Information Assurance Cyber Defense
You don’t need to be a computer genius to succeed in the world of cybersecurity – you just need to be adventurous, curious and willing to learn.
Where Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Can Take You
This degree will open up a huge range of job opportunities for you across the country. In the public sector, you could go to work for law enforcement agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation doing forensics work, or become a part of the Department of Defense, helping to foil the plots of cyber terrorists.
In the private sector, companies are beginning to realize the importance of protecting not just their own business information, but that of their customers. You could work for large corporations, helping protect against cyber-attacks while also formulating corporate security policies that will keep vital information behind closed doors.
The rapidly growing healthcare industry, along with internet-based companies like Google or Paypal, will also need to people to help keep hackers from infiltrating.
Program Major
This program will give you a unique, on-the-job perspective by offering courses dealing specifically with cybersecurity as well as business and computer information systems. You’ll leave Northern with the knowledge of not just how to protect vital business information, but what information needs protecting most. And you'll also have earned a degree from a college of business accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Northern runs a cyber lab where you will learn to apply cybersecurity skills in a hands-on environment. You learn computer networking using the same equipment that networking professionals install in large enterprises. The cyber lab also houses a private cloud infrastructure that lets you perform ethical hacking on systems designed to replicate real-world business systems. You'll learn to think like a hacker so that you can better protect against them.
Program Minor
A minor in cyber defense will help you learn fundamental computer networking skills, understand how complex information systems work, and how to protect individuals and organizations from criminals. No prior experience with computer classes is expected.
The minor starts with basic computer concepts and ends with advanced cyber defense skills such as ethical hacking. The minor is often chosen by Mobile and Web App Development majors and other technical majors, but humanities students have also been successful.
Associate Degree
This program provides a basic foundation of knowledge in the computing area and the ability to apply computer theory to business applications especially in the area of cyber defense. Graduates find employment in organizations ranging from small firms to large corporations as computing technicians, security analysts, providers of help desk services and software trainers.
Certificate Program
The courses within the certificate program provide a strong foundation of cyber defense skills. This program is a pathway for students to develop a skillset in the area of cybersecurity/information assurance.
Why study information assurance and cyber defense at NMU?
Information Assurance and Cyber Defense is a great career path for those who enjoy problem-solving and working with computers. In NMU's curriculum, students will gain valuable hands-on experience in their career field while learning from a team of highly respected faculty.