Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Cybersecurity

The BAS in Applied Cybersecurity is designed to meet the growing employment demands for an information security related workforce. This program is for undergraduate students with a strong interest in practical and applied training in information technology and cybersecurity pathways and who have already earned an associate’s degree or equivalent hours and are looking to complete the last two years necessary for a bachelor’s degree. The program is completed online. Applicants to this program will work with the program’s academic success coach on the KU Edwards Campus for advising.

The Kansas City area is home to numerous tech-sector growth initiatives, such as the National Security Crossroads, an effort led by Kansas and Missouri focused on raising government awareness of security-related operations. These initiatives encompass seven major military bases as well as 11 national-security installations. In 2020, more than 20,000 tech-job openings were posted in Kansas City, the third-highest percentage growth in tech jobs in the U.S., trailing only San Francisco and Austin. In the next 10 years, the region’s tech-workforce demand is expected to increase. More specifically related to information security workforce needs, in 2019 the Mid-America Regional Council identified a need to strengthen educational offerings in cybersecurity to meet area employers’ growing demand for talent. Nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 16,300 openings for information security analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.