Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree

Featured Programs:

What Is a National Center for Academic Excellence?

Several of the schools listed below have been designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) as National Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity.

The objective of the NCAE-C program is to “create and manage a collaborative cybersecurity educational program with community colleges, colleges, and universities.”

The NSA’s National Cryptologic School manages the program and partners with the following federal agencies.

CISA
FBI
NIST/NICE
NSF
DoD-CIO (Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer)
USCYBERCOM (U.S. Cyber Command)

There are three designations within the program: Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO).

Furthermore, the CAE-CD program includes designations for community colleges, universities, and research institutes.

Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CDE)
Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Two-Year Education (CAE-2Y)

To learn more about the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, you can visit the NSA’s website.

Benefits of a Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree

Having a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or a related field will increase your chances of finding employment.

While some entry-level positions may require only a professional certificate or associate degree, you can expand your options with a bachelor’s degree. The increasing demand for workers in this field — by employers in the private sector, the U.S. military, and government agencies — has led to an increase in cybersecurity bachelor’s degree offerings both online and in the classroom.

University of New Haven

The University of New Haven’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Networks focuses on cyber operations to prepare students for a range of in-demand roles within the industry.

In 2020, when the university’s hacking team qualified for the Northeast Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition, team advisor Dr. Vahid Behzadan told The Charger Blog, “We are not focused on merely training cybersecurity professionals, but continually striving to develop the next generation of leaders in the domain of cybersecurity.”

The Connecticut Institute of Technology is home to the university’s undergraduate and graduate cybersecurity and networks programs, which emphasize applied learning and research. In addition to being named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) by the NSA, the school is noted for its interdisciplinary approach to cybersecurity and networking, which includes minors in criminal justice and business.

Purdue University Global

Students in the Online Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity program from Purdue University Global gain the foundational knowledge and skills through this accelerated online bachelor’s in cybersecurity. Courses in the program run for 10 weeks and cover solutions-oriented computer problem analysis, technical communication, team collaboration and leadership, and cyber threat mitigation.

As a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) Purdue University Global prepares its students to enter one of more than 500,000 cybersecurity jobs in the United States by training them to “master the fundamentals of cybersecurity recognize best practices, and identify IT security threats and products.”

Norwich University

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Norwich University is an online degree program tailored to working adults.

In this program, you will build foundational skills and practice techniques in project-based courses.

Students may select from the following concentrations:

Computer Forensics and Vulnerability Management
Information Warfare and Security Management

The program is fully online and can be completed in 18 months. To be admitted, students must have an associate degree or a minimum of 30 credits. You may transfer up to 90 credits of prior learning.

Norwich University is a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Notre Dame College

Notre Dame College in Ohio offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in cybersecurity. The estimated length of the program is three to four years and each course runs for eight weeks. Students must complete 70 credit hours for the major and may transfer up to 90 credits of prior coursework.

Students may also earn a minor in cybersecurity, for which they must complete 19 credit hours.

The program covers:

Cloud security
Computer forensics
Data recovery
Ethical hacking
IT security
Network architecture

The program is well suited for industry professionals who want to enhance their skill set and increase their value in the fast-paced cybersecurity environment.

To apply, you will need to submit an online application, official high school transcripts or GED scores, and official transcripts from other previously attended institutions.

Utica College

New York’s Utica College offers classes for its Cybersecurity Bachelor of Science degree on campus and online.

The college is a National Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) and a National Center of Digital Forensic Academic Excellence, designated by the Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3).

Students in the program choose from specializations in four key areas of cybersecurity:

Utica College is home to the Utica College Cybersecurity Club, which gives members the opportunity compete in intercollegiate cybersecurity competitions, attend conferences, and network with industry professionals and mentors.

Methodist University

The 36 hour Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity program from Methodist University can help students launch careers in the information technology security field.

According to the program brochure, “By 2022, the global cybersecurity work force shortage has been projected to reach upwards of 1.8 million unfilled positions.”

The BLS reports a projected 28 percent growth in information security related jobs from 2016 to 2026. Employers will be looking for trained cybersecurity professionals to fill these roles.

With courses such as Cybercrime Law and Ethics and Digital Crime Investigation the program especially suited to people who aspire to work in law enforcement and crime prevention.

Lindenwood University

Lindenwood’s Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity is a 66 credit hour technical program that offers courses such as Secure Software Development, Web Based Application Security, Blockchain Technology for Business and Database Analysis and Design Concepts.

Targeting prospective cybersecurity analysts and experienced professionals interested in career growth, the program highlights security topics at each level of the network architecture, including “server installation and security, network security, secure software development, web-based application security, digital forensics and cyber investigation, cybersecurity analysis, penetration testing, ethical hacking, [and] project management.”

All courses run for eight weeks and are delivered in classroom, online, and hybrid modes.

Loyola Law School, Los Angeles

Loyola Law School students pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree with a Cybersecurity and Data Privacy concentration benefit from an interdisciplinary approach that teaches concepts from the Incident Response and Investigation course alongside traditional law courses, such as Internet Law and Cyber and IP Crimes.

The concentration helps students connect the concepts taught in Cyber Security and Regulatory Compliance to those in courses such as Technology and Compliance. Students in good standing can register for the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy concentration at the end of their first year. To complete the concentration, students must take the specified number of units and an experiential learning course.