Toward a Student-Ready Cybersecurity Program: Findings from a Survey of STEM-Students

Authors

Lora Pitman, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Brian K. Payne, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Tancy Vandecar-Burdin, Old Dominion UniversityFollow
Leonora Thorbjornsen, Old Dominion UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2022

Publication Title

Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research, & Practice

Volume

2022

Issue

2

Pages

3 (1-25)

Abstract

As the number of available cybersecurity jobs continues to grow, colleges strive to offer to their cybersecurity students an environment which will make them sufficiently prepared to enter the workforce after graduation. This paper explores the academic and professional needs of STEM-students in various higher education institutions across Virginia and how cybersecurity programs can cater to these needs. It also seeks to propose an evidence-based approach for improving the existing cybersecurity programs so that they can become more inclusive and student-ready. A survey of 251 college students in four higher-education institutions in Virginia showed that while there are common patterns observed across gender and race, there are still areas in which more should be done regarding some of these groups. In particular, some discrepancies are observed across gender when it comes to students’ preparation with business fundamentals, the overall satisfaction of the received STEM education, and across race and ethnicity, when it comes to college advising, peer-mentoring, tutoring and faculty mentoring. The results from this study inform specific recommendations that will bring higher-education institutions and their cybersecurity program to a more student-ready level.

Rights

The Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research and Practice applies a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0) to all publications.

This license allows Authors and Readers to Share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and Adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, even commercially. The copyright is held by the Journal and they cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

Attribution — Users must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license and the original article, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

No additional restrictions — Users may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

For further questions, please visit the Creative Commons website or contact the journal.

People seeking an exception, or who have questions about use, should contact the editors.

Original Publication Citation

Pitman, L., University, O. D., Payne, B., Vamdecar-Burdin, T., & Thorbjornsen, L. (2022). Toward a student-ready cybersecurity program: Findings from a survey of STEM-students. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice, 2022(2), 1-25, Article 3. https://doi.org/10.32727/8.2023.2

Repository Citation

Pitman, L., University, O. D., Payne, B., Vamdecar-Burdin, T., & Thorbjornsen, L. (2022). Toward a student-ready cybersecurity program: Findings from a survey of STEM-students. Journal of Cybersecurity Education, Research & Practice, 2022(2), 1-25, Article 3. https://doi.org/10.32727/8.2023.2

ORCID

0000-0002-0935-4484 (Vandecar-Burdin)