Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in the country, and it’s not hard to understand why. Every second of every day, an estimated twelve people find their personal information under attack. Every year, 556 million people fall victim to cybercrime. 

 It’s no wonder that companies everywhere are looking for network experts who can predict  and deflect the many attacks on their systems. In 2022 alone, companies around the world increased their average IT security budget by 5 percent, but they still can’t find enough qualified computer network security experts to meet their needs. There are more openings in information security than there are people to fill them.

That means there’s never been a better time to pursue a Computer Networks and Cybersecurity degree. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that certain cybersecurity careers will grow at an astonishing rate of 35 percent over the next several years. That’s seven times the average growth rate for all occupations. 

Cybercrime is an incredible challenge that affects every one of us. It’s not going away anytime soon. At our School of Information Technology, you can rise to meet that challenge — and create a stable, rewarding career in the process. 

As a Computer Networks and Cybersecurity major, you’ll learn from network analysts, software engineers, web designers, database administrators, project managers, and chief information officers (CIOs): people who know firsthand what it takes to keep a system secure. From professionals like these, you’ll learn about the following:

• Wireless technology 
• Windows networking
• Cisco systems, including CyberOps
• Ethical hacking/penetration testing
• Network and computer forensics
• IT project management

In the process, you’ll prepare to earn the industry-recognized certifications, including: 

• Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
• CyberOps Associate 
• CompTIA A+
• CompTIA Security+
• Comp TIA Network+
• CompTIA Cloud+

You’ll learn more than the science of information security. You’ll learn what it takes to be a leader, from people who’ve been leaders themselves. 

Computer Networks and Cybersecurity Degree Requirements:
120 total credits

• 57 credits of major-related courses
• 63 credits of general education and related courses
• We also offer both fully-online and hybrid programs to provide our students with flexible scheduling options. 

Ethical Hacking

• To stop a cybercriminal, sometimes you have to think like one. This course will immerse students in the techniques of penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking. Using both Windows and Linux systems, students will do more than learn defensive strategies against cyberattackers; they’ll learn how to use intruders’ techniques to identify weaknesses in their own networks. Students will scan, test, hack, and secure their own systems; and in the process learn how cybercriminals escalate privileges, employ social engineering to deceive victims, create viruses, and use buffer overflows and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to overwhelm systems. 

Admission Requirements

Candidates for a Bachelor of Science in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity must meet the following general admissions requirements: 

• Applicants must possess either a high school graduation credential or high school equivalency diploma, or a recognized college associate degree or higher as listed in the transfer admissions policy.
• Applicants must also submit a completed application for admission, as well as a personal statement or essay.
• Applicants also participate in a pre-admission interview.

Your Future Computer Networks and Cybersecurity Career

• The New York City metro area is one of the great innovation capitals of the world. It’s also a capital of finance, law, retail, and healthcare: all industries that need to be able to guarantee the security of their clients’, customers’, and patients’ information. 
• Graduates of the School of Information Technology have launched their careers in many of those industries, at IBM, Montefiore Medical Center, Citigroup, Verizon, Infosys, and Salesforce. Those companies, and many more, show no signs of slowing down when it comes to hiring information security professionals. 

With a bachelor’s degree, you’ll be qualified to meet the rising demand for many of those cybersecurity and networking jobs, including: 

• Information security analyst 
• Network administrator 
• Computer network support specialist 
• Computer network architect
• Cyber data analytics expert 
• Penetration tester (aka ethical hacker)
• Cybersecurity project manager 
• Forensic specialist 
• IT security consultant

These opportunities and more are all right there in our backyard. When you get your degree at Monroe, it becomes your backyard, too.

Professional Opportunities

At Monroe, your professional opportunities will begin long before you graduate. School of Information Technology students have taken prestigious internships with nearby companies including: 

• Google
• IBM
• Amazon
• Apple
• Salesforce 
• Cisco
• Infosys
• The New York Times
• PepsiCo
• Verizon Wireless 

We also have organizations right on campus that allow students to start building their professional networks early:

• The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), is one of the world’s oldest educational and scientific computing societies — it’s also the world’s largest, and it’s headquartered right here in New York. Monroe has its very own ACM chapter, offering students access to a number of competitions, seminars, lectures, and workshops every year.
• In addition to weekly meetings where IT students can exchange ideas, the Information Technology Student Association (ITSA) offers its services to aid businesses in the surrounding community. ITSA also hosts regular events, like tech challenges and speaker forums, throughout the year.
• At Monroe, we believe real-world experience is an essential component of a great education. That’s why an internship is a required part of the curriculum. We’ll make sure you have every chance to start building your career even as you earn your degree. 

Discover What You Can Achieve

• By earning your degree in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity, you’re preparing to do more than secure a network. You’re preparing to secure your future.