a second-year undergraduate in OSU's College of Engineering, has been selected for the Department of Defense\u2019s Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation scholarship program, known as SMART. A computer science student who learns online with OSU Ecampus, Kadakia is eligible for up to five years of full tuition\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Awards&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Awards","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/in-the-news\/awards\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Kadakia-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Kadakia-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Kadakia-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Kadakia-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2477,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/what-kind-of-online-computer-science-degree-should-you-pursue\/","url_meta":{"origin":1592,"position":2},"title":"What kind of online computer science degree should you pursue?","author":"Elena Moffet","date":"February 16, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University offers multiple online bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science. Read our guide to better understand who each program is designed for, skills you'll gain and possible career outcomes.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A person sitting in front of two computer monitors with code displayed on them.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CS-degree-comparison-AdobeStock_472215511-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CS-degree-comparison-AdobeStock_472215511-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CS-degree-comparison-AdobeStock_472215511-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/News-CS-degree-comparison-AdobeStock_472215511-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1538,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/computer-science-admissions-support\/","url_meta":{"origin":1592,"position":3},"title":"Here\u2019s how we support online computer science students","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"May 30, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The folks in Oregon State's School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science engage with people who are interested in OSU's online computer science postbaccalaureate program. The EECS staff offers wide-ranging support long before you actually enroll as a student, and it continues through mentorship programs and more until the day\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Closeup developing programming and coding technologies. Developer working on web sites codes in office. Computer science online","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/computer-science-postbacc-online.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/computer-science-postbacc-online.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/computer-science-postbacc-online.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/computer-science-postbacc-online.jpg?fit=744%2C496&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2503,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/5-reasons-to-earn-your-computer-science-degree-online-with-oregon-state\/","url_meta":{"origin":1592,"position":4},"title":"5 reasons you should earn your computer science degree online with Oregon State","author":"Elena Moffet","date":"March 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Tamarsh Abeysekera earned his B.S. in Computer Science through Oregon State's online postbaccalaureate program. Read about his experience to learn how Oregon State's online computer science programs can help advance your career.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Two people talking over a laptop computer","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/P0121-AI-tools-800x450-231023.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/P0121-AI-tools-800x450-231023.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/P0121-AI-tools-800x450-231023.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/P0121-AI-tools-800x450-231023.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1776,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/2021-graduation-preview\/","url_meta":{"origin":1592,"position":5},"title":"To the Oregon State Ecampus Class of 2021, your time has come","author":"Tyler Hansen","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"June 2021 is the month you officially become a college graduate, the one in which you\u2019ll put a celebratory bow on all of your hard work and perseverance. You\u2019re primed to enter a community of thousands of Oregon State Ecampus graduates who are out there, changing the world.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;All Stories&quot;","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A large black sign surrounded by red brick that reads \"Oregon State University\" in white lettering.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Sign-from-head-on.jpeg?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/cybersecurity-online.jpg?fit=744%2C466&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1592","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1592"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1592\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1592"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1592"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1592"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}