Freshman Year: Introduction to IT and Cybersecurity Basics

CompTIA IT Fundamentals (ITF+)

  • Focus: Basic IT concepts, including software, hardware, and introductory security concepts.
  • Why: Ideal for beginners to build a foundational understanding of general IT, which is useful for future cybersecurity studies.

Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

  • Focus: Security basics in Microsoft environments, focusing on identity protection, compliance, and threat management.
  • Why: Microsoft skills are highly applicable in the workplace, giving you basic cybersecurity concepts relevant to corporate environments.

Sophomore Year: Foundational Cybersecurity Skills

CompTIA Security+

  • Focus: Essential cybersecurity concepts, including network security, cryptography, risk management, and threat identification.
  • Why: Security+ is widely recognized as an entry-level cert for cybersecurity roles, making it a great foundation for more advanced topics. 

Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) by (ISC)²

  • Focus: Fundamental cybersecurity concepts, network security basics, and incident response.
  • Why: This entry-level certification from (ISC)² adds credibility to your resume and prepares you for entry-level roles.

Junior Year: Building Practical, Technical Skills

CompTIA Network+ 

  • Focus: Covers basic networking concepts, including TCP/IP, subnetting, and network troubleshooting.
  • Why: Network knowledge is foundational in cybersecurity, so this certification will be valuable, especially for roles involving network security.

Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCT) by (ISC)²

  • Focus: Hands-on skills in network security, threat detection, and incident response.
  • Why: This certification is a bit more hands-on and provides technical skills that you can apply in internships or entry-level roles.

Senior Year: Specialization and Preparing for the Job Market

Google Cybersecurity Certificate

  • Focus: Covers general cybersecurity skills, including basic cloud security, threat assessment, and incident response.
  • Why: Google’s certificate is designed for beginners but includes some cloud security, which is a sought-after skill in cybersecurity.

AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner

  • Focus: Cloud basics within Amazon Web Services (AWS), including security best practices.
  • Why: Many companies use AWS, so a basic understanding of cloud environments will help you stand out for job applications.