Effects of a Four-Week Cyber Security Summer Program on the Attitudes and College Interests of High School Students

Abstract

Encouraging the next generation of cyber security professionals through outreach programs is a vital component of cyber security education. Competitions and short-term summer camps have previously been shown to have a positive impact on students' attitudes towards cyber security. As part of a NSF Scholarship for Service (SFS) grant, a four-week summer outreach program with intensive hands-on activities was created at California State University, Bakersfield to encourage high school students to pursue cyber security related college majors. Pre-surveys and post-surveys with attitudinal questions were used to assess the effect of the program on students' attitudes and college interests. The majority of participants indicate that the program increased their interest in cyber security. However, there is a gender gap for interest in college majors, with male students being far more likely to consider a cyber security related college major both before and after participating in the program.