NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - April 29, 2016) - The Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), the world's largest professional association of computer science teachers with over 21,000 members, today launched a strategic professional development program to equip educators to teach cybersecurity in the classroom and address the nation's cyber skills gap. The CSTA program is called the Cyber Teacher Certificate professional development program.
There will be over one million open and unfilled cybersecurity jobs in 2016, according to an article recently published by Forbes. Demand for cybersecurity professionals is growing twelve times faster than the job market overall, according to labor intelligence firm Burning Glass International. At the same time, while student interest in cybersecurity is surging, 64% of Millennials say their educational institution does not have courses that would allow them to explore their interest in cyber, according to statistical survey research commissioned by Raytheon.
Student Interest in Cyber is Strong and Growing
One in four Millennials is interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity, according to the Raytheon study. In addition, the interest that Millennials have in working in cybersecurity has surged 40% compared to just one year ago, the study reports.
"Teachers are the most influential element in shaping and guiding a student's educational path," said Dr. Mark Nelson, Executive Director of the Computer Science Teachers Association. "That is why the Cyber Teacher Certificate program will be a force multiplier for creating the cyber generation. With this program we're letting teachers tap into students' rising interest in cybersecurity and increasing their future opportunities for high-paying and in-demand cyber careers."
The Cyber Teacher program is an online process totaling 8 hours of continuing education units (CEUs) to earn the Cyber Teacher Certificate, including the Fundamentals of Cyber online adaptive learning course and interactive cyber experiences for the student and teacher.
"Cybersecurity job growth is creating career opportunities for students at an unprecedented rate. Educators are actively trying to bring cyber into their classrooms so their students understand their opportunities. Computer Science teachers now have a simple and powerful way to bring this capability into their classroom," remarked Rick Geritz, CEO of LifeJourney, the technology partner of CSTA for the launch of the Cyber Teacher program.
How Teachers Can Register for the Cyber Teacher Certificate Program
Teachers can register for the Cyber Teacher Certificate program here where they can review the program and learn more about it. The fee can be submitted by teachers as a reimbursable expense for professional development per the policies of individual school districts.