Western Washington University and Whatcom Community College are beginning a new cybersecurity collaboration that will allow WCC graduates to earn bachelor’s degrees in computer and information systems security at WWU.

With the arrangement, WCC will offer a new two-year associate degree in cybersecurity, which will then allow graduates to apply to WWU to major in computer and information systems security.

It will be the first collaboration that will allow graduates from professional technical programs at WCC to enter WWU with junior class standing.

The program is a result of a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. It is a collaborative effort involving WCC, WWU, the University of Washington and Bellingham Technical College.

Curriculum and course standards for the new program are currently being developed by a group representing each of the collaborative partners. Course work is expected to focus on developing knowledge and skills in security management, threat analysis, computer and software forensics, and security tools and techniques.

The first graduates of WCC’s program who choose to continue on to WWU could begin classwork at the four-year university in fall 2014.

For more information, contact Dave Knapp with WCC’s Entry and Advising Office at 360-383-3080 or advise@whatcom.ctc.edu.