Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree in Missouri

Missouri’s Office of Administration, Office of Cyber Security hosts an awareness website to let residents and businesses know about the risks and rewards of daily Internet and computer use. This Office manages all events in the state relating to information security, as well as makes sure that technical and administrative controls are used to protect the State of Missouri’s information systems.

In 2015, the Office of Administration’s Information Technology Services Division’s Cybersecurity Team was given a national award and recognition for Overall Excellence in Cyber Security at the FireEye Cyber Defense Summit in Washington, D.C.  The team was awarded for being a great example of cybersecurity awareness, best practices and infrastructures. It was noted that the Missouri Cybersecurity Team had systems and tools installed to prevent/mitigate risks, had established best practices in cybersecurity, had provided user awareness training and certification for employees, and had helped information technology and security professionals to better address IT security and risk management plans.

The Missouri Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (MCCOE) is a nonprofit security operations center in the state that is a resource for businesses, students, citizens, and government agencies. Recently, MCCOE has worked with DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency) and representatives from Missouri colleges and universities to discuss furthering cybersecurity education, developing interesting and engaging curricula, and helping steer Missouri students towards careers in cybersecurity.

If you would like to work in the ever-changing, challenging field of cybersecurity, getting a bachelor’s degree within the discipline is your first step. Please keep reading to discover how you can get a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Missouri.

Missouri Cybersecurity Law

Missouri has three major “computer crimes” laws or statutes. They are:

  • Tampering with computer data- it is a crime to destroy or modify computer programs or data, including taking or disclosing programs or data, taking or disclosing an ID or password, invading privacy through a network or computer, or receiving data that you know was obtained illegally.
  • Tampering with computer users – it is a crime to access a computer network or system without authority, or to deny service or access to computer networks or systems.
  • Tampering with computer equipment – it is a crime to change, destroy or take computer equipment. Penalties for crimes involving theft or fraud are enhanced.

Cybersecurity Education in the State of Missouri

When you earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Missouri, you become eligible for jobs such as:

  • Senior Security Analyst – MOHELA, Chesterfield
  • IT Analyst- City of Gladstone
  • Cybersecurity Risk Remediation Specialist – Clayco, St. Louis
  • Cyber Security Analyst – Leidos, St. Louis
  • Cyber Security Analyst – SAIC, Kansas City
  • IT Compliance Analyst – RiverPoint, Kansas City

Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degrees in Missouri

In Missouri, you can obtain a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity such as:

  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- emphasis in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Information and Computer Science- emphasis in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems with Cybersecurity certification

Bachelor’s Degree Cybersecurity Programs in Missouri

When you seek out a bachelor’s degree cybersecurity program in Missouri, make sure that the institution in which it is housed is accredited by an agency listed with the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Most bachelor’s level cybersecurity degree programs are not individually accredited, except for some listed below.

Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE)

Conducted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA), the National Centers of Academic Excellence program gives special significance to bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity programs as Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).

Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in Missouri

These programs in Missouri are Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE):

(also ABET-accredited – see below)

One University Plaza

Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

(573) 651-2000

Depts. of Information Systems and Technology and Computer Science

1 University Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63121-4400

Dr. Shaji Khan, Chair

(314) 516-6279; [email protected]

School of Business & Technology, Center for Cybersecurity

470 E. Lockwood Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63119

Dr. Martha Smith, Chair

(800) 981-9801; [email protected]

Cybersecurity Curriculum

If you choose a CAE-CD program for your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, the following coursework must be covered (listed in no particular order):

  • Components of IT Systems
  • Concepts of Operating Systems
  • Cyber Threats
  • Foundational Cryptography
  • Foundational Networking
  • Foundational Scripting and Programming
  • Foundations of Cybersecurity
  • Network Defense
  • Planning and Management in Cybersecurity
  • Policy, Laws, Ethics and Compliance in Cybersecurity
  • Principles of Cybersecurity
  • Security Program Management
  • Security Risk Analysis

Missouri ABET-Accredited Bachelor’s Programs in Cybersecurity

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, Inc. (ABET) has accredited these Missouri bachelor’s degree programs in cybersecurity:

Mathematics and Computer Science Dept.

6800 Wydown Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63105

(800) 205-5862; [email protected]

(also CAE-CD – see above)

One University Plaza

Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

(573) 651-2000

P.O. Box 800

Warrensburg, MO 64093

Dr. Hyungbae Park, Program Coordinator

(660) 543-8921; [email protected]

More Bachelor’s Degree Cybersecurity Programs in Missouri

There are other bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity programs in Missouri, like:

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

School of Computer Science & Mathematics

11901 Wornall Road

Kansas City, MO 64145

Khaled Alrawashdeh, Ph.D., Chair

(816) 501-2400

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Computer and Mathematical Sciences Dept.

1001 Rogers St.

Columbia, MO 65216

(800) 231-2391

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

School of Sciences

209 S. Kingshighway

St. Charles, MO 63301

Ricardo Delgado, Dean, School of Sciences

(636) 949-4735; [email protected]

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

650 Maryville University Drive.

St. Louis, MO 63141

(888) 266-0574

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

School of Computer Science and Information Systems

800 University Drive

Maryville, MO 64468

(660) 562-1600; [email protected]

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

8700 NW River Park Drive

Parkville, MO 64152

(816) 741-2000

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

School for Professional Studies

1 N. Grand Blvd.

St. Louis, MO 63103

(314) 526-2825; [email protected]

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

Robert W. Plaster College of Business & Computer Science

1600 University Ave.

Bollivar, MO 65613

Dr. Tim DeClue, Dept. Chair

(417) 328-1704; [email protected]

Accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

College of Information Technology

8000 Maryland Ave, #410

Clayton, MO 63105

(855) 948-8493; (314) 677-2302

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

One University Ave.

Fulton, MO 65251

(800) 995-3159

Cybersecurity Certification in Missouri

After you have received your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity from one of the above-mentioned Missouri institutions, you might want to consider professional certification. Having credentials is necessary for some cybersecurity jobs, and recommended in order to increase your value in the job market. Examples of useful cybersecurity certifications in Missouri include (but are not limited to):

  • A+ (CompTIA)
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) – Associate of (ISC)² designation
  • Certified Encryption Specialist (EC-Council ECES)
  • Certified Incident Handler (EC-Council ECIH)
  • Certified Internet Webmaster – Web Security Associate (CIW-WSA)
  • IT Operations Specialist (CompTIA)
  • Network+ (CompTIA)
  • Project+ (CompTIA)
  • Secure Infrastructure Specialist (CompTIA)
  • Security+ (CompTIA)
  • Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) – Associate of (ISC)² designation

Cybersecurity’s Future in Missouri

According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC), it is expected that there will continue to be ample positions for cybersecurity professionals in Missouri through 2026. Jobs for Missouri information security analysts are expected to increase by an average of 3.55 percent each year through 2026, jumping from 2911 statewide in 2016 to an estimated 4126 in 2026. This means that if you obtain a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity in Missouri now, you should feel confident that you will have a job in Missouri over the next half-decade (and likely for much longer than that).