Bachelor of Cybersecurity

Step into the rapidly-evolving digital world of cybersecurity. Get the hacking, cybercrime and defence strategies you need for an in-demand career as a cybersecurity expert. 

• Gain a deep understanding of the basic principles and best practices of cybersecurity.
• Learn in-demand skills in network engineering, coding, ethical hacking and governance.
• Build your coding expertise and access industry-based projects and mentoring opportunities with major corporations
• Complement your learning with a choice of advanced electives in IT, business, law, policy and strategic communication.
• Study the way you want with fully online, on-campus and blended study options.

About the Bachelor of Cybersecurity

• La Trobe's Bachelor of Cybersecurity offers you the opportunity to step into the rapidly evolving digital world of cybersecurity.
• You'll build a highly specialised technical skillset as you learn about the history of hacking, build your coding expertise, and access industry-based projects and mentoring opportunities with major corporations.
• You'll also have the opportunity to complement your industry-focused learning with a choice of advanced electives in IT, business, law, policy and strategic communication.

You'll learn:

• Cybersecurity fundamentals- Learn the basic principles and best practices of cybersecurity. Understand how it mitigates cyber vulnerabilities and protects confidential information.
• Ethical hacking and defence- Gain evaluation techniques to assess the security of network configuration and apply these skills to defend against network-based threats.
• Programming and cyber algorithms- Explore the widely used Python programming language and learn how algorithms are used to solve cybersecurity challenges.
• Network engineering- Study the architecture of computer networks and the internet, and examine protocols and services used in the defence of online information.
• Cyber governance and risk management- Learn the frameworks for cybersecurity governance and risk mitigation based on your emerging understanding of business strategy and risk appetite.

Sample course structure

• Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.
• To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Cybersecurity, students must complete a total of 360 credit points across 3 years.

Year 1 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

• 75 Credit points from chosen Core
• 45 Credit points from chosen Electives

Year 2 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

• 90 Credit points from chosen Core
• 30 Credit points from chosen Electives

Year 3 requires the completion of 120 credit points including:

• 15 Credit points from chosen Capstone
• 60 Credit points from chosen Core
• 45 Credit points from chosen Electives

This is a StudyFlex course
Whether your course is considered on campus, online or a mix of both, a StudyFlex course provides:

• At least one third of its subjects on campus or online; and/or
• At least two StudyFlex majors - that is two eight-subject sequences that offer At least half of their subjects on campus or online.

Bachelor of Cybersecurity course and career outcomes

• However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.

Year 1

• After completing 1 year of full-time study
• You can exit with a Diploma of Information Technology

Year 2

• After completing 2 years of full-time study
• You can exit with an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity

Year 3

• After completing 3 years of full-time study
• You can exit with a Bachelor of Cybersecurity

Bachelor of Cybersecurity intended learning outcomes

• Investigate, critically evaluate and apply current and emerging cybersecurity practices, regulations and standards
• Apply well developed knowledge and skills to safeguard data, systems and networks
• Employ professional skills and practice including effective team building, negotiation and high level communication across a range of environments
• Apply critical and ethical awareness of human factors to develop effective policies that protect against cyber threats
• Develop effective and innovative solutions and risk management strategies to address real work problems in cybersecurity
• Formulate coordinated strategic communication processes for cyber incident responses
• Apply the principles of cybersecurity into practice through real-time industrial projects

Bachelor of Cybersecurity career opportunities

• After graduation, you could work across a range of industries, including technology, communications, education, finance, government, defence, healthcare, and energy and resources.

Possible roles include:

• Ethical hacker- Bypass system and network infrastructure to safely expose weaknesses that could be exploited by a malicious hacker.
• Cryptographer/cryptanalyst- Develop security systems using algorithms and ciphers to encrypt sensitive data. Analyse and decrypt information contained within cypher texts and encrypted data.
• Security architect- Plan, implement and supervise computer and network security systems to protect against cybercriminals.
• Cybersecurity policy adviser- Understand and articulate complex business needs to develop and implement tailored cybersecurity policies.
• Software developer- Design, test and develop software to meet user needs. Write code for programs and applications that can adapt and respond to evolving online threats.

Professional recognition

• The Bachelor of Cybersecurity at the Melbourne (Bundoora) campus is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). Graduates of the Bachelor of Cybersecurity may apply for membership with the ACS. Membership may be subject to additional or ongoing requirements beyond completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.