Analyzing the High School Student’s Path to a Career in Cyber Security

Students' decisions to pursue a career in cyber are influenced by many factors, such as perceived difficulty, amount of math, and many others. Additionally, certain demographic groups are more reluctant to pursue cyber security as their career field. This study surveyed high school students in an attempt to uncover sources of career information and offer strategies for educators. A three-part survey instrument was used in this study to examine students' perception of cyber security careers and exposure to cyber security career information, as well as capture demographics. Our results suggest that universities must be more systematic and deliberate in reaching out to high school students about potential careers in cyber security fields.