Program Details
Our modern world is built on technology, and that technology has become vulnerable as hacking has become more automated and profitable. This cybersecurity program consists of two fundamental focuses.
The first is cyber threats, how to identify, neutralize, and prevent them from happening at both personal and corporate scales.
The second focus is fundamental IT skills. These are important because at many companies, the role of cybersecurity and IT is rolled into one job or function and so these skills are necessary in helping graduates succeed in the workforce.
Faculty Contributors
Randy Rovesti - Randy is a professor of IT and Cybersecurity at Penn State, as well as an Engineering Manager at the Naval Nuclear Laboratory, where he focuses on both physical and cyber security systems. His expertise on both the academic and professional side of cybersecurity made him uniquely qualified to be the primary designer of the Cybersecurity program.
Dr. Charles Severance, University of Michigan - Dr. Charles Severance holds a PhD in Computer Science from Michigan State University. He is the former Executive Director of the Sakai Foundation, and one of the world’s leading online CS educators. His contributions and curriculum form the basis of our programming curriculum
Alexey Malashkevich - Alexey is a highly respected engineer and engineering manager with strong experience in building cloud-based financial technology systems. His skill in building engineering teams gives him particular insight into the skills most valuable in today’s technology workforce. Alexey is the former CEO of Agile Code - a software development firm - and has 20 years of experience bringing software products to market.
In addition to Alexey, we consulted with two Cybersecurity experts who asked not to be named here due to the highly sensitive and public nature of their roles.
How does this degree align with the real world?
We consulted cybersecurity experts and Fortune 500 companies during the creation of this curriculum, and therefore it's designed to help students meet the entry-level job needs of both small and large companies alike.
Students who complete this curriculum will not only be prepared for a career as a cybersecurity professional, they will also be well positioned to obtain a number of certifications which will increase their employability, including , , and .
Career Outlook
Like all of our innovative degree programs, this one targets a high-paying, fast-growing, and low-unemployment industry. Cybersecurity professionals have a zero percent unemployment rate at a median salary of $90,757.
Job titles can include:
- Information Security Analyst
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Information Security Manager
Curriculum Highlights
You'll take programs like Cybercrime and Governance, Modern Cybersecurity, Cyber Forensics, and the Ethical Hacking Capstone.
- Math Required: Standard College requirements
- Hardest Class: Capstone. This course serves as the culmination of all of your work and is the most rigorous.
