LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — UNLV launched a new online cybersecurity bachelor’s program this fall to build Nevada’s data defense system.
The program was developed between the College of Engineering and Lee Business School. The program was hoping for 50 students but got 275, far exceeding expectations.
“Most of the large players in town, the casinos, airport, some of the other large companies, they all reached out to us and said, we have a need for people who can do cybersecurity,” Greg Moody, the director of cybersecurity programs at UNLV said.
The program addresses a critical workforce shortage in Nevada.
“The majority of tech talent that the Strip, which is still the largest employer for the state, they had to recruit from out of state,” Moody said.
Local companies are increasingly data-focused, creating demand for cybersecurity professionals. “A lot of the companies around here, they require technology because they’re moving towards a very data-centric approach. And that’s where they get a lot of their value from. And cybersecurity is all about protecting that data,” he added.
The field offers multiple career paths for graduates. “It’s a career pathway that’s very versatile. It’s not like you get a degree and you can only do one thing. You get a degree in law, you’re a lawyer. Degree in accountant, you’re an accountant,” he said. “Cybersecurity, there’s 12 to 15 different career pathways from completely technical to non-technical.”
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 29% growth for information security analysts roles over the next ten years. The median annual salary for information security analysts, a common cybersecurity role, was $124,000.
In August, a ransomware attack took down Nevada’s state servers causing major disruptions for two weeks. In 2023, a series of cyber attacks cost MGM and Caesars more than $100 million.
Artificial intelligence will also be integrated into the curriculum.
“The ones that are attacking us, they are also using AI, so things that used to be technically hard to do before, have to have some level of coding skill, knowledge of the hardware, AI can offset some of that, so the attackers can attack more easily and so on the defensive side we are going to use it as any other tool to defend it also,” Moody said.
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