Three California Community Colleges from three different regions of the state have teamed up to offer an online cybersecurity Certificate of Achievement that can be completed entirely online by any student in California.
Cosumnes River College, Fresno City College, and Los Angeles Pierce College jointly offer the Collaborative Cybersecurity Program, an online program that was developed to serve students looking for a stackable certificate that will deliver both job opportunities and potential for advancement.
The program initially launched a year ago and was recently updated with the help of ICT-DM Regional Directors Richard Grotegut and Steve Linthicum. Grotegut said the response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive.
“There are currently 597 applicants for entry into the program with five overlapping cohorts planned over the next year,” Grotegut said. “This has certainly gotten the attention of the leadership at all three colleges.”
The certificate consists of eight ITIS Model Curriculum courses, six of which are offered through the Cisco Network Academy. The other two focus on the CompTIA certifications ITF+ and Security+ and required significant curriculum development.
Students can complete the program without purchasing any textbooks, which was another requirement for Grotegut and Linthicum.
Grotegut said gaining buy-in from the Chancellor’s Office helped secure commitments from the colleges and ensure the program’s success.
“It just makes sense to work together,” Grotegut said. “Under Dr. LeBaron Woodyard’s leadership and the commitment of the three colleges administration and faculty, the program launched the first cohort this summer.”
New cohorts begin every 9-10 weeks. For more information about the Collaborative Cybersecurity Program, visit https://cvc.edu/cybersecurity/