TAMPA, Fla. (July 6, 2018) – They are the future generation of cybersecurity experts, responsible for stopping the next major hack or building the infrastructure network to withstand an attempted breach. Starting on Monday, July 9, this group of Tampa Bay area high school students who are considering careers in cybersecurity, will receive hands-on opportunities to explore the rapidly growing field.
Approximately 25 students will participate in a week-long CyberCamp, hosted by the University of South Florida’s College of Education, the Florida Center for Cybersecurity and the Florida Center for Instructional Technology.
Led by university-level instructors and USF students, the high school students will compete in simulated cybersecurity exercises, learn how to assess cyber targets and work closely with local professionals in the industry.
Experts predict the amount of jobs in the cybersecurity will grow by nearly 30 percent through 2026, with a reported median salary for information security analysts at more than $95,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In order to try to meet the demand for these high-wage jobs, USF is adding to its educational lineup. The College of Engineering recently announced it will offer USF’s first bachelor’s in cybersecurity, adding to the master’s degree programs in cybersecurity and cybercrime, as well as multiple certificate programs already offered by the university. In addition, the Florida Center for Cybersecurity is housed on campus, making USF uniquely positioned as a statewide and national leader in this field.
Next week’s CyberCamp will help prepare students for these programs by covering a number of related topics, including basic Linux, reconnaissance, web application vulnerability exploitation, social engineering and basic cryptography.
Students will meet each day from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at SecureSet, 1403 East 9th Avenue, Tampa, FL 33605.
About the University of South Florida
The University of South Florida, established in 1956 and located in Tampa, is a high-impact global research university dedicated to student success. The USF System includes three separately accredited institutions: USF, USF St. Petersburg and USF Sarasota-Manatee. Serving more than 50,000 students, the USF System has an annual budget of $1.8 billion and an annual economic impact of $4.4 billion. USF ranks in the top 30 nationally for research expenditures among public universities, according to the National Science Foundation. In 2018, the Florida Board of Governors designated USF as a Preeminent State Research University, placing USF in the most elite category among the state’s 12 public universities. USF is a member of the American Athletic Conference.