TSTC Cybersecurity instructors share how they guide students toward successful careers

(HARLINGEN, Texas) – With cybercrimes running rampant and threatening everything from personal finances to social media accounts, technicians who can foil such dastardly attacks are more important now than ever.

Texas State Technical College’s Cybersecurity program trains its students to protect computer systems, businesses and the public from cybercrimes.

Recently three TSTC Cybersecurity instructors from around the state talked about how the program prepares students for successful careers.

Daniel Follis, a Cybersecurity instructor at the Waco campus, said troubleshooting is a major part of what program graduates are expected to do in the workforce.

“Troubleshooting problems is going to be a large portion of the students’ jobs in their future careers,” he said. “They will learn how to find the problem, research it, and resolve that issue. They also can keep up to date with the latest technology methods, such as layers of security that are needed to protect information.”

Amy Hertel, a Cybersecurity instructor at the Marshall campus, said TSTC students benefit from instructors’ real-world experience.

“Every TSTC instructor must have at least five years of industry experience and be credentialed for every course that they teach,” she said. “Our instructors come from a diverse background of information technology professions, such as military, service corporations, and security analyst roles. Each instructor should be aware of current industry trends and understand how to incorporate them into the courses that they teach.”

Andrew Phillips, a Cybersecurity instructor at the Fort Bend County campus, stressed the importance of staying informed about current developments in the field.

“The technologies we use continue to evolve,” he said. “TSTC Cybersecurity instructors further our education through individual study and industry certification. Students should also take the same approach. What’s important is knowing where to start, how to study, and how our work in the classroom relates to industry expectations.”

The Cybersecurity program at TSTC’s Harlingen campus is recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense. Institutions that receive this designation have met the rigorous requirements set by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.

TSTC offers online training for its Cybersecurity program. Students can choose to pursue an Associate of Applied Science degree in Cybersecurity, certificates of completion in Cybersecurity, and an advanced technology certificate in Digital Forensics Specialist.

Registration for TSTC’s fall semester is underway. For more information, visit tstc.edu.