A new proposal intended to prevent cyber criminals from striking internationally could create job opportunities to students who hold database technology degrees or related educational qualifications.

Reuters reports that the International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act, which legislators presented to the Senate on Tuesday, is intended to expose countries that are thought to be soft on cyber crime and introduce new methods to combat online fraud.

If the bill is passed, countries that have a loose relationship with information technology would be targeted first, followed by more technologically advanced nations such as Russia and China.

Many large companies - including American Express, Mastercard, Visa, eBay, Facebook, Microsoft, Cisco and Hewlett-Packard - have expressed their support for the bill, as many of these organizations have been recently hit by cyber fraud attacks.

As a result, many of these international corporations will most likely beef up their cyber security forces in the coming months, which could create job opportunities for individuals who have completed related degree programs at campus-based or online colleges.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the demand for computer and information systems managers - particularly those who are familiar with cyber crime - is expected to grow by 17 percent over the next eight years.