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Washington State Community College is expanding its curriculum to include two additional in-demand information technology career pathways.
Beginning in Fall 2022, students will be able to earn a one-year certificate in Cyber Security and Help Desk.
The occupational outlook for careers in information technology is very strong, said a press release from WSCC. The federal government projects that there will be a 22 percent employment growth in the cyber security field nationwide, said the press release. Positions related to the Help Desk certification are expected to have growth of at least 9 percent, said the press release.
"There are unprecedented opportunities in the field of information technology," said WSCC's Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Sarah Parker. "The addition of these two certificate programs at Washington State is a direct result of the increased demand from businesses and industries here in southeast Ohio."
Parker further explained that these certificate programs serve to prepare students for new careers in this industry, as well as upskill incumbent workers.
"The training these students will receive will open doors. For those who are looking for a new career pathway, these certificate programs will give them the foundation necessary for many great entry-level positions. For those already working in the industry, it's the opportunity to update skills in order to maintain relevancy and competitiveness," Parker said.
Within the Cyber Security certificate, students will learn Operating Systems and Computing Fundamentals, Fundamentals of Hacking and IT Psychology, and Unix/Linus. The Help desk certificate features courses such as A+ Hardware and Software, Network+, and Microsoft Domain Controllers. Throughout both programs, students will be able to earn a number of industry credentials that complement the certificate and will be valuable in the job market.
"We embed these credentials into the curriculum because they validate the professional qualifications of our graduates and allow them to stand out in a very competitive field," said Parker.
Parker added that both certificate programs also lead to associate degrees which students can choose to complete in just one additional year.