Demand for jobs in cybersecurity is growing in the U.S., and Lakeland Community College is adding a new set of courses and a certificate to prepare students for this growing job market.

An information session about the new cybersecurity curriculum takes place Monday, June 24, from 6-7 p.m., at Lakeland’s Holden University Center, 7700 Clocktower Drive, Kirtland, 44094, room U-119. The center is located directly across the main entrance to the college on Route 306. The info session will also be hosted online for those unable to attend in person. To register, visit lakelandcc.edu/itcs or click on the Related Link below.

At the information session, Lakeland’s expert faculty will be joined by area employers to discuss opportunities in education and in the job market. Recruitment specialists and counselors from Lakeland will also be on-site to help students get started with enrollment and class scheduling.

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing job fields in the U.S., with an estimated 3.5 million jobs needing to be filled by 2021, according to a report by noche.org. Lakeland’s new courses will focus on serving two main groups; professionals already in the field of information technology and computer science who are looking to add to their existing credentials, as well as new students who will use Lakeland as a starting point to enter the field.

The new curriculum was developed with funds from a Fenn grant from The Cleveland Foundation and with input from local companies with high demand for jobs in cybersecurity, including STERIS, Progressive, Cleveland Clinic and Cornerstone IT. An “Earn-and-Learn” model is planned, meaning students will have opportunities to work in the cybersecurity field while attending classes at Lakeland.

Through this model, students can gain practical experience while earning valuable credits, and employers will benefit from having students on-site at their facilities, applying their knowledge and building workplace skills at the same time.

The cybersecurity curriculum will be housed within Lakeland’s Information Technology and Computer Science department.

For more information, email cybersecurity@lakelandcc.edu

By: Adam Continenza