Careers in Cybersecurity Without Coding

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

You have many paths to exciting careers in cybersecurity even if you’re not interested in a job that involves programming. Coding isn’t necessary for nontechnical cybersecurity roles that involve risk management, compliance policy analytics, and more. Protecting an organization from digital threats requires diverse skill sets in entry-level cybersecurity jobs and beyond. Here are some options to explore.

5 Nontechnical Careers in Cybersecurity

Careers in cybersecurity are varied in this fast-growing, high-demand field. It’s attracting people with backgrounds in law enforcement, communications, IT support, and general business. You can find entry-level cybersecurity jobs in each area, along with paths for career growth.

Governance Risk and Compliance (GRC)

Risk management is at the heart of this role. You will work within cybersecurity frameworks and regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, NIST, and ISO 27001 and 27005 as you develop policies and procedures to stay in compliance to minimize risk. If you have strong analytical skills and are good at tracking the details of regulations, you may enjoy working as a specialist.

Security Risk Analyst

Working as a security risk analyst, you will identify, assess, and counteract cybersecurity threats. The work involves analyzing security incidents and keeping track of known issues. You will then develop strategies to mitigate vulnerabilities. You’ll thrive in this role if you enjoy solving problems to stay a step ahead of threat vectors.

Kick-start your career with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Excelsior University.

Cybersecurity Content Writer

If you enjoy writing and communication, content producing roles offer rewarding careers in cybersecurity. You’ll create material that engages and informs through blog articles, white papers, training materials, webinars, and technical documents. Cybersecurity topics like phishing, data privacy, and advanced threats require that you have strong writing skills and a basic understanding of the topics.

Data Protection Officer

Data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA impose strict frameworks on organizations and also can impose serious penalties for those that fail to comply with data protection requirements. Your role as a data protection officer will involve overseeing data protection processes and policies. You may conduct regular privacy impact assessments and advise on legal requirements for protecting data. If you have a background in law or information technology, you may find a natural fit with entry-level cybersecurity jobs in this area.

Policy Analyst

In this role, you’ll research cybersecurity issues and evaluate current regulations and frameworks. You will also track trends as part of your job recommending security strategies. You may work for organizations needing cybersecurity or for governmental entities that develop security frameworks for risk management. This is one of the careers in cybersecurity ideal for those with a background in law enforcement or policymaking.

Start Your Career in Cybersecurity

Careers in cybersecurity follow paths that are tremendously varied. If you prefer a nontechnical role, you have many doors open to you. Programming and code writing are not needed for many of them.

That said, you will need specialized knowledge and specific skills to thrive in most roles. Excelsior University’s BS in Cybersecurity program is an excellent place to start. The academic curriculum aligns with National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requirements. You’ll have hands-on opportunities to learn the skills you’ll need on the front lines of cyber defense.

Excelsior has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and is associated with the National Cybersecurity Institute. And the bachelor’s program prepares you to take industry certification exams such as Network+, Security+, CEH, CISP, CHFI, ESCP, and SSCP.

Start your career in cybersecurity at Excelsior University and embark on an exciting future in risk management and mitigation.

The CompTIA Security+ Certification: What It Is, Why You May Need It, and How to Get It

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

What Is the CompTIA Security+ Certification?

The CompTIA Security+ certification is a widely recognized credential that IT professionals with two years of experience obtain to show they have the essential cybersecurity skills and knowledge necessary for job placement in intermediate roles. It is accepted by many government agencies and can be used as a stepping stone to other more advanced certifications. The certification covers a wide range of topics, too, ensuring the user is well versed in topics such as risk management, incident response, cryptography, network security, and compliance.

What Skills Are Tested on the CompTIA Security+ Exam?

When sitting for the CompTIA Security+ exam, you’ll be tested on a wide array of cybersecurity topics. Let’s explore some common skills this exam covers.

Vulnerabilities, Threats, and Cyberattacks

On the CompTIA Security+ exam, you’ll need to understand, identify, and explain different vulnerabilities, threats, and cyberattacks and how they affect various systems. Vulnerabilities are weaknesses in systems, software, or hardware that attackers can exploit; threats are potential dangers that can exploit these vulnerabilities, including malware and phishing; and cyberattacks are deliberate actions taken to exploit vulnerabilities.

Identity and Access Management

The CompTIA Security+ exam covers how organizations manage user identities, authentication, authorization, and user control to protect systems and data. The test focuses on concepts like identity controls, account types, authentication methods, and access controls, which are all critical to securing data and resources.

Cryptography and Public Key Infrastructure

The exam will cover cryptography and public key infrastructure (PKI), focusing on securing data through encryption, hashing, digital signatures, and key management, as well as testing your knowledge of cryptographic algorithms, protocols, certificate management, and security best practices. It covers areas in encryption concepts, certificate authorities, cryptographic protocols, and cryptographic attacks and defenses.

Technology and Tools

You will be evaluated on your knowledge of various cybersecurity technologies and tools used to detect, mitigate, and prevent threats. The exam covers the different attack vectors and common vulnerabilities, network security tools, security architecture, data protection, network security tools, endpoint security and system hardening topics, command-line tools, and wireless security topics.

Risk Assessment and Management

Risk assessment and management covers identifying, analyzing, and managing risks to protect organizational assets. It includes concepts like risk management processes, risk analysis, and risk mitigation. It’s also smart to study up on cost-benefit analysis, risk frameworks and standards, and compliance and legal issues. This section ensures that test-takers are well prepared to evaluate risks, implement security controls, and maintain a secure environment.

Design and Architecture

Part of the exam concentrates on planning, deploying, and safeguarding IT infrastructures and networks. Test-takers must be able to prove their understanding of security architectures, secure network design, and the integration of security measures into an organization’s infrastructure.

Grow your IT career with a BS in Information Technology from Excelsior University.

How Much Can You Make with This Certification?

You might be wondering how CompTIA Security+ certification would benefit you. Aside from providing you with more education and skills training you can use on the job, this certification looks great on resumes. You can land some big-time IT jobs with this certification under your belt, like network administrator, cybersecurity engineer, security specialist, security consultant, and penetration tester.

These roles can make you more money. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, network and computer systems administrators made a 2023 median annual salary of $95,360, and information security analysts made a median salary of $120,360. If you want to grow your career and increase your pay, earning this certification is an excellent choice.

CompTIA Security+ Training at Excelsior University

Don’t feel discouraged about taking an exam to earn the CompTIA Security+ certification. There’s plenty of help out there to prepare you. Before taking the exam, CompTIA recommends earning your CompTIA Network+ certification and completing two years of experience working as a security or systems administrator, but many IT professionals choose to have a degree under their belt, as well.

A Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, for instance, provides students with the technical and theoretical knowledge needed to protect systems, networks, and data from cyberthreats. Students usually study a mix of computer science, networking, security principles, cryptography, ethical hacking, risk management, and legal aspects of cybersecurity.

You might also consider earning a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in something like cybersecurity. A typical IT program includes IT fundamentals, networking and cloud computing, computer hardware and software, etc., and your concentration would allow you to delve into cybersecurity components.

Some would-be test-takers also enroll in a course specifically geared toward passing the CompTIA Security+ exam. This option might make sense if earning a bachelor’s degree isn’t practical or if you need a refresher on some of the material.

If you want to grow your skills and education in cybersecurity and technology, taking the CompTIA Security+ exam is a solid choice. It can help take you to new career heights and improve your financial outlook. And don’t worry, there are plenty of ways to help prepare for such a big exam, including gaining real-world experience and taking courses. Soon, you’ll be on your way to becoming a certified technology professional.

How to Pass the NCLEX: Study Tips and Strategies to Help You Ace Your RN Exam

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

You’ve spent countless hours devoted to study and practice to become a registered nurse, and now it all comes down to the NCLEX-RN, the exam that stands between you and your nursing license. No one said it would be easy, but there are ways to set yourself up for success. Learning how to pass the NCLEX-RN exam can save you stress, time, and money. The following NCLEX tips can help you with your test prep.

10 Tips for Passing the NCLEX-RN Exam

We’ve gathered these 10 NCLEX tips to help you pass this license exam for RNs. Test prep is the key. The right preparation can help you earn your nursing license with a lot less stress.

1. Know What Is Covered

Learn about the NCLEX as the first step. Review the NCLEX test plan in advance. The most important of NCLEX study tips is to know what will be on the test and how the process works. Also check these frequently asked questions.

2. Understand the Testing Format

The second key for how to pass the NCLEX is to be familiar with the test format. Expect question types including multiple choice, select-all-that-apply, drag-and-drop, and hot spot.

3. Have a Stress Management Plan

Anxiety is natural with this important nursing license test, so plan ways to deal with it. Get plenty of sleep the night before and eat a protein-rich breakfast. Practice ways to control anxiety like breathing in a pattern and repeating a positive mantra.

4. Find Your Study Style

How you take in and remember lessons is your study style. Perhaps you learn best visually through images, diagrams, and graphs. Auditory learners find success listening to lectures and discussions. Kinesthetic learners are hands-on, learning by doing.

5. Create a Study Plan to Fit You

If you’re visual, take notes, watch videos, and practice with flash cards. If you learn by listening, recorded lectures and podcasts are helpful. If you learn by doing, try role-playing and set up practice scenarios.

Kick-start your career in health care with an associate degree in nursing from Excelsior University.

6. Study at a Regular Cadence

Studying 10 minutes a day every day is better than cramming for hours. Schedule time, ideally at the same time every day, when your mind is fresh and devote it to study.

7. Invest in Test Prep

The NCLEX site offers test prep with downloadable sample questions and an exam preview. In addition, many websites offer free NCLEX test questions. When it comes to how to pass the NCLEX-RN, the more you practice, the better your results.

8. Review More Than Just the Basics

While you need to know the basics as part of how to pass the NCLEX-RN, you’ll need more than that. One of the most helpful NCLEX tips is to understand what computerized adaptive testing (CAT) is. The computer administering your test measures how you’re doing and increases the difficulty in response. Be ready to take on the tough questions.

9. Figure Out What You Don’t Know

Review your study guide and go through the topics. If you come across anything confusing or that you don’t remember, give that section an extra review. Quiz yourself as you go so you know what material needs your extra attention.

10. Take a Practice Test

The ultimate way to know you’re ready for the NCLEX-RN nursing license exam is to take a practice test to show exactly what you have mastered. You can then focus your further study on your weak points. If time permits, take more than one practice test so that when you take the real one, you’re completely familiar with it.

The Importance of Finding the Right Nursing Degree Program

These tips for how to pass the NCLEX-RN can make your exam experience much smoother, but there’s nothing that better prepares you for your nursing exam than attending a good nursing program. Excelsior University’s competency-driven Associate in Applied Science in Nursing program offers a flexible learning environment that mixes online classes and in-person practicums. You can better balance earning your degree with your job and be prepared with practical skills. You’ll be truly ready, not just to pass the NCLEX-RN and earn your registered nursing license, but to perform in the real world of patient care.

How to Write a Business Plan

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Your business plan and marketing strategy are vital documents when growing an established business, branching out into a new area, or being an entrepreneur starting something entirely new. A good business plan serves multiple purposes, helping you get where you want to go—and potentially leading to financing. Knowing how to write a business plan and an effective executive summary sets you up for success.

What Is a Business Plan?

A business plan is a formal document that lays out your company aims, describes how you will achieve those goals, explains the context of the business, and details the resources you will need.

Why is a business plan important? It gives you a roadmap with benchmarks for navigating through the challenges of starting a business. It gives your team clarity and keeps them aligned. It can also help you secure funding from upper management in your corporation, investors, or people willing to lend you money by conveying your vision, risks, and viability to earn a profit.

What Is a Lean Startup Business Plan?

Before explaining how to write a business plan and all its sections, you should decide what kind of plan you need. A traditional business plan is detailed and includes much thinking and research. A lean startup plan is an overview of the essentials—possibly as short as a single page. It outlines the value you will provide, the resources needed, and the steps to take.

Launch your career with a Bachelor of Science in Business from Excelsior University.

8 Steps to Writing a Business Plan

The structure of your business plan will depend on your ideas and its purpose. That said, the essential components include:

Executive Summary

Although this section appears first, it is the last section to write. It’s an overview of your plan that concisely encapsulates the key points from the sections below. Write it so the reader can walk away with the gist of your plan without having to read anything else. But also write it to generate interest in further exploration.

Company Description

Describe the premise for your business and the value proposition. Present your vision, mission, and goals, along with a synopsis of what you’ll offer.

Market Analysis

This section provides context for your business, including why it’s needed, the current structure of the industry, important trends, who your competitors are, along with their strengths and weaknesses, and what needs are not being met.

Description of Products and Services

Go deep in describing the products and services you’ll bring to the market. Don’t just describe features. Discuss the benefits and the competitive advantages that your products and services will have.

Marketing Strategy and Sales Plan

This is where the rubber meets the road. As great as your products and services may be, you can’t make money if no one knows about them, wants them, or buys them. You need a marketing strategy and details about how you’ll generate revenue. Without a marketing strategy and a plan to sell, you don’t have a business plan—you simply have a dream.

Budget and Financial Projections

This section is as important as the marketing strategy. What will it cost to operate your business? How much money do you plan to bring in, and when? Include an income statement, cash flow statement, and balance sheet. It helps to be pessimistic about costs. Everything costs more than you expect. Be pessimistic about income. Making money is hard.

Organization and Management Structure

You need to build your team. What roles are necessary in your organization? Whom will you be starting with? Why are they so valuable to your coming success? This section should outline the initial structure of your organization and include resumes for key team members. It should also project how your structure will evolve with success and growth.

Action Plan

Lay out the detailed steps you’re going to take to put your business into operation. Think through each phase, from starting out to growing. The more detail you put into this section, the better. Consider if-then options that show you have thought through the realities of things never quite going to plan and that you’re flexible in adapting to challenges and opportunities.

How to Do More in Business

Learning how to write a business plan is an essential entrepreneurial, strategic, and management skill. When you earn your Bachelor of Science in Business at Excelsior University, you learn more than just business theory. You gain practical skills, from strategy to data analysis, that will power your success from the start of your career through each successive rung up the ladder. With the broad educational foundation you receive at Excelsior, you’ll be able to plan for more than just a business—you’ll be planning for your career.

Myths About Nuclear Energy—Debunked

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

Nuclear energy generates nearly a fifth of U.S. electricity, and there are currently 94 nuclear power plants in 28 states. But despite quietly and safely generating clean, affordable power for decades, nuclear energy has an image problem.

Since the development of the atomic bomb at the end of World War II, the threat of nuclear warfare has left many Americans with a significant distrust of all things nuclear. It was also during the postwar period that “nuclear” and “radioactive” started to appear in comic books, movies, and popular culture as the go-to shorthand for dangerous substances with the ability to mutate and destroy, and nuclear energy has had a hard time shaking the association.

High-profile real-life disasters like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, and Fukushima Daiichi haven’t helped, but beyond the big stories, nuclear power is far safer than fossil fuel energy sources. Energy produced by coal and brown coal (lignite), for instance, has a combined mortality rate nearly 2,000 times that of nuclear energy! That’s not to say that radiation isn’t dangerous. When there is a failure at a plant, the results can be extensive and enduring. But nuclear energy’s relationship with other energy sources is a bit like air travel’s to driving a car—one inspires exponentially more fear than the other while being exponentially safer.

7 Myths About Nuclear Energy

Even with the everyday uses of nuclear technology that improve our lives, misconceptions still persist. Here are the facts setting the record straight on seven of the most common myths about nuclear energy.

Nuclear Energy Myth 1: Nuclear Energy Is Dirty

Nuclear power is considered a “clean” energy source because it produces almost no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, making it a carbon-neutral option for electricity generation compared to fossil fuels. The “exhaust” you see rising from the curved towers of a plant is actually just water vapor used for cooling.

Nuclear Energy Myth 2: Nuclear Plants Emit Dangerous Levels of Radiation

Power plants do not emit more radiation than you receive naturally each year from the sun. Strict nuclear safety protocols mean that most of a plant’s radiation is blocked by the specifically designed steel and concrete structures.

Energize your career with a BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Excelsior University.

Nuclear Energy Myth 3: Nuclear Reactors Are the Same as Atomic Bombs

There is nothing inherently explosive about nuclear material or in the generation of nuclear energy, and plants can’t explode like nuclear bombs. Nuclear weapons are created with very different materials and processes. In the case of the more famous accidents, toxic material was released into the environment by a fire in the plant and not an explosion.

Nuclear Energy Myth 4: Nuclear Waste Is Dangerous Forever

Nuclear waste is hazardous, but not as much of it is dangerous for as long as you might think. Nuclear material has a finite toxic half-life, and only a very small percentage is radioactive enough to need isolated underground storage for thousands of years. The rest is stable enough to be disposed of near ground level, and its toxicity decays to safe levels within decades.

Nuclear Energy Myth 5: Nuclear Plants Create Mountains of Waste

The Argonne National Laboratory, an energy, science, and engineering research center operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, states that the used nuclear fuel generated by every nuclear plant in the past 50 years would only be enough to fill a football field to a depth of less than 10 yards. About 96% of this ​waste is also recyclable.

Nuclear Energy Myth 6: Nuclear Plants Are Unreliable

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nuclear has the highest capacity factor of any other energy source, with plants being able to produce maximum power more than 92% of the time during the year. This means that nuclear energy is nearly twice as reliable as natural gas and coal, and almost 3 times more reliable than wind and solar power.

Nuclear Energy Myth 7: Glowing Green Ooze Fuels Nuclear Power Plants

Try not to be too disappointed that the truth about nuclear fuel is way more boring. Nuclear fuel is made from uranium oxide that’s pressed into pellets about the size of pencil erasers. The pellets are loaded into tubes and bundled together into grey metal rods that look the same going into the reactor as they do coming out.

In the early 1900s, it was discovered that mixing the nuclear element radium with a variety of materials could make everything from watch faces to glass dishes glow green in the dark, which is probably how the color became associated with radioactivity. It’s important to note that radium is extremely toxic and that it’s not an element used in nuclear power production!

Is a Career in Nuclear Energy Right for You?

A career in nuclear energy might be right for you if you have a strong interest in chemistry, technology, and complex systems; are comfortable working in a highly regulated environment; and are passionate about contributing to a sustainable energy future. It’s also an excellent career path for someone with military experience as a Navy Nuke.

Excelsior University’s BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology program is accredited by the Engineering Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET and opens up new opportunities for nuclear professionals, with experienced faculty and industry-standard training simulators. If nuclear technology has you feeling energized, learn more about what you can do with an NET degree and get started today.

Career Spotlight: Circuit Design Engineer

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Modern electronic circuits are complex devices that are the heart and soul of digital instruments. A well-designed electronic circuit is central to the function of the simplest gadget and the most complex supercomputer. Electronic circuits include resistors, transistors, capacitors, inductors, and diodes working together to control the flow of an electrical current that powers electronics. Circuit design engineers optimize how these pieces work together to perform to specified standards or to optimize their function.

What Does a Circuit Design Engineer Do?

In a career as an electronic circuit designer, you’d be building the essential elements that power electronic devices. Creating functional electronic circuits would be your core responsibility. Your role specifically would be to:

  • Develop the circuit concept according to the parameters related to its intended use and performance requirements.
  • Design the circuit, draw out the schematic, and outline the various interactions it will have to power electronics and component functions.
  • Run SPICE simulations, short for simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis, virtual tests to identify issues prior to creating the physical circuit.
  • Supervise the creation of prototypes to test in the real world.
  • Oversee and quality-test full-scale electronic circuit manufacturing and troubleshoot issues as they arise.
  • Optimize existing circuits with a continuous improvement mindset to boost reliability, efficiency, and performance.
  • Collaborate with device designers to understand how electronic circuits integrate and function to inspire future concepts and designs.

Skills and Knowledge Circuit Designers Need

Success in this role requires that you have a deep understanding of electronic theory and that your knowledge is current regarding technological innovations. Continuous learning is a necessity in this role—you can’t rest on your existing knowledge because this field is undergoing incredibly fast change. You’ll also need to mix curiosity and creativity with your tech prowess. Understanding and working with the latest tools, like current iterations of SPICE simulations, is also critical.

Skills needed include:

  • Being able to analyze and interpret schematics and complex data.
  • Having strong attention to detail and being precise in conceiving, designing, testing, and perfecting circuits.
  • Affinity for finding out where the problems are and how to solve them.
  • Capacity for acquiring and using technical knowledge and the curiosity and motivation to engage in lifelong learning.

If you enjoy figuring out how things work and, more importantly, how to make things work better, you will enjoy this career.

Charge up your career with a BS in Electrical Engineering Technology from Excelsior University.

How Much Can You Make?

The median pay for an electrical engineer in 2023 was $109,010 a year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in the role is expected to grow by 9% through 2033, much faster than average.

Circuit designers, as a specialty subset of the electronic engineering field, can potentially earn much more money. ZipRecruiter puts the average annual salary at $212,797 nationally.

How to Become a Circuit Design Engineer

To get started in this career, you need to earn a relevant degree that focuses on circuit theory and provides hands-on experience. It is also recommended that you choose a program that’s accredited by ABET.

At Excelsior University, you get practical experience as part of the Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering Technology program. The broad educational foundation you gain from the carefully designed curriculum prepares you for a wide array of rewarding jobs in the field. And the career office is invaluable in helping you find internships and other opportunities that add value to your resume. It should also be noted that, because the field is always evolving, you’ll want to invest in ongoing learning and additional certifications.

Becoming a circuit design engineer is just one of the numerous jobs you can get with an EET degree. Explore the BS in Electrical Engineering Technology program page in depth to see the real value it provides as a foundation for your career in this endlessly fascinating, fast-changing, and well-paid field.

Is It Time for a Career Change?

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

You just reached 10 years at your job. It’s a big milestone. But you don’t feel like celebrating. In fact, you don’t even know if you want to spend another 10 years at the same place of work. You just feel like the job doesn’t fit you anymore. But is it the right time to make a decision as momentous as changing careers?

Whether you feel stuck in a job that no longer excites you, crave new challenges, or seek better work-life balance, it’s important to recognize the right time to change paths, no matter how long you’ve been at your workplace. It isn’t just about switching roles; it’s about making sure your work aligns with your passions, skills, and goals.

7 Telltale Signs You Need a New Career

There are a lot of signs that could be telling you that you’re ready to switch careers. Some of them might be nagging at you more than others.

1. The pay and benefits don’t meet your needs.

Your paycheck is important. So, when you experience a pay cut or don’t get that raise, it hurts. In 2022, low pay was the No. 1 reason why people left their jobs. If your pay isn’t up to par, consider ways to convince management to spend more on keeping you.

2. You don’t feel recognized or appreciated.

If you work hard and produce excellent results but are constantly overlooked for raises, promotions, and leadership opportunities, it might be time to move on from your current role. It doesn’t just make you feel invisible; it makes you feel underappreciated. And in the workplace and everyday life, feeling valued is critically important.

3. You’re unmotivated and disengaged.

Maybe you just aren’t interested in sharing your ideas anymore. It could be because your ideas have been shot down in the past. And maybe you’re just going through the motions of doing your everyday tasks. It might be time to find a job that motivates you more.

4. You’re in a toxic work environment.

If your workplace is lousy with hostile co-workers or miscommunication, but short on management transparency or a general sense of trust, you’re probably in a toxic work environment. This can make working difficult and stressful and may lead to you dreading going to work every day.

5. Your work-life balance is, well, imbalanced.

Good work-life balance is essential to many people. If your current job puts too much pressure on you and doesn’t let you have much of a personal life or time away from the office, it might be time to walk.

6. You’re burned out.

Stress is normal in any workplace, but job burnout isn’t. If you feel constantly burned out, it could be time to leave your current place of employment. Physical illness, mental problems, emotional issues, and more are all indicators that your current job has you overworked and overstressed.

7. Your values don’t fit with the organization’s values.

It’s important that your values and ethics match your organization’s. For example, if you don’t like to tell people where you work because they aren’t environmentally ethical, but you are, it might be time to look for a new job.

Open the door to your next career with a degree from Excelsior University.

How to Begin Your Next Career Journey

If you think it’s time for a career change, consider what you need to do to land your next job. Research what career aligns best with your goals and ambitions. It might also be time to explore degrees to pursue in order to grow your skills and expand your knowledge. For instance, a master’s degree can significantly improve your chances for career advancement, leadership opportunities, financial growth, and more.

Excelsior University has many programs at the associate, bachelor’s, and graduate levels that can help boost your skills and industry knowledge so you can make your mark in your next career. And if you’re not ready to take the leap from your current (dissatisfying) role, Excelsior’s online courses offer you the flexibility to pursue new educational opportunities while keeping up a full-time work schedule.

If you’re ready to say goodbye to your current job and change careers, consider expanding your knowledge with a degree from Excelsior. Talk to an admissions counselor to get started on your path toward a more rewarding career.

What Is CEH Certification?

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Earning your Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) credential gives you a cybersecurity certification that is internationally recognized and in high demand. The process of obtaining this credential gives you the skills to identify system vulnerabilities, conduct penetration testing, and understand how malicious hackers attack. Here’s an overview of CEH certification and the career paths it opens.

What Is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking mirrors the techniques and tactics that malicious hackers use to break in, steal, or destroy systems and information. As an ethical hacker, your goal is to uncover, understand, and ultimately fix vulnerabilities and neutralize threats. You will evaluate the effectiveness of your countermeasures with penetration testing and will scan networks while continuously monitoring threats. Particularly challenging are the advanced persistent threats that infect systems and remain undetected for extended periods, quietly executing their attacks.

As a CEH, you will be on the front lines in thwarting attacks and neutralizing threats. Ethical hackers are motivated by a desire to protect systems and data; malicious hackers have criminal intent.

What Is the Certified Ethical Hacker Certification?

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification validates your skills and expertise in counteracting malicious hackers, making you a valuable resource for organizations wanting to strengthen their defenses against cybercriminals. You earn the certification by passing the CEH exam.

This credential enjoys significant support from government organizations at the forefront of fighting cybercriminals, from individual hackers to state-sponsored threat actors. The Department of Defense (DoD), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Committee on National Security Systems advising the intelligence community are examples of the entities that recognize this certification.

IT and cybersecurity professionals can advance their careers and boost their salaries by earning credentials like the CEH. According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts earned a median annual salary of $120,360, and as of February 2025, per ZipRecruiter, the average annual salary for ethical hackers, in particular, was $135,269 nationally.

Start your exciting career in ethical hacking with a BS in Cybersecurity from Excelsior University.

What You’ll Learn in a CEH Program

  • How to hack systems, networks, cloud servers, mobile devices, and Internet of Things and operational technology (OT) applications
  • Tools and techniques such as sniffers, denial of service, SQL injections, phishing and other social engineering, evading an intrusion detection system (IDS), firewalls, and honeypots
  • Scanning, cryptography, penetration testing, and vulnerability analysis
  • AI-powered cybersecurity, including how malicious hackers use artificial intelligence, automating AI for monitoring, and AI reporting that uncovers patterns and details of attacks

How to Become a Certified Ethical Hacker

The typical CEH process involves getting approved training that puts you in the hacker mindset and provides you with critical knowledge and skills. The EC-Council is vendor-neutral when it comes to training courses. In fact, you don’t need to have CEH training to take the exam. But you do need two years of experience and an educational background in information security, demonstrated by an eligibility application, when signing up for the exam.

The skills and knowledge you need to pass the CEH exam and to thrive in the field are part of the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity offered at Excelsior University, designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency. The degree prepares you for a rewarding career in cyber defense, whether in the corporate world, law enforcement, or government agencies like the U.S. Cyber Command. Pairing a Certified Ethical Hacker credential with your bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity can set you up for the most rewarding roles with a higher salary potential.

And you can continue to advance your career with additional certifications and training, including certificate programs in penetration testing like the one offered through Excelsior’s partnership with MedCerts. Keeping your knowledge and skills up to date is the best way build on the foundation of a solid degree and enjoy a long, successful career as an ethical hacker.

How to Make More Money as a Nurse

Posted on by Jenna Kerwin

Your passion is caring for others. You have always wanted to help others recover from their afflictions while providing the best possible bedside manner. Nursing is your calling.

But you’ve heard that becoming a nurse won’t make you a lot of money. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for registered nurses was $86,070 as of May 2023, with the lowest 10% only making $63,720. And licensed practical nurses and licensed vocational nurses made less at a median annual salary of $59,730.

So, what do you do if the wages you’re earning just aren’t cutting it? Don’t worry! Here’s how you can still land your dream job as a nurse and make some extra money.

Make an impact in health care with a nursing degree from Excelsior University.

5 Ways to Earn More as a Nurse

You’ve got your heart set on becoming a nurse but need to learn how you can make extra money doing it. No problem. There are plenty of ways you can increase your salary potential as a nurse.

Optimize Your Schedule

An easy way to increase your nursing salary without putting too much stress on yourself is to optimize your schedule. Many workplaces offer extra pay for working the less desirable night, weekend, and holiday shifts. According to Forbes, the difference in earnings on these shifts can range from 10% to 15%! For instance, you could switch a couple of your eight-hour shifts for 12-hour shifts or take a night shift in addition to a day shift. The important thing to remember here is that you need to plan accordingly so you don’t burn yourself out.

Become a Travel Nurse

Have you ever considered becoming a nurse who fills in wherever there are staffing shortages at hospitals, clinics, outpatient facilities, and more? You could become a travel nurse and boost your salary earnings. Being a travel nurse requires you to move to various locations, be ready to respond to crises or rapid response assignments, or fill in when there are labor disputes.

Because of the immediate need in these kinds of situations, travel nurses can expect lucrative wages, not to mention the occasional bonus pay. According to ZipRecruiter, as of February 2025, travel nurses made an average annual salary of $101,132. Travel nursing is an excellent choice if you love to explore new places and are looking to bump up your earnings.

Sign Up to Be a Nurse Preceptor

If you’re interested in earning additional compensation as well as developing your leadership skills, becoming a nurse preceptor could be right for you. Preceptors mentor and train new nurses by guiding them through clinical procedures and techniques and the workplace environment. Many workplaces offer increased salary for this added responsibility, and compensation can vary based on your location, employer, and experience.

Specialize

Another good way to boost your salary is by choosing a specialty in nursing. Certain fields can offer a substantial increase in pay. For instance, nurses who work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or specialize in pain management can expect to earn more than the average RN. And advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) typically make even more: Certified registered nurse anesthetists, neonatal nurse practitioners, critical care nurse practitioners, oncology and hematology nurse practitioners, and psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners are among the highest-paying nursing specialties because of the complexity of knowledge, responsibility, and patient care they require. In addition to higher pay, choosing a specialty that aligns with your interests and career goals can be rewarding and satisfying.

Get an Advanced Nursing Degree

If you’re interested in specializing in a certain field, it’s important that you pursue the appropriate education. Many nursing specialties require advanced degrees—at least a bachelor’s degree, but often a master’s degree or doctorate. Earning one of these higher degrees can greatly boost your nursing salary and improve your career outlook.

Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) can improve your career opportunities because it offers more education. When comparing a BSN versus an RN, it should be noted that a nurse with a bachelor’s degree can earn significantly more than a nurse with just an associate degree. With a bachelor’s, you can develop a broader skill set and grow your nursing knowledge, earn special certifications, and apply for leadership positions. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing can give you a competitive edge in the job market, or you could pursue more advanced degrees.

Graduate Degrees in Nursing

Earning an even higher degree in nursing can increase your salary potential even more and set you on the track for executive leadership positions in the field. A Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice can prepare you for advanced careers like nurse practitioner, nursing informatics specialist, clinical nurse specialist, and administrative and academic positions like nurse educator or nurse manager. These positions lend themselves to higher salaries and opportunities to open independent practices.

If you have your heart set on becoming a nurse but have heard negative things about salary, don’t give up your career goal. There are plenty of options you can pursue to make sure you land your dream job of becoming a nurse while also being able to earn enough to meet your financial needs. Whether you want to become a travel nurse, specialize in a particular nursing niche, train others, or get an advanced degree, remember that having the right education will help open more career opportunities, landing you the perfect job with the right pay.

What Is an Executive MBA?

Posted on by Caitlin Abram

If career advancement is one of your long-term goals, there’s a good chance that earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) is also on your list. The MBA is a benchmark for business professionals, and it signals you’re serious about building the high-level skills effective managers need.

MBA programs can be found in university business departments across the world, and the specific program you choose depends on your interests and schedule, but an increasingly popular option for professionals in more senior positions is the executive MBA (EMBA.) The first executive MBA program launched at the University of Chicago in 1943 with an aim to strengthen American business in an uncertain world still in the midst of World War II. Unique for the time, the majority of the first 52-student cohort were in their 40s and 50s. They had decades of work experience but little formal business education. Meeting part time, two nights a week, students were able to learn together and make valuable connections while balancing careers in busy midcentury Chicago industry.

Today’s EMBA programs have the same basic mission: to provide high-level business education to experienced adult students seeking to enhance their leadership and management skills while continuing to contribute to their companies and communities.

EMBA vs. MBA

Whether you enroll in a traditional or executive program, the degree you’ll receive will still be a Master of Business Administration. One way of learning is not “better” than the other. The real difference between the programs is the curriculum focus and student experience.

Traditional MBAs are often designed for professionals with a shorter work history to grow or change their careers. Courses have an emphasis on practical skills in marketing, finance, and resource management. Executive MBAs are geared toward those already in management positions aiming for higher levels of leadership. Excelsior University’s program features coursework focusing on strategy, sustainability, and change management. EMBA programs are typically run on a condensed schedule to accommodate working professionals, with classes typically held on weekends, on evenings, or in a hybrid format (online and in person).

Transform your career in a year with Excelsior University’s Executive MBA program.

What Is the EMBA Program at Excelsior University Like?

If you’re considering an EMBA, it’s essential to research different programs, compare their curricula and faculty, and determine which one best aligns with your aspirations. Excelsior University’s Executive MBA program has been designed so working adults can forge new paths in their careers and grow their networking potential, all while working full time.

Intensive 12-Month Program

Because executives don’t have time to waste, Excelsior’s program is an intense but effective 12 months with a curriculum that includes courses like Strategy and Entrepreneurial Innovation, Strategic Brand Marketing, Systems and Sustainability, and Resilient Leadership and Organizational Behavior.

Designed for Experienced Professionals

Excelsior’s Executive MBA program advances past business basics. The curriculum is ideal for seasoned professionals who are prepared for immersive experiences that challenge and strengthen their management style and strategic thinking skills.

Combination of Online Learning and In-Person Residencies

Unlike Excelsior’s online MBA program, the hybrid format of Excelsior’s EMBA balances the convenience of interactive online courses with in-person residencies. In each of three major U.S cities, you’ll have the chance to tackle hands-on projects with industry partners, as well as with your fellow cohort students, that hone your talents in strategy, innovation, sustainability, and more.

How to Get Started

If you thrive on challenge, connection, and personal growth, then you’ve reached the level in your career where you’re ready to invest in your leadership skills with an EMBA. Excelsior University’s impactful hybrid program could be right for you, and our team makes it easy to get started in our next program cohort. Read more about the program details and how to apply today.

Nursing Informatics vs. Clinical Nursing: What’s the Difference

Posted on by Excelsior Staff

Careers in nursing offer multiple paths and areas of focus. For instance, take nursing informatics vs. clinical nursing. Both are concerned with patient care, yet they deal with distinctly different aspects of it.

Nursing Informatics: The Intersection of Technical and Clinical

Health care is becoming more data-driven, and the need for people with a combined background of patient care and information management is exploding. You can play a key role in putting health care technology to work for patients and the organizations caring for them.

In nursing informatics, you’ll support all the stakeholders involved with the health of a patient. That starts with providing good, clear information to patients themselves and extends to the medical care team and on to facilities and operations professionals, too.

Harness data to improve patient care with an MS in Nursing Informatics from Excelsior University.

How Is Clinical Nursing Different from Nursing Informatics?

As a clinical nurse, you apply your medical knowledge and patient care skills in hands-on roles assessing patient conditions, diagnosing, and treating conditions in hospitals, clinics, and doctors’ offices. Your focus is on people.

In nursing informatics, your focus is on data and IT systems. You spend your time on information technology integration, data management, and the maintenance and analysis of electronic health records (EHRs). You contribute to decision support, both for the clinical and the business operations side of health care. You may work at clinical sites but could also work in a traditional office setting for consultants and informatics specialty companies.

Do nurse informaticists care for patients?

Working in nursing informatics, you typically won’t care directly for patients. Instead, you’ll apply your medical knowledge to analyzing data and building systems that help others uncover insights in data. Maintaining complete and accurate health records is part of the role, as is tracking pharmaceuticals, clinical outcomes, and other kinds of health data. Although you won’t care for patients directly, your work is vital to improving patient outcomes.

Do you need to be an RN to be a nurse informaticist?

Getting a start in a nursing informatics career typically requires that you be an RN. Nursing expertise helps you to use health care technology to its fullest and to effectively function as a liaison between the technical and the clinical. However, many organizations may require additional education, like a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a master’s degree.

Can you work from home as a nurse informaticist?

Nursing informatics is one of the few areas in nursing where working remotely and from home is possible.  Whether you work for a health care institution like a hospital, a data consulting company, or a software developer, your work is largely done on a computer. You can work anyplace you can get a secure and reliable connection to data and IT systems.

Which Degree Is Right for Your Career Goals?

The place to start your career is to earn your nursing degree. Excelsior’s associate degree and bachelor’s degree program in nursing prepare you to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, which is necessary for getting licensed as an RN.

You may then wish to explore multiple career paths in nursing to make sure you understand your options to find the right fit for you. If you think you may be interested in becoming a specialist in nursing informatics, you will likely need a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and, if you want to advance, a specialized graduate degree.

The Master of Science in Nursing Informatics at Excelsior offers a robust curriculum that prepares you to make the best use of data in addressing health care challenges, improving patient care, and optimizing operations. The program gives you the right blend of advanced nursing science, data science, and information technology expertise for exciting roles in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, research laboratories, insurance agencies, consulting companies, and more.

Working in nursing informatics is the ideal career for you if you love technology and have a strong interest in life sciences and helping people. Technology in the field of health care is evolving fast, opening well-paying opportunities at the beginning of your career and chances to grow as you progress.