Cybersecurity degrees and training in the Volunteer State

• Associate degrees
• Bachelor’s degrees
• Master’s degrees
• PhD degrees
• Cybersecurity certifications
• Cybersecurity jobs

While many states have a robust manufacturing economy, Tennessee is especially proud of its advanced manufacturing industry.

With the likes of Nissan, LG, and Porter-Cable calling the state home, Tennessee is one of America’s most important producers of high-tech durable goods.  

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A glance at the numbers further illustrates Tennessee’s commitment to production. Advanced manufacturing accounts for more than 170,000 jobs in the state and more than $10 billion has been invested in manufacturing in just the last five years. 

That’s a lot of capital to invest but the returns have been far from paltry. Each year Tennessee exports over $24 billion worth of manufactured goods. 

All of that manufacturing infrastructure has certain requirements though. Mostly lots of electricity. Tennessee is the 20th highest consumer of electricity per capita in the United States and that electricity must come from somewhere. 

The Tennessee Valley Authority is, “the nation’s largest government-owned power provider.” Through a combination of nuclear, coal, solar, wind, and natural gas the TVA annually sells approximately 150 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. 

That energy production facilitates manufacturing but it also makes Tennessee a tempting target for cyber terrorists. A disruption to the increasingly digitized power grid could lead to costly outages as manufacturers are forced to shut down.  

Thankfully the TVA is well aware of the threat posed. They employ more than 50 cybersecurity specialists who actively scan for threats to keep the grid safe. 

It’s not cheap to employ a small company’s worth of cybersecurity technicians, however, the TVA recognizes the technicians’ importance. All things considered, Tennessee has proven to be a state that’s aware of just how important cybersecurity is in the digitized 21^st century. 

Cybersecurity in Tennessee  

FutureCon is Tennessee’s premier cybersecurity conference. It’s an annual event that,

Attendees can learn advanced techniques to combat cybercrime as well as gain a new perspective on what some of America’s top CTOs are doing to keep their digital empires safe. 

This information may prove especially useful as cybercriminals are constantly developing new techniques to subvert existing security systems. Thus, cybersecurity technicians have a responsibility to stay up-to-date with the latest industry best practices. 

In addition to the conference, the city of Nashville keeps an up-to-date website rich with cybersecurity resources. The website offers a perspective on everything from phishing scams to careers in cybersecurity to data privacy best practices. 

As one would expect from a state with a strong focus on digital security, Tennessee has several educational opportunities for those who would like to pursue a career in cybersecurity. 

Cybersecurity educational opportunities in Tennessee

When pursuing an associate’s degree a student can expect to be exposed to a wide range of subject material. Besides the content related to their cybersecurity major, they may also study psychology, English or math. 

Candidates with only an associate’s degree may find it difficult to begin a career in cybersecurity. However, there are positions available for those with an associate’s degree, especially in fields like computer science or information technology. 

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• Find the latest on cybersecurity scholarship opportunities

Cybersecurity associate degrees in Tennessee

There are three associate’s degrees in Tennessee. These degrees are offered by a community college. Currently, only one associate’s degree in cybersecurity is offered online in Tennessee. 

1. Jackson State Community College

   Jackson, Tennessee

   
   Program: Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems: Cyber Defense Concentration
   CAE designation: CAE-CD
   Credits: 60
   Cost per credit: $176 in state | $726 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus
   Learn more: Program details

2. Motlow State Community College

   Tullahoma, Tennessee

   
   Program: A.A.S. in Computer Information Technology – Cyber Defense Concentration
   Credits: 60
   Cost per credit: $226 in state | $776 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus & online
   Learn more: Program details

3. Roane State Community College

   Harriman, Tennessee

   
   Program: Associate of Applied Science Computer Information Tech: Cyber Defense
   CAE designation: $176 in-state | $726 out of state
   Credits: 63
   Cost per credit: $176 in-state | $726 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus
   Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity bachelor’s degrees in Tennessee

Any job seeker who would like to seriously pursue a career in cybersecurity should consider a bachelor’s degree as the minimum level of education necessary to secure good work. 

A four-year bachelor’s degree exposes students to considerably more than a two-year associate’s. Students will learn how to deal with a wide range of cybersecurity threats and they may minor in a specific area of cybersecurity, such as network infrastructure or cyber forensics.  

Four universities offer campus-based bachelor’s degree programs in Tennessee. Unfortunately, there is just one online cybersecurity bachelor’s degree in Tennessee. For more information please see the list below.  

1. LeMoyne-Owen College

   Memphis, Tennessee

   
   Program: Major Criminal Justice ( Cyber Defense/Cyber Security Concentration)
   CAE designation: CAE-CD
   Credits: 120
   Cost per credit: $427 in-state | $427 out-of-state
   Delivery method: Campus
   Learn more: Program details

2. Tennessee Tech University

   Cookeville, Tennessee

   
   Program: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science – Cyber Security
   CAE designation: CAE-CD
   Credits: 120
   Cost per credit: $451 in state | $626 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus
   Learn more: Program details

3. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

   Chattanooga, Tennessee

   
   Program: Bachelor of Science in Computer Science: Cyber Security
   CAE designation: CAE-CD
   Credits: 120
   Cost per credit: $550 in-state | $672 out-of-state
   Delivery method: Campus
   Learn more: Program details

4. University of Memphis

   Memphis, Tennessee

   
   Program: B.S. Computer Science Cybersecurity Concentration
   CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R
   Credits: 120
   Cost per credit: $355 in state | $540 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus & online
   Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity master’s degrees in Tennessee

A master’s degree builds on a bachelor’s, further exposing students to cybersecurity detection, prevention, and investigation techniques. For instance, master’s degree students typically learn cyber forensics and evidence collection to catch cybercriminals. 

Most master’s degree programs require a cybersecurity or computer science undergraduate degree. Master’s students may choose to pursue specialized areas of knowledge like cryptography or ethical hacking. 

Students interested in taking a master’s degree in cybersecurity in Tennessee can enroll in one university that offers the degree. Please see the list below for more information. 

1. University of Tennessee

   Knoxville, Tennessee

   
   Program: MS in Computer Science - Applied Cybersecurity
   Credits: 72
   Cost per credit: $704 in-state | $799 out of state
   Delivery method: Online
   GRE requirement: Not required
   Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity PhD degrees in Tennessee

A PhD degree is the highest level of education possible in the cybersecurity field. A PhD will all but guarantee the graduate a great job with plenty of opportunities for advancement.  

There is only one cybersecurity-specific PhD option in Tennessee. 

1. The University of Tennessee

   Knoxville, Tennessee

   
   Program: Ph.D. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity
   Credits: 72
   Cost per credit: $751 in state | $1011 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus
   GRE requirement: Not required
   Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity certifications in Tennessee

Certifications may be required for certain jobs and can help any candidate increase their chance of getting hired.  

Tennessee currently has two certification programs available to students. More information is available in the list below. 

1. Nashville State Community College

   Nashville, Tennessee

   
   Program: Information Security Technical Certificate
   Credits: 18
   Cost per credit: $176 in state | $726 out of state
   Delivery method: Campus
   Learn more: Program details

2. University of Memphis

   Memphis, Tennessee

   
   Program: Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
   CAE designation: CAE-CD, CAE-R
   Credits: 12
   Cost per credit: $532 in-state | $755 out of state
   Delivery method: Online
   Learn more: Program details

Cybersecurity jobs in Tennessee   

According to 2024 CyberSeek data, a cybersecurity job placement data aggregator, there are 5,463 cybersecurity positions open in the state of Tennessee with 14,799 currently employed.

Due to the continued growth of cybercrime and the increasing digitization of everything from refrigerators to self-driving cars, the demand for cybersecurity technicians is rising. A person who begins studying at university today is very likely to find a job once they graduate in four years.  

The annual mean wage for cybersecurity technicians in Tennessee is $110,140 as shared by the BLS. That salary makes a cybersecurity career look especially lucrative, even compared to other IT positions. 

Cybersecurity in Tennessee   

Billions of dollars have been invested to modernize Tennessee’s manufacturing industry. The result is an advanced manufacturing economy that relies heavily on robotic, digitally-controlled assembly.

While such systems are extremely efficient they’re also susceptible to hacking and other forms of cyber tampering. 

This has not been lost on Tennessee’s leading companies and the demand for cybersecurity specialists is strong.

Whether it’s safeguarding proprietary manufacturing data or protecting an extensive electrical grid from cyber interference, a person with a cybersecurity degree in Tennessee can expect to find a job that matches their expertise.