INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University has received final approval to offer a four-year bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, expanding its academic offerings in one of the nation’s fastest-growing fields.
Previously, cybersecurity has been offered as a minor within the computer science department.
“Today marks a historic milestone for West Virginia State University as we have secured all approvals to launch a four-year degree in the vital and rapidly expanding field of cybersecurity,” said WVSU President Ericke S. Cage. “The demand for highly skilled cybersecurity professionals has never been greater, and this program positions our students to not only meet that demand but to lead in protecting the digital infrastructure that drives our economy and safeguards our future.”
The cybersecurity program at WVSU has been in a period of tremendous growth in recent years.
Last spring, the university opened the WVSU Cybersecurity Clinic, which was made possible in part with $1 million in grant funding and wraparound support from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund. The clinic, the first of its kind in West Virginia, trained 18 students and provided free cybersecurity assessments to 27 organizations.
The WVSU Cybersecurity Clinic followed the establishment of the WVSU Cybersecurity Innovation Center (CIC) in 2023. The center was made possible in part by a $764,792 grant from the Kanawha County Commission. The United States Department of Education also contributed $2.5 million to the establishment of the center to work in collaboration with Marshall University on cybersecurity for critical infrastructure.
“The Cybersecurity Innovation Center at WVSU also provides free cybersecurity evaluations for small businesses, non-profit organizations, and critical infrastructure,” said Dr. Ali Al-Sinayyid, director of the WVSU Cybersecurity Innovation Center. “In the spring of 2025 alone, the CIC delivered these services to 27 local organizations across West Virginia, providing our students with valuable real world experience, while also supporting the needs of the local business community.”
The CIC features a state-of-the-art learning laboratory, providing an immersive and hands-on experience for students in defending critical public infrastructure. Students in the cybersecurity program gain valuable practical skills that prepare them to address real-world challenges in the field of cybersecurity.
In addition to its general cybersecurity program, WVSU is the only university in West Virginia to offer an Agricultural Cybersecurity option, joining a select group of institutions nationwide that prepare a workforce to protect this critical sector of the economy. Cybersecurity in agriculture is increasingly vital as the industry relies more on digital technologies for precision farming, food production and distribution.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, cyber insecurity remains one of the top 10 global risks over the next 10 years. Currently, there are more than 500,000 cybersecurity jobs available in the U.S,and demand for cyber professionals is projected to grow 32% by 2033.
For more information contact WVSU Cybersecurity Center Director Dr. Ali Al-Sinayyid at ali.alsinayyid@wvstateu.edu or (304) 766-3391.
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