Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree in Oregon

According to US News and World Report, Oregon’s infrastructure is the best in the nation. This is a key to evaluating the quality of life for Oregonians, as renewable energy and the quality of bridges and roads all contribute to that. Oregon ranks number one in the country for energy, fourth for internet access, and fifth for transportation. It’s no wonder that Portland has attracted many high-technology companies. Some of the best-known tech companies in Portland include: Autodesk, Vernier Software & Technology, Genentech, Zapproved, and Slalom LLC.

Additionally, Oregon is one of the states that is the most dependent on trade. Exports from Oregon to foreign countries are valued at over $18 billion annually. Leading commodities include nursery and greenhouse products, cattle, milk, hay, grass seed, wheat and hazelnuts.

Forty-three percent of Oregon’s population has some type of college education. This is likely due to the proliferation of technology jobs across the state, many of which are attainable with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. One area of technology that is booming right now is cybersecurity. Most cybersecurity jobs in Oregon are achievable with a bachelor’s degree. If you would like to discover how to get started upon the path to attaining your own bachelor’s in cybersecurity in Oregon, read on.

Cybersecurity Law in Oregon

Senate Bill 90 established the Oregon Cybersecurity Advisory Council in 2017. It was designed to establish a cross-sector Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, working with Oregon’s cyber-related industries private sector security analysts and practitioners, educational institutions, local government agencies, and law enforcement. It advises the State Chief Information Officer on cybersecurity issues and provides a statewide forum to discuss and resolve these issues. Additionally, it coordinates information sharing and promotes cybersecurity awareness in Oregon’s public and private sectors.

Cybersecurity in the News in Oregon

A 2020 audit by the Oregon Secretary of State’s office discovered that Oregon State Police does not have an effective cybersecurity system in place. The police department was found to lack basic cybersecurity safeguards and have not secured data, networks and devices, most likely because of a shortage of staff and resources. The office recommended that the State Police take immediate action to correct these shortcomings in a particularly vulnerable area. For example, the State Police currently does not monitor authorized use of devices nor monitor device activity logs. They only conduct vulnerability assessments on an as-needed basis. Furthermore, the police department does not manage all users who have high level access to important data and systems.

Because the Oregon State Police is responsible for maintaining the criminal justice information system for the entire state, they must have stronger cybersecurity controls. The OSP is planning to work with the Oregon Department of Enterprise Information Services’ Cyber Security Services division to refine and improve its security policy. Unfortunately, due to spending and budget cuts as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, as well as preoccupation with the crisis statewide, it is unclear how quickly OSP’s cybersecurity shortfalls will get corrected.

Cybersecurity Positions in Oregon Requiring a Bachelor’s Degree

When you obtain a bachelor’s in cybersecurity in Oregon, you are setting yourself up for success in positions like:

  • Information Cyber Security Analyst – Mosaic451, LLC, Portland
  • Cyber Security Analyst – Aspen Capital, Portland
  • Cyber Security Analyst – FLEX IT, Beaverton
  • IT Security Compliance Analyst – University of Oregon, Eugene
  • IT Specialist (Infosec) – US Department of Veterans Affairs, Portland
  • Senior Information Security Analyst – City of Eugene
  • Cybersecurity Third Party Assurance Officer- HP, Corvallis
  • Cyber Security Analyst – Suddath International, Coquille
  • Security Analyst – FedRAMP, Datadog, Coquille
  • Security Systems Administrator- Lane Education Service District, Eugene

Oregon Cybersecurity Undergraduate Degrees

When you are selecting an institution in Oregon at which to pursue your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, make sure that it is regionally accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

Cybersecurity Degrees Attainable in Oregon

The following cybersecurity degrees are currently available at the bachelor’s level in Oregon:

  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Cyber Security concentration
  • Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Science- Security Track
  • Bachelor of Science in Information Technology- Emphasis on Cybersecurity
  • Bachelor of Science in Computer Science- Applied Track in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Oregon

Oregon bachelor’s cybersecurity degree programs include:

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

414 N. Meridian St. #6089

Newberg, OR 97132

(503) 554-2240

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

College of Engineering, Technology & Management, Business Mgt. Dept.

3201 Campus Drive

Klamath Falls, OR 97601

Tracey Coon, Program Director

(541) 885-0856;

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

College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

3077 Kelley Engineering Ctr.

Corvallis, OR 97331-5501

Rakesh Bobba, Asst. Professor

(541) 737-3333; [email protected]

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

College of Arts & Sciences, Dept. of Computer & Information Science

1217 University of Oregon

Eugene, OR 97403-1217

800-BE-A-DUCK; [email protected]

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

2219 SE 68th Ave.

Portland, OR 97215

(800) 804-1510; [email protected]

Classes You Will Take in a Cybersecurity Degree Program in Oregon

Although courses will vary from one university or college to the next, in a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree program in Oregon, you can expect to take classes on topics such as:

  • Systems Administration
  • Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • Intermediate Programing in C+
  • Ethics in the Cybersecurity Profession
  • Intro to Linux
  • Hacker Tools & Techniques
  • Intro to Systems Analysis
  • Networking I & II
  • Systems Defense & Incident Response
  • Systems Analysis I & II
  • Network Security
  • Relational Database Design
  • Managing Risk in Information Systems
  • Operations Management I & II
  • Cloud Computing

Oregon Cybersecurity Certifications

In addition to a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, holding certain cybersecurity certifications in Oregon can greatly benefit your future career. Some of the most common certifications in Oregon include:

  • CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional
  • CompTIA Security- Security+, CySA+, CASP
  • CertNexus – CFR, CyberSAFE
  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework Training
  • Blockchain Training Alliance

Work Projections for Cybersecurity in Oregon

According to the Oregon Employment Department, Workforce and Economic Research Division, job opportunities for information security analysts (including cybersecurity analysts) in Oregon are expected to increase by an astounding 31.9 percent from 2017 to 2027 statewide. This is great news for anyone in Oregon who intends to get a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, as jobs should be all but guaranteed over the next decade.