Business Professionals of America is the leading CTSO (Career and Technical Student Organization) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. BPA has 43,000...
Image Carousel


Overview
The world of Cybersecurity is an exciting career possibility—and, at CWI, you have an opportunity to join the front-line combating hackers who are compromising networks around the world. The goal of this program is to prepare security professionals to protect an organization’s data by taking preemptive measures against malicious attacks and to perform forensic investigations if security is breached.
CWI offers you the opportunity to take classes both in the daytime and evening. Contact your advisor for the schedule and details.
Information technology professionals are held to a higher standard than many professionals, which is why many employers require a background check before hiring any new IT personnel. A felony or misdemeanor still appearing on a background check can become a severe barrier to working as an IT professional at a government or private organization.
Mission
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) provides an adaptive and industry-competitive Cybersecurity program that prepares students for continuing their education in cybersecurity; as well as providing opportunities to connect with a global community of industry professionals.
Why This Program
Computers around the world are systematically victimized by rampant hacking. This hacking is not only widespread, but it is being executed so flawlessly that the attackers compromise a system, steal everything of value, and completely erase their tracks within 20 minutes. This program will prepare technicians to protect an organization’s data by taking preemptive measures against malicious attacks.
Upon successful completion of the program and depending on organizational employability requirements, students from this program will be prepared for a number of jobs that require the following industry certifications: CompTia A+; Network+; Linux+; Security+, CYSA+, Server+; Cloud+.
What You Will Learn to Do
- Install and configure computer hardware and software
- Configure virtual machines, virtual machine storage, and virtual networks
- Configure internal and external security mechanisms
- Describe the five basic principles in a defense
- Identify payloads of malware
- Examine web applications, form attacks, SQL injection and plan countermeasures
- Monitor network pathways for signs of compromised systems
- Develop policies and procedures in the collection of digital evidence
- Create a "First Responder" toolkit for crime scene investigations
- Examine and prepare for actual courtroom cases involving digital forensic investigations
- Create a policy and profile for collecting evidence for mobile devices
- Demonstrate proficiency in collecting network information through industry standard penetration testing methodologies
Clubs

The purpose of the club is to promote competitive gaming, teach teamwork, and show students how to better themselves through their own means for the community and social groups by encouraging perseverance and willingness to grow while maintaining or...

The gaming club is a club for everyone who plays games, whether that be video games, board games, tabletop, or even card games. Our goal is to help better establish the gaming community here at CWI, and show the students that there are a lot of...

Skills USA is a nationwide organization; it is also a club at College of Western Idaho. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for people from all backgrounds to enhance their technical and leadership skills. In Skills USA, college students can...
Additional Opportunities
The CWI Cybersecurity program will ready you with advanced, market-relevant skills that employers recognize and respect.
Cyber Defense Center
College of Western Idaho's Cyber Defense Center offers cybersecurity awareness, best practices, news, events, and activities for Idaho communities, businesses, partners, and students while striving to advance U.S. Federal Government, State of Idaho, and industry initiatives in cyber defense.
More Recommended Programs

Get started with Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Foundations. AWS is a widely adopted cloud platform across a broad spectrum of organizations, to include startups, enterprise companies, and...
Requirements and Costs
Degrees and Certificates
Cybersecurity - Associate of Applied Science Degree - Accelerated
1.5
YEARSAAS
Important Dates for Credit Programs
Summer 2023 | Fall 2023 | Spring 2024 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Priority Registration Begins1 | N/A | Apr 10 | Nov 13 (2023) | |
Open Registration Begins | Feb 27 | Apr 17 | Nov 20 (2023) | |
Financial Aid Priority Deadline | May 13 | Jul 29 | Dec 16 (2023) | |
Admission Deadline2 | May 27 | Aug 12 | Jan 6 | |
Last Day to Register for Classes | Jun 2 | Aug 18 | Jan 12 | |
Tuition and Fees Due | Jun 2 | Aug 18 | Jan 12 | |
Classes Begin3 | Jun 5 | Aug 21 | Jan 16 | |
1 Priority registration is limited to continuing students. Students are assigned a registration time based on their cumulative credits earned. Students should check myCWI and their CWI email to learn their assigned registration time. Students may register online anytime on or after their assigned registration time. | ||||
2 The admission deadline for international students is earlier than the deadline for non-international students and is only available during the fall and spring semesters. Please consult the Academic Calendar for the international student admission deadlines for the fall and spring semesters. | ||||
3 Classes in shorter sessions (including 4-, 5-, and 8-week sessions) may begin before or after this date. Please refer to the Registration and Refund Deadlines by Class Section Dates (located beneath each semester) of the Academic Calendar for more information. |
Skills, Traits, and Prep Classes
- Keyboarding
- General computer skills
- Ability to learn
- Basic understanding of how computers work is helpful
- Good communication and writing skills are helpful
- Ability to troubleshoot complex problems is helpful
Advising
Navigating your way through college can be confusing, especially if you try to go it alone. CWI offers advising assistance to help in deciding which courses you need to take to reach your education and career goals. Visit Advising or contact One Stop Student Services for more information.
When preparing for a career in the area of information security, a quality background check is essential for the protection of both the student and the training institution. Security professionals are held to a higher standard than many information technology professionals which is why many employers will require a background check before hiring any new security personnel. A background check will ensure that the Cybersecurity program conforms to industry standards with respect to the training of security specialists.
Results of the background checks are confidentially retained by the Cybersecurity program at CWI. If derogatory information is found as a result of the background check, further review of the student in question may be required before beginning the Cybersecurity program. Derogatory information, which may preclude a student from entering the Cybersecurity program, includes a DUI in the past three (3) years or a felony.
Only students who have officially declared Cybersecurity as their chosen program should complete the background check. If you have questions, please contact your student advisor.
Financial Aid Available
Did you know that as a student in this program you may be eligible for financial aid? Through grants, scholarships, and loans, more than 60 percent of first-time, full-time CWI students receive some form of financial assistance. To learn more about financial aid options and whether you may be eligible, visit Financial Aid.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for a full-time CWI student averages half the cost of a state university and a third of the cost of a private college. Tuition and fees vary based on program and residence. Visit Tuition and Fees for more information.
Career Info
Professions
- Security Manager
- Cyber Security Incident Responder
- Computer Forensic Specialist
- Security Specialist
- Security Administrator
- Entry Level Penetration Tester
- Security Systems Administration
- IT Security Consultant
Upon successful completion of the program and depending on organizational employability requirements, students from this program will be prepared for a number of jobs that require the following industry certifications: CompTia A+; Network+; Linux+; Security+, CYSA+, Server+; Cloud+.
Locations
Instructors
Program Department Chair
Instructor(s)
Respectful Community
College of Western Idaho is committed to maintaining a Respectful Community by providing equal opportunity for all individuals and does not discriminate in services, benefits, or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, veteran status, age, or any other legally protected status. More on Title IX
News and Blogs

Cybersecurity student, Stanley Ward, was selected out of thousands of students for a national scholarship through his participation in a national cybersecurity competition.

Congratulations to College of Western Idaho Cybersecurity Professor, Dr. Linda Otto, who was awarded the 2022 Idaho Business Education Association Outstanding Postsecondary Educator of the Year Award.

Congratulations to College of Western Idaho's Cybersecurity team who advanced to the finals and placed fourth at the Future of Work Academy cybersecurity incubator competition.

Cybersecurity Representatives from College of Western Idaho’s Cyber Defense Center took part in the Idaho Office of Emergency Management’s annual Cybersecurity Summit Thursday, Oct. 13.

College of Western Idaho’s Cybersecurity program is one step closer to receiving full Center of Academic Excellence Cyber Defense accreditation.

College of Western Idaho students joined students from across the state this spring to compete for more than $50,000 in prize money and services to advance their startups.
Career & Technical Education
- Administrative Specialist
- Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology
- Automotive Technology
- Bookkeeping and Accounting
- Cisco Networking and Security Technologies
- Collision Repair Technology
- Computer Support Specialist
- Cybersecurity
- Dental Assisting
- Drafting Technology
- Education, Early Childhood
- Fire Service Management
- Fire Service Technology
- Heavy Duty Truck Technician
- Heavy Equipment Technician
- Horticulture Technology
- Law Enforcement
- Machine Tool Technology
- Marketing Communications
- Medical Administrative Support
- Medical Assistant - Credit
- Network and System Administration
- Nursing, Practical
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant
- Powersports and Small Engine Repair Technology
- Software Development
- Surgical Technology
- Swift Programming
- Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Welding and Metals Fabrication
- Wildland Fire Management