CNA offers first applied degree in N.L.

The College of the North Atlantic (CNA) is offering a new specialized applied degree over two years.

In a recent news release, CNA said starting in September, the applied degree will build on the college’s existing two-year diploma offering in Computer Systems and Networking.

The diploma gives students the option to get a specialized applied degree over an extra two years.

This applied degree is a first for CNA and other comparable colleges across Canada.

“Cybercrime is a global problem that continues to spread and CNA is committed to working with its partners to find solutions,” said CNA president and CEO Liz Kidd. “We know the pandemic has created a lot of challenges for many operations, CNA included, given the accelerated move to digital and virtual technologies.

With that, we’ve seen concerns grow about cyberattacks and security, so to launch our first applied degree is very exciting.”

The degree will have 25 spots open for enrolment in the third year of the Bachelor of Applied Information Technology: Systems and Network Computing degree.

Students who complete the program will be eligible to apply to year three of the degree on a competitive-entry basis.

Interested applicants with credentials outside of CNA will need to complete a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process as part of the eligibility.

Having the applied degree will ensure students have essential hands-on training and theory-based knowledge that will help secure protection from inside and outside cyber-related attacks.

Program graduates will be able to do short and longterm IT strategies, analyze the organization’s cybersecurity needs, design and implement policies and procedures for security incidents, use forensic software and tools, interpret security reports to educate the organization about existing and emerging risks and execute offensive and defensive technologies to protect network infrastructure.

For information about the degree, visit cna.nl.ca.