Cal Poly offers new online curriculum for Cybersecurity training

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. - Cal Poly is teaming up with IT education veterans to launch an online cybersecurity training program to help employed people develop new skills.

Their extended education division is hoping to meet the high demand in cybersecurity jobs by teaming up with Fullstack Academy to offer a new online training program.

“This is intended to be a program that helps us reach individuals who are already working and who want to make a transition in their career, or want to advance in their career,” said Cal Poly Provost of Graduate and Extended Education Dr. Brian Tietje.

No previous degrees or certifications are required to join the program.

“In California specifically, currently the cybersecurity market has about 72,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs,” said Fullstack Academy Co-Founder and CEO Nimit Maru.

The program comes at a perfect time when millions of Americans are now working from home or looking for new work.

“As most of us are now working from home, the number of phishing attacks on individuals has gone up a significant amount,” said Maru.

The training lasts 6 1/2 months starting in July. One of the key benefits of the program is a chance to get a high paying entry level job.

“Cybersecurity entry-level jobs are around $67,000, compared to the average entry-level salary of other jobs around $35,000,” said Tietje.

Classes are offered part-time on evenings and weekends. The cost is around $12,000.

“It is online in that it is distance delivery but it's live, so there is live direct interaction between the students and the instructor,” said Tietje.

The application deadline is July 6th.

“The skill sets they are looking for are critical thinking, the ability to really think through and problem solve and identify where there might be vulnerabilities in an organization,” said Tietje.

Participants who complete the program will receive a Cal Poly and Fullstack certificate.

For more on the program visit Cal Poly's Extended Education webpage or www.fullstackacademy.com.