UNG adds certificate in cybersecurity and business concentrations

Students in the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Mike Cottrell College of Business soon will be able to deepen their knowledge in high-demand fields by exploring five new undergraduate degree concentrations in management and marketing as well as a new graduate certificate in cybersecurity.

"We surveyed business professionals and other business programs across the region to develop five new undergraduate concentrations," said Dr. Mohan Menon, head of the Department of Management and Marketing. "Students will keep the same basic class structure at first, then branch out into the concentration of their choosing. We will also be keeping the more general concentrations for students who want to learn about a bit of everything in their given field."

Concentrations added to the major of marketing are digital marketing and sales. Management received new concentrations in supply chain management, entrepreneurship and leadership. The five concentrations require some 10 new course offerings; each of the new concentrations will be available beginning in fall 2017.

Many of these additions resulted from recommendations by the Mike Cottrell College of Business' Management and Marketing Advisory Council, which along with research conducted in partnership with Georgia Power, determined that the northeast Georgia region has a significant need of students with specialized learning in these areas.

In addition to the new undergraduate concentrations, the Mike Cottrell College of Business will also soon begin offering a graduate certificate in cybersecurity. The graduate certificate in cybersecurity is a 10-semester-hour program open to students with a bachelor's degree or master's degree in computer science, information technology or a closely related field, as well as graduates of other degree programs who can demonstrate sufficient technical proficiency. The program, which will begin during the summer 2018 semester, is designed to help graduates enter the field of cybersecurity, cyber operations or cyber defense. Prospective students for this new certificate may apply beginning fall 2017.

"In 2016, more than 200,000 cybersecurity jobs went unfilled due to a lack of available talent," said Dr. Donna Mayo, dean of the Mike Cottrell College of Business. "With such demand for cybersecurity jobs, offering the new graduate certificate in cybersecurity should help us meet those growing needs in our region."

UNG's Mike Cottrell College of Business is routinely recognized for its strong programs and leadership, including having a leading part-time, public MBA program and being both an AACSB-accredited business school and named a Best for Vets school.