NJCU and Hudson County Community College Enter into Cybersecurity Degree Transfer Articulation Agreement
JERSEY CITY, N.J. | New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Hudson County Community College (HCCC) have announced the signing of an articulation agreement for a Dual Admissions program in Cybersecurity. Beginning in September 2022, HCCC students can complete an Associate of Science in Computer Science-Cybersecurity at HCCC and move seamlessly onto attaining a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity at NJCU.
NJCU President Dr. Sue Henderson and Dr. Tamara Jhashi, NJCU Senior Vice President and Provost, joined HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber and Dr. Darryl Jones, HCCC Vice President for Academic Affairs, for a signing ceremony on March 17, 2022.
The increasing and evolving threats of data breaches, phishing, malware, and ransomware have fueled new interest in the cybersecurity industry and its struggles. Cyberattacks cost an estimated $6 trillion globally each year. Hackers target banks, colleges and universities, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, hospitals, private citizens, and many others. As cyber criminals access sensitive information and cripple computer networks, victims scramble to protect their assets and regain control.
“A degree in cybersecurity will provide students with solid career skills and earning potential in a number of industries,” said NJCU President Dr. Sue Henderson. “We are pleased to work with HCCC to transition students to our bachelor’s degree program, which is among just a few in the country with designations in both cybersecurity and intelligence. Students will learn from some of the top security experts in the discipline and leave with cutting-edge knowledge as well as practical experience.”
“We are proud to partner with New Jersey City University in preparing students for stable, well-paying careers that offer many opportunities for advancement, and that ultimately benefit the community’s safety,” said HCCC President Dr. Chris Reber.
Employers across all sectors are investing in cybersecurity, the fastest growing industry in the United States, with job growth projected at 31 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Cybersecurity professionals work in education, energy, finance, health care, insurance, law enforcement, manufacturing, retail, and more. Their responsibilities include developing and maintaining secure digital infrastructures, preventing data breaches, analyzing, and identifying potential risks, and implementing a digital disaster recovery plan.
The HCCC curriculum provides instruction in computer programming, computer hardware organization and architectures, network security, cybersecurity, data communications and local area networks. Upon successful completion of the Cybersecurity program, graduates will enter NJCU as fully matriculated students with junior-year standing.
Hudson County Community College (HCCC) alumnus Stephen Cronin viewed the issue as an opportunity to work towards a career in combating cybercrime. The 2020 graduate of the HCCC Cybersecurity program expressed that his classes, specifically Network Security and Ethical Hacking, gave him the skills and knowledge to be successful at a four-year university and in the industry. He strongly recommends the program to anyone who is interested in a career in technology or information security.
“There are no other institutions that offer this cutting-edge knowledge at such an affordable and accessible level, right here in our community,” said Cronin.
It is the ninth degree program in which NJCU and HCCC have established an articulation agreement. The institutions now have transfer agreements in Accounting, Biology, Criminal Justice, Elementary Education, Health Sciences, Management, Nursing and Physics.
Students can plan their transfer during their first semester at HCCC in preparation for the completion of their associate degree. The agreement guarantees eligible students will have their place at NJCU reserved, further easing their transition to the University.
HCCC students will also have access to NJCU financial aid counselors who will assist with early financial planning and furnish estimates of financial aid and scholarships that are useful in creating a four-year plan for completing the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree.
NJCU’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program provides students with the necessary knowledge, skills, and professional training to pursue careers in the rapidly growing field of Cybersecurity. The program offers a balance between the theoretical and deep technical skills of Cybersecurity. The program is suitable for students who have a desire to join the Cybersecurity workforce or conduct Cybersecurity research. The program prepares NJCU’s graduates to face the futuristic security-related challenges emerging from our internet-connected world, the rapid adoption of mobile devices, and the ever-increasing role of software applications in our daily life. The curriculum for the Bachelor in Cybersecurity program blends contemporary knowledge with advanced research concepts to deliver a cutting-edge program mapped with the NSA/DHS guidelines and knowledge units.
Successful graduates can now further their education through NJCU’s recently introduced Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity program. Additionally, NJCU offers a Doctor Of Science (DSc) in Civil Security Leadership, Management & Policy, including the discipline of cybersecurity.
HCCC is one of seven community colleges in the state of New Jersey to currently offer an articulation agreement with NJCU, joining Brookdale Community College, Camden County College, Essex County College, Mercer County Community College, Middlesex County College, and Passaic County Community College.
About NJCU:
New Jersey City University is an institution of higher learning with an audacious goal: the development of our students, our city, our communities, our state, and the world beyond. We are a game-changing force for our students and their families. Whether our students are enrolled in one of our 50 undergraduate, 30 graduate or three doctoral programs, NJCU provides an affordable, diverse environment, and an exceptionally supportive faculty—all of which prepares them to be critical thinkers in a global landscape.
We’re also changing the game for our city, our communities, and our state. As the educational anchor institution in Jersey City, we’ve established partnerships to ensure the area’s growth directly benefits our students and community members. We seek to improve the lives of everyone in the Garden State, whether creating a home for the arts, bringing educational programs to K-12 students, offering bachelor’s degrees in partnership with community colleges, or providing professional development opportunities for adults.
At NJCU, we’re not just educating minds, we’re nourishing souls and lifting communities. We’re changing the game.
Contact:
Ira Thor, Senior Director of University Communications and Media Relations | ithor@njcu.edu | 201-200-3301