EMU Today

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University has entered into a new articulation agreement with Washtenaw Community College (WCC) that will allow students participating in WCC’s new cyber security program to transfer seamlessly to Eastern after two years in order to receive a bachelor’s degree in the field. The agreement marks Eastern’s 140th agreement with community colleges – the most of any university in the state.

The agreement is one of seven articulation agreements Eastern has with community college cyber security programs around the state to transfer to the University’s Information Assurance and Cyber Defense program. The other community colleges are Henry Ford College, Monroe County Community College, Delta College, Macomb Community College, Lansing Community College and Oakland Community College.

The EMU program is designed to prepare students with the skills and strategies needed to protect an organization’s computer network and systems, preparing them for careers in high-demand fields.

According to a Forbes report, the cybersecurity field is expected to grow from a $75 billion industry in 2015 to a $170 billion industry by 2020, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts the position of information security analyst to experience an 18-percent job growth increase by 2024.

Furthermore, according to an analysis of a Bureau of Labor Statistics report completed by Stanford University, more than 200,000 cybersecurity jobs are unfilled in the United States today and postings for jobs in the field are up 74-percent over a five-year span.

The EMU Bachelor of Science in Information Assurance & Cyber Defense program offers students the knowledge and skill set to build, maintain and protect networks and computer systems in both government and industry.

The program emphasizes design, integration, administration, hardening and protection of all types of computer information systems and network infrastructures in modern cyber environments. Students are immersed in solid theories as well as intensive hands-on practical experiences to enhance their critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities applied to all elements in modern computing disciplines.

For more information on the WCC associate degree program, click here. For more information on the EMU bachelor’s degree program, click here.

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.