Boise State University’s online cyber operation and resilience undergraduate and graduate programs welcome their first cohort of students for fall 2021.
Both programs have exceeded registration expectations, with more than 80 students enrolled in the introductory course. In a digital environment where cyberattacks are a constant threat, students from Idaho and across the country in these programs will fill an immediate need in the workforce upon graduation.
A Holistic Approach to Cybersecurity
Boise State Online’s cyber operations and resilience programs were intentionally designed with input from cyber professionals to incorporate the skills, expertise and real-world industry challenges that could provide students with a realistic expectation of the workforce before graduation.
The cyber operations and resilience programs allow students interested in cybersecurity or cyber operations to enter the field without pursuing a degree in engineering or computer science.
“We approach cyber operations and resilience from a broader perspective, focusing on the people, process and technology that make up cybersecurity.”
— Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D, program director
“We approach cyber operations and resilience from a broader perspective, focusing on the people, process and technology that make up cybersecurity,” said Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D., cyber operations and resilience program director. “You can design a really secure software or hardware, but if you don’t train your people to use it correctly or have a policy in place to tell people what to do or what not to do, it won’t be effective. It’s the interaction or combination of things that make systems secure.”
One of the first courses in the undergraduate- and graduate-level cyber operations and resilience programs is Cyber Systems Thinking.
“Cyber Systems Thinking is such an important class,” said Loo. “We wanted to teach students how to see how things are interconnected and how to think holistically about cybersecurity. Students learn the fallacies in cybersecurity. In order to know what you are protecting, you’ve got to know what you have.”
“In order to know what you are protecting, you’ve got to know what you have.”
— Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D, program director
Preparing Students For The Future
The cyber operations and resilience programs were constructed to balance student support with pushing students out of their comfort zone.
“While courses are asynchronous, I have advised instructors to offer virtual office hours to put a name on a face and create connections between students and instructors,” Loo said. “We want to support students but also challenge them to help them succeed.”
“We want to support students but also challenge them to help them succeed.”
— Sin Ming Loo, Ph.D, program director
Success also relies on students. Loo said students should “be ready to learn, be ready to think big and be ready to interface with people.”
Learn More About the Cyber Operations and Resilience Programs
Boise State Student Success Coaches can answer questions about the degree program, connect you with program resources or help you with your application.
Connect with our Bachelor of Arts in Cyber Operations and Resilience Program
Connect with our Graduate Cyber Operations and Resilience Programs