The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is introducing a new four-year degree program in cybersecurity in the fall 2021 semester to help meet the rising demand for cybersecurity professionals. 

The Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity will prepare students for challenging and rewarding careers dedicated to protecting the privacy of individuals, the security of society’s infrastructure, and national security. Graduates will be prepared for positions in high-demand fields, including security architect, digital forensics analyst, security systems administrator and security analyst.

“The Department of Computer Science has been actively involved in research and teaching in cybersecurity and information assurance for about 10 years,” said Dr. Albert Baker, interim chair of the Department of Computer Science. “The addition of a B.S. in cybersecurity is an exciting evolution of the department’s commitment to this aspect of national security. We are coordinating with the Arkansas Department of Education, representatives from Arkansas military contingents, and area industry leaders in the development of this program. Graduates of this program will be protecting all aspects of our digital lives.”

The new degree program will attract more government and industry jobs to the region, while helping to fill a growing need for more trained cybersecurity professionals.

Students will also have the opportunity to work in the UA Little Rock Cyber Gym, a cloud-based lab that provides a scalable, accessible and almost no-cost cybersecurity curriculum for high school students in Arkansas.

“Philip Huff and the cyber team at UA Little Rock have been great to work with,” said Lee Watson, CEO and founder of the Forge Institute as well as a member of the state’s Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force. “The Cyber Gym is a next-generation academic training program that will help prepare Arkansas students for much needed, high-paying jobs in cybersecurity.”

UA Little Rock has partnered with the Forge Institute to create workforce development and research opportunities as well as to provide internship opportunities for college students.