Not all crime fighters wear badges or capes. The University of Southern Queensland has launched a specialist master’s degree for those who want to fight cyber attacks.

Cyber crime is one of the fastest-growing and most prolific types of crime in the country but the sector faces a critical skills shortage. 18,000 more cyber security professionals will be needed by 2026, according to the Australian Cyber Security Growth Network. The University of Southern Queensland’s new master degree in Cyber Security provides students practical training in cyber protection and security.

Program Coordinator of Information Systems Professor Raj Gururajan said it was a great time to embark on a dynamic and global career in cyber security. “The more we use and rely on technology, the more crucial it is for governments, businesses and individuals to protect themselves against rising cyber security risks,” Gururajan said. “This has opened the door for countless new opportunities for those keen to forge a career in the rapidly-growing and evolving industry. You could work in ethical hacking or computer forensic, or become an IT security consultant, software developer or cryptographer.”

“Our new cyber security program not only provides students the ability to better understand, prevent and combat cyber risks within an organisation, but it can also lead to a range of careers that don’t have a technical focus in areas such as policy, legal, risk management or education.” Gururajan said students in the new course would gain experience investigating and solving real-life cyber security challenges, and the chance to pursue a capstone project in collaboration with an industry partner. “At USQ, our goal is to ensure graduates enter the workforce with the skills and abilities needed to succeed right out of the gate,” he said.

The programs offer students the opportunity to study on-campus at Toowoomba and Springfield campuses, or online.

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