About This Program
CSU’s CyberSkills2Work, known as the Cybersecurity Nexus program, is Columbus State University’s unique and effective response to help rapidly solve the world’s shortage of trained, work-ready cybersecurity professionals. Through the Nexus program, our students gain both theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills that help them become ready for a career in cybersecurity in as little as 12 months! Our Certificate is a 30-hour “Rapid Workforce Development” program that Nexus students complete in 12 months. The Certificate consists of ten 3-hour classes for a total of 30 hours. The program is cohort-based, so Nexus students stay with their “team” the entire duration of the program. This allows rich community and collaboration to develop within each cohort and between cohorts. The intent is to simulate a work team environment collaborating with other work teams as much as possible in an academic setting. The Certificate is delivered in a boot-camp style with classes meeting 3 hours per day 5 days per week.
About This Pathway
The Defensive Cybersecurity Pathway is designed to prepare participants for a cyber defense analyst work role where they can use defensive measures and information collected from a variety of sources to identify, analyze, and report events that might occur within the network to protect information, application systems, and networks from threats. Students will also learn how to evaluate and implement security protocols and practices within an organization. Pathway graduates might also perform job duties as a computer network defense analyst; cybersecurity analyst; incident analyst; network defense technician; network security engineer; security analyst; threat analyst; or vulnerability analyst. ***This pathway is offered in person only.
Eligibility
- Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Must be a veteran, transitioning service member, first responder, woman, military spouse, underrepresented minority, or government personnel.
- Must have at least a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent. (School transcripts of the highest level education completed are required.)
Prerequisites
No prerequisite knowledge required. Must become accepted as a student at CSU to participate in the Cybersecurity Nexus program.
Cost
Columbus State University's Tuition and Fees are Required. (~$7500 Total in Tuition & Fees)
Target Work Role(s)
Delivery Format
In-Person (On Campus)
Level
Entry Level
Industry Certifications Included
- CompTIA Security+
- eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT)
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA IT Fundamentals ITF+
Start And End Dates
- 2024-08-12 -- 2025-07-25
- 2025-01-06 -- 2025-12-05
Duration (In Weeks)
52
Pathway Courses
- IT Fundamentals
- Professionalism in Cyber
- Network Fundamentals
- Network Defense
- Penetration Testing
- Advanced Penetration Testing
- Fundamentals of Info Security
- Infrastructure Security
- Cybersecurity Apprenticeship
- Cybersecurity Apprenticeship II
Digital Badges Awarded
Participants will be presented with digital badges upon the completion of each course and the successful passing of industry certification exams, contingent on the inclusion of a certification exam prep course in the pathway. Additionally, graduates of the pathway will be awarded with a pathway badge.
