GREENSBORO -- Guilford College will soon start a course of study meant to help tackle an ever-growing concern across the world.
The college will begin offering a major in cyber and network security in spring semester 2016. Officials said it is the first in-house major of its kind in North Carolina.
Students will be required to take 38 credits that will provide training in preventing and responding to cyber security issues. The program will be housed in the school’s Department of Computing Technology & Information Systems, although students will also take courses from four other departments, including political science and philosophy.
"We want them to understand maybe some of the motivations behind why people are doing what they do,” said William Pizio, an associate professor who helped design the major.
“It allows them the opportunity to maybe search more intently, more thoughtfully, as well as when they go into the job world, they'll have context to their technological savvy."
The additional offering comes at a time when companies and governments across the globe are focused on improving cyber security and preventing cyber crimes. Symantec, a technology firm, reported that there was a 40 percent increase during 2014 in the number of large companies targeted by spear phishing, a type of cyber attack. Small and medium-sized companies also saw increased attacks of that nature.
"We have recruiters at Guilford College that are from the United States, but also from many international locations. So this is going to open up a lot of doors for these graduates because it's a growing field,” said Alan Mueller, the college’s assistant dean for career development.