TSTC boot camps focus on cybersecurity, software engineering

(ABILENE, Texas) – Cybersecurity jobs have been increasing over the years.

With an estimated 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs expected in the United States by 2021, according to Cybersecurity Ventures, Texas State Technical College has scheduled two different fast-paced boot camps to fill those positions.

A Cybersecurity Analytics online boot camp, which will be conducted over 13 weeks, is scheduled to begin Feb. 16. Software Engineering will be the focus of a 20-week online boot camp beginning March 1.

TSTC officials said the goal is to prepare people to work remotely and secure a high-demand, high-wage job in the IT field. These fast-paced offerings will be rigorous, according to Edgar Padilla, TSTC’s senior vice president in the Office of Strategic Partnerships and provost at the East Williamson County campus.

“The boot camps are set up with an accelerated, rigorous process for the students to complete. I am very confident of the results for our students,” Padilla said.

Online information sessions will allow prospective students to learn more about this exciting opportunity. The first is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Nov.18 and the second for 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 17.

Padilla said, “TSTC’s mission is to help fill Texas’ workforce with qualified employees, and the boot camps fit that model.”

“Our job is to ensure we provide Texans with instructional support if they want to change careers. We know these (cybersecurity and software engineering) careers are out there,” he said. “This is going to provide a unique value to our students. They will be leaving the boot camp and getting a job. We believe this will result in a lot of good jobs for Texans.”

In West Texas, more than 100 cybersecurity jobs are posted, and completing these boot camps can provide future employees with something valuable.

“These programs will allow students to gain the training and competency to do the job,” he said.

Students in the Cybersecurity Analytics curriculum will learn to set traps and catch threats through real-world lab environments that are paired with industry-grade curriculum.

Through the Software Engineering boot camp, students will gain the necessary expertise in both back-end and front-end programming technologies to become full-stack developers.

Software development jobs are among the top 10 in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report. The magazine’s report for 2020 estimated that developers’ median salary was $103,620.

Once the boot camp is complete, Padilla said TSTC Career Services will work with students on preparing resumes and looking for a career.

“We want to make sure there is placement for our students. We want to have opportunities waiting for them,” Padilla said.

For more information on the boot camps or to register for the information sessions, visit www.tstc.edu/itcareers.