David Kennemer (left), program director of the Cyber Defense and Analysis program at San Diego City College, works with a student in the cyber technology lab.
City College launches Cyber Defense and Analysis bachelor’s degree
August 5, 2024 |
An inaugural cohort of 45 students will start classes this fall in San Diego City College’s new Cyber Defense and Analysis Baccalaureate Program, the first bachelor’s degree program in the college’s 110-year history.
The program was approved in January 2023 by the California Community Colleges Board of Governors, making City College the second campus in the San Diego Community College District to offer a four-year degree. San Diego Mesa College began offering a bachelor’s degree in Health Information Management in 2015 and Miramar College is set to launch a bachelor’s degree in Public Safety Management in fall 2025.
“The bachelor’s degree program in Cyber Defense and Analysis will provide a pipeline that not only leads to an above-livable wage career in an industry that is clearly in demand, but will also help diversify the cyber security workforce by allowing more women, military veterans, and people of color to find good jobs,” said City College President Ricky Shabazz.
In addition to creating new opportunities for students, the program will help fill a critical need in the workforce. More than 1,400 information security analysts are now working in the San Diego region, with employers projected to hire 2,849 additional analysts annually over the next several years. More than 75 percent of local cybersecurity companies reported being challenged in finding qualified workers, according to an October 2023 report from the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Nationwide, employment of computer security analysts is projected to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, with demand fueled by the need for innovative solutions in combating an increasing number of cyberattacks, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The federal agency reported the average annual pay for cyber security analysts in the San Diego Region was $120,980 in 2023.