North Texans interested in cybersecurity do not have to follow a single path into the field.
A new university degree, an employer-paid training model and a flexible online program are among the options emerging as local employers look for workers who can combine technical knowledge with problem-solving, communication and adaptability.
The programs differ in cost, length, and structure. They also target different kinds of learners, from undergraduates seeking a four-year degree to adults trying to retrain while balancing jobs, caregiving, and financial pressure.
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UNT Dallas Bachelor of Arts in Cybersecurity
The University of North Texas at Dallas is launching a Bachelor of Arts in Cybersecurity for the 2026-27 academic year. Classes begin Aug. 24.
University leaders said the Bachelor of Arts designation was intentional. Employers helping design the curriculum repeatedly emphasized communication, teamwork, project management, and leadership in addition to technical expertise.
Students are expected to study areas including cloud and network security, operating systems, ethical hacking, Python programming, and cyber defense. The university also plans a cybersecurity lab where students can practice in controlled environments, and a two-semester capstone built around a complex industry problem.
Dean Jason Garrett said the goal is not only to prepare students for a first job, but also for later promotions as the profession changes. The program is best suited for students seeking a broad undergraduate education alongside hands-on cybersecurity preparation.
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nuKudo paid training and employment
nuKudo takes a different approach. The company selects applicants based on aptitude, motivation, and attitude rather than requiring a degree or previous professional technology experience.
Those accepted become employees and receive pay and benefits while completing several months of intensive, full-time training. The curriculum begins with foundations such as programming and builds toward hands-on exercises and team projects that simulate real assignments.
After training, participants are placed with partner organizations while remaining nuKudo employees for roughly two to three years. Company leaders said the model is designed to remove tuition and lost-income barriers while giving employers workers with practical experience.
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The program is aimed largely at career changers who can commit to full-time, in-person training and pass a selective assessment process. Maturon Miner, a 43-year-old former craft beer worker, temporarily moved to Plano, while his wife and daughter remained near Tyler, so he could join the Dallas cohort. Recent graduate Jerry Sinayuk moved from New York to Texas and now works as a solutions engineer for cybersecurity company Island
UpskillU flexible, mentor-guided training
UpskillU offers an online option designed primarily for dislocated workers, veterans and other adults who need to reskill or build practical experience without joining a full-time classroom cohort.
Participants work through online lessons and projects with guidance from a dedicated mentor. The structure can accommodate adults balancing work and family responsibilities, but it still requires deadlines, presentations and demonstrable work rather than a certification alone.
Joe Stewart entered the program while already working as a technology technician for Lancaster ISD. He used the year-long cybersecurity apprenticeship to build a portfolio and prepare for a move into the field. Tiffany Gillespie, a 42-year-old insurance agent from Irving, enrolled after repeated seasonal layoffs. She said the mentor’s flexible scheduling has helped her continue studying while caring for her mother, preparing for another insurance season and trying to stabilize her finances.
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Eligible participants may receive public workforce funding. Gillespie reached the program through Texas Workforce and the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, commonly known as WIOA. Funding, eligibility and course length may vary by participant and program.
How to choose the right cybersecurity program
The right path depends on a learner’s goals and circumstances.
A four-year degree offers the broadest academic foundation. Paid full-time training can reduce financial barriers for a career changer able to make an intensive commitment. An online, project-based program may work better for someone balancing employment, caregiving, or an unpredictable schedule.
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None provides a shortcut around the work itself. Employers and educators repeatedly stress that successful candidates need curiosity, communication skills and the ability to keep learning as cyber threats and artificial intelligence reshape the profession.
This reporting is part of the Future of North Texas, a community-funded journalism initiative supported by the Commit Partnership, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, the Dallas Mavericks, the Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Lisa and Charles Siegel, the McCune-Losinger Family Fund, The Meadows Foundation, the Perot Foundation, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and the University of Texas at Dallas. The News retains full editorial control of this coverage
