This guide provides a summary of New Jersey’s educational and technical cybersecurity opportunities. The economic background for New Jersey’s developing cybersecurity industry is also given in the guide.
For many people, New Jersey conjures up images of New York City and Philadelphia as much as anything else in the state. To be clear, the New Jersey shoreline is a huge draw for both residents and visitors, particularly during the summer. New Jersey is the smallest state in terms of area in the United States, but it has the 11th largest population, thanks in part to its proximity to nearby cities.
In several ways, New Jersey gets a bad rap. It is a significant economy in and of itself, particularly given its geographic scale. The state’s long shoreline supports a flourishing tourism industry as well as a major shipping industry, which is easily the state’s largest employer.
Other major employers include healthcare (particularly pharmaceutical manufacturers and biotechnology), technical and business services (particularly financial services), and government. Telecommunications is also a major business in this city.
There are actually 24 Fortune 500 companies based in New Jersey. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Chubb, Prudential Financial, and Schering-Plough are among these firms.
It’s fair to say that New Jersey’s proximity to New York City and Philadelphia is its biggest advantage when it comes to cybersecurity. The presence of major financial institutions and other business service operations in the state is no coincidence, and it is one of the main reasons for the state’s flourishing cybersecurity industry.
Via the NJCCIC division of the state Homeland Security agency, the state government has been vigilant in preparing itself and its people for cyber attacks. New Jersey, on the other hand, has done little, if anything, to attract or stimulate the information security industry, in contrast to many other nations. Furthermore, state and local governments have done little, if anything, to recruit cybersecurity expertise. Furthermore, there appear to be no government-sponsored cybersecurity education initiatives, nor any attempts to encourage colleges and universities to establish programmes to train the next generation of information security professionals.
Nonetheless, New Jersey has evolved into a favourable cybersecurity climate, if only by design. The state has become a lucrative information security market due to its large number of international corporations and dominant industries.
Growing importance of cybersecurity in New Jersey
It is obvious that all companies need to improve their cybersecurity. The state of New Jersey is no exception. In reality, the state’s economy is set up in such a way that it is almost certain to be vital to the future of the state’s major industry, not to mention the government.
Because of its proximity to New York City and Philadelphia, cybersecurity firms may and do set up shop in New Jersey to support clients from other states. It also means that cybersecurity experts can have easy access to both locations, even though New Jersey employers fail to meet their needs.
The supply/demand ratio for cybersecurity professionals vs. work openings in New Jersey is currently substantially higher than in other states in the nation. However, this simply means that the ratio is very large on a very small scale. According to Cyberseek, New Jersey’s cybersecurity supply/demand ratio is only around half of the national average in other industries/job markets, indicating a reasonably strong labour market. As a result, the state will have plenty of employment prospects for the near future. In addition, New York City and Philadelphia are just a short drive or train ride away.
Cybersecurity education in New Jersey
New Jersey is home to a number of excellent higher education institutions. Only a few people have taken it upon themselves to contribute to cybersecurity education so far. Rutgers has several cybersecurity programmes, but Fairleigh Dickenson University and Stevens Institute of Technology are far and away the most involved.
However, considering the state’s population ranking of 11th in the US, there are relatively few education options for those interested in cybersecurity so far. Regardless of whether or not students live in New Jersey, the services available offer excellent options.
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREE
In almost every country, cybersecurity job openings are outpacing the supply of trained cybersecurity professionals. Because of this, many cybersecurity employers are also willing to hire people with an associate’s degree in cybersecurity for entry-level positions. Associate’s degree programmes are generally completed in a year or two, making them much less difficult and costly than a full four-year degree.
This will help new cybersecurity practitioners get their foot in the door. Newcomers may then choose to attend infosec certificate courses to expand their career opportunities once they’ve settled in. Furthermore, several colleges can extend course credits for associate’s degree coursework already done, making a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity more available. If such credits are eligible, the expense and time commitment required to earn a bachelor’s degree could be drastically reduced.
However, there are currently no associate’s degree programmes available in New Jersey, either on-campus or online.
BACHELOR’S DEGREE
A bachelor’s degree in some type of technology or STEM-related discipline is now required by most employers and work postings. For professionals looking to break into the cybersecurity field in a market like New Jersey, where competition isn’t quite as fierce as it is elsewhere in the world, it might be preferable to do something to set themselves apart. A bachelor’s degree with a cybersecurity concentration might help you do that. Additionally, adding one or more cybersecurity qualifications to a resume will help students stand out even more.
Campus-based bachelor’s degrees in New Jersey
In the state of New Jersey, there are currently six separate campus-based bachelor’s degree programmes offered by three different colleges. Fairleigh Dickinson University offers four separate BS programmes with a cybersecurity emphasis. Both Rutgers University and Stevens Institute of Technology have one alternative. The following are the specifics.
CYBERSECURITY BACHELOR’S PROGRAMS IN NEW JERSEY
| School | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison | B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity & Information Assurance Concentration |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison | B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Concentration |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison | B.S. in Computer Science – Information Security Administration Concentration |
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison | B.S. in Information Technology – Security & Forensics Concentration |
| Kean University | Union | Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a concentration/minor in Cybersecurity |
| Kean University | Union | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a Cybersecurity option. |
| Kean University | Union | Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a Cybersecurity option. |
| Rutgers University | New Brunswick | Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Computer Security |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken | Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity |
Online bachelor’s degrees in New Jersey
There is only one online choice for a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity provided by New Jersey universities. A Bachelor of Professional Studies in Cybersecurity is offered by Saint Peters University.
MASTER’S DEGREE
The number of senior and management-level roles being generated in the cybersecurity industry is increasingly increasing as it continues to develop and evolve. Despite the fact that senior-level corporate cybersecurity professionals are in short supply, achieving these advanced positions may necessitate a master’s degree. While a graduate degree in cybersecurity isn’t always needed, it will undoubtedly be advantageous for those pursuing roles in the C-suite of information security.
A master’s degree, and sometimes a Ph.D., is required for jobs like Chief Information Security Officer. A master’s degree will also be needed for seasoned cybersecurity professionals who want to pursue careers in academia, cybersecurity science, or cybersecurity consulting.
Campus-based master’s degrees in New Jersey
As seen in the table below, New Jersey colleges and universities currently offer five options for earning a master’s degree in cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity Master’s Programs in New Jersey
| School | City | Program Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison | M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance | |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark | Master of Science in Cyber Security and Privacy (MS CSP) | |
| New Jersey Institute of Technology | Newark | MS in IT Administration and Security (MS IT AS) | |
| Rutgers University | New Brunswick | Master of Business & Science – Cybersecurity Concentration | |
| Saint Peter’s University | Jersey City | Masters of Science in Cyber Security |
Online master’s degrees in New Jersey
Stevens Institute of Technology is also the only school in New Jersey to deliver master’s degree programmes in cybersecurity entirely online. Stevens offers two different master’s degrees: one in cybersecurity and the other in computer science with a focus on secure systems.
Ph.D. DEGREES
A Ph.D. in cybersecurity would have been unheard of ten years ago. Today, however, there are several Ph.D. programmes available, and demand is increasingly increasing. Professors and researchers in cybersecurity are most likely the main source of demand. Some top-level corporate executives are now looking for cybersecurity PhDs as well.
At the moment, Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey is offering a campus-based Ph.D. in Computer Science with a research specialisation in Computer Security and Cryptography as one choice for a Ph.D. in cybersecurity.
CERTIFICATIONS
Specialized certifications can be a great way to advance your career, and this is especially true in the field of cybersecurity. And, thankfully, qualification programmes are available at all levels. Students interested in learning about cybersecurity will find workshops to help them do so. Professionals who choose to advance their careers and/or education in a specific field, such as penetration testing, can do so through certifications. And senior-level executives seeking a boost to their resumes or an update on a specific area of cybersecurity.
Some cybersecurity certification programmes are also intended to serve as a precursor to or substitute for advanced degrees, particularly master’s degrees. New Jersey schools now offer a variety of credential programmes that cover a wide range of topics.
Campus-based cybersecurity certifications in New Jersey
New Jersey schools are also offering three on-campus cybersecurity certification programmes. More details can be found in the table below.
Online cybersecurity certifications in New Jersey
New Jersey colleges and universities are also offering four programs leading to cybersecurity certificates via online courses. These are listed below:
Cybersecurity Online Certification Programs in New Jersey
| School | City | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| Fairleigh Dickinson University | Madison | Computer Security and Forensic Administration |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken | Graduate Certificate in Systems Security Engineering |
| Stevens Institute of Technology | Hoboken | Secure Network Systems Design Graduate Certificate |
| PC Age | Jersey City | Certified IT/Cybersecurity |
Cybersecurity Jobs in New Jersey
According to Cyberseek, the cybersecurity workforce in New Jersey was 28,332 in the year prior to September 2019. Employers of New Jersey have advertised 11,338 new information security work vacancies during that time period. This suggests a strong labour market, but just not as tight as most other states are seeing right now. The northern part of the state, around Newark, has by far the largest concentration of cybersecurity practitioners in the state, and is within commuting distance of New York City. However, there is a significant demand for information security expertise and experience further south, near Camden and close to Philadelphia.
Cybersecurity professionals in New Jersey are currently paid among the highest in the world. Security analysts earned an average hourly income of $58.46 in May 2018, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, and an average annual salary of $121,600. New Jersey, on the other hand, has one of the highest living standards in the world. New Jersey is more costly than the average US state in almost every way, but housing is especially expensive. This is particularly true in the state’s northernmost reaches, like New York City.
Cybersecurity in New Jersey
New Jersey’s economy is strong and thriving, with a wide range of contributors. Large businesses and sectors that need specialised cybersecurity services are critical components of this economy. The state is also well-positioned, with quick access to New York City and Philadelphia, as well as all that their markets and business communities have to offer.
New Jersey’s government has yet to support the cybersecurity industry sufficiently to establish incentive schemes. Just a few colleges and universities have made cybersecurity a full-fledged part of their curriculum. Nonetheless, the state’s economic scale and composition will ensure that cybersecurity remains a vital and rising industry for the foreseeable future.
