Spotlight on Highline College

Through rigorous scrutiny and continuous improvements, Highline College has created a world-class cybersecurity program. Industry advisors directly influenced the program's design and details. You could say it's a program built by industry, for industry. Both the 2-year and 4-year pathways are dynamic and practical, ever adapting to industry demands, and deeply hands-on.

To discuss the program's strengths, we spoke with Highline's leadership: Aaron Hayden, BAS Cybersecurity Coordinator, and Tanya Powers, Associate Dean for Workforce Pathways, with additional written comments from Emma Kong, full-time instructor of Computer Information Systems (CIS). Their insights reveal a program meticulously tuned to the realities of the modern workforce.

A Program Designed for Real-World Impact

Highline’s core strength lies in its "applied" curriculum, a philosophy where every class blends essential theory with hands-on, practical training that leads to jobs. Employers need and require job candidates with experience. But theory alone doesn't translate to experience. Students must accumulate hours of hands-on practice. It's like learning to be a pilot. Reading dozens of books about how to operate a plane doesn't mean you can really fly - practice is what turns you into a pilot.

“All classes are 'applied'—they cover theory plus hands-on. It takes time and a lot of training to practice,” - Aaron Hayden 

The Power of the 2+2 Pathway

The flexibility of Highline's programs allows students to break a 4-year program into two parts. They may start with an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Cybersecurity & Networking. If this is sufficient to launch a student into the industry, they might pause here to gain vital on-the-job experience. If able to continue (or return later), students can complete a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Cybersecurity and Forensics.

The AAS focuses heavily on job readiness with training in security operations, networking, and system defense. The BAS specializes in digital forensics and incident response (DFIR). Both programs truly live up to the “applied science” part of their titles.

The flexible delivery style allows students to attend some courses remotely - a special advantage for those working full-time.

Support for Diverse Backgrounds

Highline’s diverse student body includes a significant number of immigrants who highly value the quick pathway to employment through the AAS degree. Many of these individuals built some IT experience in their home country, which serves them well as they learn cybersecurity.

Another prominent demographic is the career-changers. Many of these are switching to a technology career from a non-tech job. Often, they plan to leave positions that paid little and lacked advancement opportunities. Cybersecurity promises better wages from the start and offers a plethora of exciting roles.

High school students pursuing technical careers also join the cyber program at Highline, bringing youthful energy and the mind-blowing perspectives of Generation Z.

Highline brings these students up to speed rapidly using Washington's Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program (I-BEST). This model quickly teaches students technical literacy and college-readiness skills by infusing some of the entry-level courses with lectures from the more advanced classes. With this team-teaching approach, instructors collaborate and plan blended learning opportunities where early students can start soaking in the “language” of tech.

Curriculum Forged by Industry, for Industry

A recurring theme from the meeting was Highline’s deep connection to the employer community, primarily through a rigorous process called a DACUM (Developing A Curriculum). Tanya Powers has been a key driver in the 7 or 8 DACUMs completed in the past few years. In the DACUM method, industry experts convene for day-long working sessions where they scrutinize curriculum against industry requirements. They build a clear matrix of skills and abilities and ensure these are taught in the courses.

When asked how they gathered a willing group of DACUM participants, Tanya Powers described a recruiting effort that involved a lot of professional networking.

“The appeal worked. We plainly said, ‘We’re building your next generation of cyber workers. Help us.'” - Tanya Powers

This direct approach attracted professionals from global companies like DocuSign and other multi-national corporations. They saw the near-term benefit of helping to grow a pool of candidates with skills ranging from cloud security and DevSecOps to penetration testing and incident response. Many of these employers stay connected with the college, and some have joined the board of advisors.

Staying Ahead of the Curve: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The program is relentlessly forward-looking. Instructors are already overhauling courses to integrate AI tools like GitHub Copilot, preparing students for an “agentic” coding future. The infusion of agentic AI into coding has democratized the field of software development - a cornerstone piece of cybersecurity. Gone are the days when learning to code brought a guaranteed high wage. Today, coding is accessible to vastly more people with the assistance of AI. Aaron Haden explains:

"Yesterday, a project manager could rarely get directly involved in the code. Today, with agentic AI, the manager can understand the code and be part of the design work."  

Because coding skills are needed in most cybersecurity jobs, and because coding is now so accessible, it is important to at least learn to read and understand code, even if you don't learn to write it.

The Pathway to Success: Grit, Clubs, and The Internship Challenge

Student success is multifaceted. Along with technical skills, the DACUM panels identified several soft skills. Those include adaptability, attention to detail, and being coachable. A notable skill in that list is  “having grit”. But what does grit really mean? At Highline, it is promoted as a skill possessed by people who don't give up. Grit propels the curious to keep troubleshooting and problem-solving, even after others say it's unsolvable. Grit spurs students to attend professional networking events, find mentors, gather advice, make continuous improvements, and hunt for internships. A student with grit fills their resume with accomplishments and certifications.

Highline supports the development of “grit” through coaching and extracurricular activities that are student-powered and thriving. Like the cybersecurity club, which gets students involved in competitions such as CyberForce and the Pacific Rim Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition (PRCCDC). Extracurricular activities are student-powered and thriving. “Our BAS students run the clubs... The CyberForce team has been full for a month and a half now,” Aaron shared.

A primary challenge is the internship bottleneck. For students new to the field, securing that first hands-on experience is critical. “The successful students are proactive,” Aaron noted. “Creative about approaching people. Six months in advance, they are sorting out their internship.”

Both Highline and the CCoE actively promote cyber meet-ups, job fairs, and conferences where students can establish relationships with industry professionals that lead to jobs and internships.

The Verdict: A Launchpad for Cyber Professionals

Highline College stands as a testament to what is possible when education is built in lockstep with industry. It offers a proven, flexible pathway for students to enter the cybersecurity field, whether they are starting fresh, changing careers, or advancing their expertise. As Instructor Emma Kong summarized, the program produces graduates who are ready: “I know a lot of our graduates get related jobs.”

For prospective students and hiring partners alike, Highline College is not just an educational institution; it’s a vital pipeline for the next generation of cyber defenders.

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Article prepared by Nichole Schmitt, Program Manager, Cybersecurity Center of Excellence of WA (CCoE), incorporating insights from a meeting with Highline College and CCoE Director Brent Lundstrom.