
Troy, helps train aspiring computer engineers on security threats.
As cars become more automated, cybersecurity becomes more important. Walsh
College in Troy, located in the center of the automotive industry, understands that.
Perhaps surprisingly, the school teaches its students how to protect against cyber breaks by teaching them how to commit cyber breaches. Tom Petz, COO of Walsh College, says by discovering vulnerabilities, students can patch those holes in security. And it’s a never-ending process for students and engineers.
“We have a unique opportunity to teach students, being in the Big Three’s backyard,” Petz says. “We can educate students and we can educate engineers about security. It’s hard engineering cars, and security (is often) an afterthought. We’re working to embed an
ethos that has cybersecurity in the minds of engineers from the very beginning.”
Walsh believes in hands-on teaching and making sure students leave school with a degree that can get them a job in the real world. That’s why the college emphasizes getting a practical education. The proof of the school’s success is that its cybersecurity graduates
are in demand.
Students who get into the field must be prepared for a lifelong learning process. That means learning to code, how to use a system, and how to upgrade that system. It also means being able to produce results daily “We design our programs so students can start from scratch when learning about cybersecurity,” says Dave Schipper, dean of academics and professor of cybersecurity and automotive cybersecurity at Walsh. “It’s important that you love working with technology.”
As data changes and improves, cybersecurity experts must keep up with the times. The school maintained its Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) from the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security designation for the past two decades. Organizations with a CAE-CD must renew it every three years.
“I talk with people in business and they tell me they love our graduates, and the only problem is that there’s not enough of them,” Schipper says. “In any given year, about 200 students graduate from our cybersecurity program and it’s easy for them to get jobs. In our technical culture, we know students must get value from degrees or they — and
employers — won’t be happy.”
The speed of change in the field of cybersecurity is only accelerating. Students who can learn how to keep up can have their pick of jobs. That’s something the staff at Walsh knows, and it’s reflected in a curriculum that will give students a start in a field
where the demand for experts will only grow.