CYBER.BS - BS in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Major

General Information

The cybersecurity program consists of a comprehensive knowledge and hands-on skills in the field of cybersecurity in relation to information, software, systems, users, and organizations. The program is built on a technical foundation of computing and information technology and focuses primarily on offensive and defensive security, incident response and forensics. 

Opportunities

This program aims to equip students with computing systems knowledge and skills pertaining to information security, software security, system security, organizational security, and societal security. As graduates of this program, students will demonstrate abilities to analyze, evaluate, and maintain operational systems in the presence of cyber risks and threats. 

Educational Objectives

The Cybersecurity program will prepare students to be professionals capable of applying principles to practice, able to undertake lifelong learning, and aware of social, ethical, and environmental issues associated with their professional activities. The expected accomplishments of our graduates during the first several years following graduation from the program are to:

1.   successfully apply cybersecurity best practices to design and maintain systems that meet customer information security requirements;

2.   function ethically and responsibly as a full participant in the cybersecurity discipline;

3.   remain current in the fast-changing world of technology today by pursuing continuing professional education;

4.   operate successfully as part of a team; and

5.   apply knowledge and skills to the benefit of society.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the program, the student will have the following abilities:

•     Communication—Ability to communicate ideas and concepts in written and oral forms clearly and in an organized manner.

•     Mathematical Foundations —Ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematical concepts and theory to develop and analyze computing systems.

•     Teamwork —Ability to work in teams.

•     Design—Ability to design, implement and evaluate cybersecurity solutions.

•     Critical Thinking —Ability to evaluate and analyze a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs.

•     Ethics—Ability to identify the role computer security plays in society and identify and analyze ethical impacts of professional behavior and actions.

•     Information Management —Ability to identify and utilize appropriate information sources in order to understand and/or solve problems.

•     Programming Fundamentals—Ability to create solutions to problems using code and/or components including selection of programming fundamentals and appropriate comments.

Degree Requirements

Required computer science, information technology and cybersecurity courses (62 credits)

Subtotal: 53 cr.

Required mathematics courses (6 credits)

Subtotal: 6 cr.

Required philosophy course (3 credits)

Subtotal: 3 cr.

Technical Electives (6 credits)

Two additional cybersecurity, information technology or computer science courses numbered 300 or above.

Subtotal: 6 cr.

Total Major Credit Hours: 68

The 2.000 required grade point average in the major is based on all computer science, mathematics, information technology and cybersecurity courses pursued as a part of the student’s degree program.

Cybersecurity Suggested Sequence of Courses

Subtotal: 15 cr.

Total Credit Hours: 120