For students at Shadow Ridge High School who are interested in pursuing a career in computers, the Cybersecurity classes offered by Mr. Mann might be just the right thing to jumpstart those dreams.
Cybersecurity classes are available to all students of any grade at Shadow Ridge. These classes have been included at Shadow Ridge as a CTE pathway and taught by Mr. Mann in room 327 for the last eight years.
This year, the levels of cybersecurity include Cyber I, II, III, and Cyber AS. Classes like these are usually taken by freshman and sophomore students. However, juniors and seniors are more than welcome to take these classes as well.
Cybersecurity is a great class that can set the foundation for students who have dreams of working with computers in the future.
According to Mann, “Cybersecurity is a subfield in computer science and can be used to get a variety of jobs – everything from digital forensics like CSI to working in IT at major companies.”
These classes dive deep into the fundamentals of computer science, teaching students about threats such as hacking, phishing, malware, and data breaches.
Students learn how to identify vulnerabilities, secure networks, and understand ethical considerations of cybersecurity. While most lives are conducted online, the importance of these skills is becoming increasingly more significant.
Mann adds, “Cybersecurity professionals generally start out at about $65,000 annually, and with experience that can climb to $90K – $110K a year; With a lack of Cybersecurity talent in the country, the salaries are typically high to those with related jobs. It is also a great class if you want to learn more about computer networking, how computers work, and learn good computer practices.”
Classes like these can really give a quick and easy headstart for an entire future relating to computers.
Mann comments, “Students also participate in cyber competitions and have the opportunity to get industry certifications for free. They can graduate with enough knowledge and experience to get a high paying job right out of high school or use it to get into a good university.”
The Cybersecurity classes also emphasize the importance of teamwork and problem solving. Students often work in groups to tackle challenges that simulate real-world cyber threats, adopting collaboration and communication skills.
For those who have yet to take the class, the excitement is tangible. As students are meeting with their counselors and choosing their classes for next year, they explore this growing area of study.
According to Molly Hayes, a junior at Shadow Ridge who plans to take Cyber One next school year, states “I want to take Cybersecurity to further my computer knowledge and get more experience with a different side of the computer science field before I graduate and go to college, especially because I plan on majoring in computer science in college after I graduate.”
