Bachelor of Applied Technology in Cybersecurity: A Degree For A Fast-Growing Field

The Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity degree became available at Collin College in January 2020. This program offers students the opportunity to take their associate degree in information security to the next level with a degree that offers high-wage jobs in a high-growth field.

The BAT in Cybersecurity is one of the few hardware-based bachelors degree programs in the state of Texas, said Ervin Frenzel, director of the Cybersecurity program at Collin College.

Our program focuses not only on the software but also the secure implementation of hardware and processes, which makes Collin College unique, Frenzel said.

Cybersecurity is one of the most popular programs at Collin College with more than 800 students across the three cybersecurity programs the BAT, Associate of Applied Science, and certificate, said Frenzel.

In August 2017, Business Insider named the Dallas-Fort Worth area among the worlds most technologically advanced cities, noting the rapid growth in the number of venture capitalists and integration of technology into the city landscape.

The DFW area is sometimes referred to as Silicon Prairie for its high concentration of major tech companies, such as Texas Instruments, AT&T, and Lockheed Martin. As the DFW area continues to grow, so will the BAT in Cybersecurity program at Collin College, and the need for more instructors will be critical, Frenzel said.

Our instructors share industry experience, are mentors to our students, and improve the overall skill set of entry-level technicians as they work in this high-demand career, Frenzel said.

Students receive hands-on experience in this program, which covers multiple aspects of cybersecurity, including penetration testing, defensive operations, basic cryptography, privacy, cybercrime, and cyber policy.

For more information on the BAT and other cybersecurity degree programs, please visit www.collin.edu/academics/programs/CYBR_1Overview.html.