The Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership
Cybersecurity is one of the most rapidly expanding fields in the world today.
The Center for Cybersecurity Education and Leadership at Montreat College provides guidance and oversight to our academic program, to the distribution of cyber defense information, and to collaborative efforts in cybersecurity with an emphasis on combining ethics, leadership, and liberal arts skills with technical proficiency.
Montreat College is designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Montreat College’s Cybersecurity degree program teaches a responsible and ethical approach to cybersecurity.
Montreat cybersecurity students have access to competitive internships with companies like Bank of America, Mission Health, and Harris Corporation.
Montreat cybersecurity students participate in regional and national competitions and attend professional conferences.
Montreat College hosts the annual RETR3AT Cybersecurity Conference, featuring national leaders and innovators in the field of cybersecurity.
Job Growth
Demand for cybersecurity professionals is very high. According to the U.S. Bureau for Labor Statistics (BLS), the job market for information security analysts is expected to grow 28% from 2016-26, much faster than the job market generally.
Sample Courses
CYBR 3312 Principles of Cybersecurity
Examination of current standards of due care and best business practices in Cybersecurity. Includes examination of security technologies, methodologies and practices. Focus is on the evaluation and selection of optimal security posture. Topics include evaluation of security models, risk assessment, threat analysis, organizational technology evaluation, security implementation, disaster recovery planning and security policy formulation and implementation.
CYBR 3321 The 3 C's: Cybercrime, Cyberlaw and Cyberethics
A study of the impact of cybercrimes affecting various entities and organizations engaged in cyberspace transactions and activities including the government, military, financial institutions, retailers and private citizens. The course covers broad areas of law pertaining to cyberspace, including Intellectual Property (Copyright, Patent, Trademark, and Trade Secret), Contract, and the U.S. Constitution. The study of Cyberethics addresses a definition of ethics, provides a framework for making ethical decisions undergirded by a biblical worldview, and analyzes in detail several areas of ethical issues that computer professionals are likely to encounter in cyberspace and in business.
CYBR 4542 Incident Response and Contingency Planning
An examination of the detailed aspects of incident response, digital forensics, and contingency planning consisting of incident response planning, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity planning. Developing and executing plans to deal with incidents in the organization is a critical function in information security. This course focuses on the planning and processes to respond appropriately using cyber threat intelligence in the event of a potential cyber event.
Career Opportunities
- Security Analyst
- Security Engineer
- Security Architect
- Security Administrator
- Security Software Developer
- Chief Information Security Officer/Director of Security
- Security Consultant/Specialist
- Intrusion Detection Specialist
- Computer Security Incident Responder
- Source Code Auditor
- Virus Technician
- Vulnerability Assessor/Researcher
- Penetration Tester
- Malware Analyst
- Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Analyst
- Cyber Forensics Investigator
Cybersecurity Admissions Requirements & Scholarship
The following instructions apply to new and transfer students interested in studying cybersecurity at Montreat College in the traditional undergraduate program. Please email all materials to admissions@montreat.edu or mail to Montreat College Admissions, PO Box 1267, Montreat, NC 28757.
Admission Requirements
- Application: Complete the free application for traditional undergraduate admission.
- Transcripts: New students must submit high school transcripts; the minimum cumulative GPA for new-student admission for the cybersecurity program is is an unweighted 3.0. Transfer students must submit college transcripts from any and all colleges attended; the minimum cumulative GPA for transfer cybersecurity admission is 3.0.
Scholarship Requirements
- Essay: Write a two- to four-page double-spaced response to the following prompt in APA format. 1) Describe a recent cyber attack in the news. What aspects were handled well by the victim company? What mistakes were made before or after the cyber attack? Cite your sources. 2) Why do you want to pursue a Cybersecurity major at Montreat College? 3) What qualities and interests would you bring to the Cybersecurity program at Montreat College? 4) Describe the importance of ethics and morals in the field of Cybersecurity. 5) How would you personally approach the study and practice of this field given the talents and gifts God has given you?
- Recommendation Letters: Submit two recommendation letters from non-family members. One recommendation letter should speak to your personal qualities and character. One recommendation letter should speak to your academic ability. For students also applying to the Honors Program, these letters can count toward the Honors recommendation letter requirement as well.
End-of-Year Assessment: Accepted Cybersecurity students who enroll at Montreat College will be subject to an end-of-year assessment that will determine eligibility for program continuation. This assessment will include a) a faculty interview, b) a required cumulative minimum 2.75 GPA in major classes, and c) completion of at least one approved professional certification exam (e.g. CompTIA A+).
Honors Program Consideration: Cybersecurity applicants with a minimum cumulative unweighted 3.5 GPA are encouraged to apply for the Honors Program. Accepted Cybersecurity students who participate in the Honors Program may be exempt from the end-of-year assessment if their major GPA meets the minimum 2.75 GPA requirement.
Faculty
Kelli Burgin
Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity
Studies in Cybersecurity
Director, Faculty of Technology and Human Industry
kelli.burgin@montreat.edu
Thomas Hill
Instructor of Cybersecurity
Studies in Cybersecurity
Faculty of Technology and Human Industry
thomas.hill@montreat.edu
Dr. InChan Hwang
Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity
inchan.hwang@montreat.edu
Greg Sayadian
Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity
Chair, Studies in Cybersecurity
Faculty of Technology and Human Industry
greg.sayadian@montreat.edu
Dr. Mark Wells
Professor of Bible and Ministry
Chair, Studies in Bible, Theology, and Ministry
Faculty of Christianity, Culture, and Human Expression
mark.wells@montreat.edu
Cybersecurity Advisory Council
Adjunct Faculty
Danny Mobray
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Online
Montreat College also offers a 100% online Bachelor’s of Science in Cybersecurity.
News
Coming soon!
NSA Designates Montreat College a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education
Montreat College announced today that it has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Montreat College is the first member of the Council for...
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