Head Of Security Education Requirements And Courses

Head of security education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, heads of security don't need a college education. The most common degree for heads of security is bachelor's degree with 38% graduates, with only 23% head of security graduates earning high school diploma. Heads of security who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Arizona State University. Some good skills to have in this position include cloud security, security procedures and emergency situations.

Popular head of security certifications include Security 5 Certification, Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). To improve head of security qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in head of security education paths.

What education do you need to become a head of security?

What degree do you need to be a head of security?

The most common degree for heads of security is bachelor's degree, with 38% of heads of security earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are high school diploma degree at 23% and high school diploma degree at 22%.

Bachelor's, 38%

High School Diploma, 23%

Associate, 22%

Diploma, 7%

Other Degrees, 10%

What should I major in to become a head of security?

You should major in criminal justice to become a head of security. 29% of heads of security major in criminal justice. Other common majors for a head of security include business and general studies.

Criminal Justice, 29%

Business, 19%

General Studies, 6%

Psychology, 5%

Other Majors, 41%

Best majors for heads of security

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Criminal Justice	28.5%
2	Business	19.2%
3	General Studies	5.9%
4	Psychology	4.8%
5	Communication	4.1%

Show more common head of security majors

20 best online courses for heads of security

Advertising disclosure

1. Security Awareness Training

The security of an organization is of the utmost importance and every member of the organization's staff plays a vital role in defending against cyber threats. One of the best ways to protect the organization is to institute a company-wide security-awareness training initiative. This course is a complete foundational security awareness training program that covers a wide array of topics for nearly every type of end-user and learner level. The content is designed to allow organizations to be...

2. Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO)

4.5

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Certified Information Systems Security Officer (CISSO) Certification Exam Prep Course...

3. Information Security Fundamentals - Cyber Security Bootcamp

4.2

(267)

A Beginners Awareness Guide on Information Security & Cyber Security to Keep Online and Offline Devices Safe!...

4. ISO/IEC 27002:2022. Information security controls

4.5

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Learn about the comprehensive set of information security controls proposed by ISO/IEC 27002:2022...

5. Information Systems Security for Professionals: CISSP

4.5

(2,165)

Making Next Gen Information Security Leaders...

6. IT Security 101 - Cyber Security for Beginners

4.2

(390)

Learn cyber security best practice tips on securing computer networks from internal & external IT cyber security threats...

7. Information Security Basics for IT Support Technicians

4.3

(300)

Learn the basics of information security and what you need to know to be compliant with data protection regulations...

8. Automotive Cyber Security

4.2

(1,627)

A learners Guide: Covers Automotive Security, Concepts of Security and many more...

9. The Complete Cyber Security Course: Network Security!

4.6

(16,367)

Volume 2 : Network Security, Wi Fi Security, Wi Fi Hackers, Firewalls, Wireshark, Secure Networking. + Password Managers...

10. Security Guard Training Course

4.4

(383)

Security Officer Training In Today's Job Market...

11. Linux Security and Hardening, The Practical Security Guide.

4.5

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Secure any Linux server from hackers & protect it against hacking. The practical Linux Administration security guide...

12. IT Security Gumbo: Cloud Security Fundamentals

4.1

(559)

The Foundation of AWS Cloud Security...

13. Security Management: Excellence in Private Protection

4.5

(905)

A complete Security Management knowledge suite of managing security operations, programs/services, budgets, & personnel...

14. Introduction to Corporate Information Security

4.1

(454)

This course explains why information security and its management are important for any modern organization...

15. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

4.1

(1,311)

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)...

16. ISACA CISM Certified Information Security Manager

(285)

One of the highest paid certifications! Become a Certified Information Security Manager!...

17. Information Security Awareness: An Introduction for UK SMEs

4.4

(412)

Combating Security Threats and Cultivating Information Security Awareness...

18. AWS Security: DevSecOps & AWS Security Services & Terraform

4.5

(331)

Cloud Security in AWS Implement SAST, SCA & DAST in AWS Dev Sec Ops Pipeline from scratch and Security Services in AWS...

19. Information Security Fundamentals

4.5

(589)

The very basics of Info Sec...

20. Security Awareness Training, Internet Security for Employees

4.6

(29,418)

Basic security awareness guide on Internet security and privacy to help keep you, your home, and your employer safe...

Average head of security salary by education level

Heads of security with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $215,377 annually. With a Bachelor's degree, heads of security earn a median annual income of $180,714 compared to $158,056 for heads of security with an Associate degree.

Head of security education level	Head of security salary
Master's Degree	$215,377
High School Diploma or Less	$145,824
Bachelor's Degree	$180,714
Some College/ Associate Degree	$158,056