Cybersecurity Bachelor of Science Degree

In Rit’s cybersecurity bachelor’s degree you’ll learn to preserve assets, identify security vulnerabilities, prove threats occurred, and design strategies for data recovery. 

Why Study Cybersecurity at RIT

• RIT’s new Global Cybersecurity Institute is one of the world’s leading cybersecurity education and research centers. This 52,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility was designed for a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to cybersecurity.
• RIT’s Cyber Range and Training Center is capable of hosting more than 5,000 virtual machines simultaneously in immersive scenarios that simulate countless cyber scenarios ranging from industrial to governmental and military.
• RIT students are recognized as powerhouse competitors in both offensive and defensive cybersecurity competitions. We won the 2021 Collegiate Penetration Testing Competition Global Finals and the 2013 Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition National Championship.
• RIT is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Research and Education by the National Security Agency.
• Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s Available: Earn both your bachelor’s and your master’s in less time and with a cost savings, giving you a competitive advantage in your field.
• STEM-OPT Visa Eligible: The STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program allows full-time, on-campus international students on an F-1 student visa to stay and work in the U.S. for up to three years after graduation.

The scope and demand of computer systems and networks, and the span of these systems, increases in organizations every day. At the same time, dependence on computer systems security and computing security technologies is growing dramatically, as is the creation of malicious software that attacks computing systems and networks. Computer systems security is now a major concern for organizations large and small to ensure information stays secure for the privacy of client/customer information, efficient business success, and smooth continuity in operations. As a result, there is an urgent demand for highly trained computing security professionals who can secure and protect an organization’s digital assets from relentless attack. In addition, there is a critical need for the continued development of advanced computer security technologies, including hardware and software infrastructures, to both house valuable digital assets and ensure their protection.

RIT’s Cybersecurity Bachelor's Degree

• RIT’s bachelor of science in cybersecurity produces professionals who understand the people and processes that impact computer systems security. In addition to acquiring state-of-the-art knowledge in protecting digital assets of large or small organizations, you will learn to proactively identify security vulnerabilities in software, hardware, and infrastructure, and provide and implement actionable solutions that protect the assets of an organization. You will learn to collect digital forensic evidence to reveal network and data breach incidents, attribute the attackers or origin of attack, assess the extent of the damage or loss of information, and design strategies that ensure information is protected from future attacks.

Cybersecurity Curriculum

• In the first two years of the program, RIT’s cybersecurity major provides you with a solid foundation in computer science and mathematics. Core courses include a programming sequence, an ethics course, a computer networking and system administration sequence, and foundation courses in computer and network security.
• Starting in the third year, you will begin an in-depth exploration of a range of aspects of cybersecurity with advanced electives that allow you to design the focus of your cybersecurity degree. You may choose from an extensive selection of advanced topics in the areas of the network and system security, digital forensics and malware, software security, data security and privacy, and cyber analytics and intelligence. You can expand your knowledge of cybersecurity in one of several disciplines, including network and systems security, digital forensics and malware, security software, and security management. You may also use advanced elective courses to create a customized cluster to address an area of professional interest. To help you apply your cybersecurity courses to the real-world, and gain valuable career experience, you’ll complete two blocks of cooperative education.

ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute: Advancing Cybersecurity Education

• As a student in the cybersecurity bachelor’s degree, you'll have the opportunity to take courses and participate in events at the ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute, a state-of-the-art, 52,000-square-foot facility designed for advanced cybersecurity education, training, and research. You will learn from experts who have developed a world-class curriculum that covers cybersecurity to managing information systems as you build secure systems and new technologies. You'll also have access to the Cyber Range, which generates the real world feel of responding to a cybersecurity crisis for governments and industries to test their security and identify innovative/effective solutions.

Careers in Cybersecurity

• The cybersecurity field is growing rapidly, with demand for cybersecurity experts outpacing the number of students graduating from cybersecurity majors nationwide. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in cybersecurity will grow by 31 percent by the year 2029, creating excellent career opportunities for graduates of RIT’s cybersecurity degree.
• Nearly every single industry needs cybersecurity experts, from aviation and banking, to automotive, health care, energy, retail, education, government, and more. You’ll be well prepared for jobs in cybersecurity as a data scientist, data analyst, information security analyst, cybersecurity engineer, cybersecurity specialist, systems engineer, security architect, application security administrator, artificial intelligence security specialist, cloud security architect, cryptographer, cyber operations specialist, cybercrime Investigator, and more.

Careers and Cooperative Education
Typical Job Titles

• Assistant Reverse Engineer
• Cyber Threat Responder
• Security Assurance Engineer
• Threat Analyst
• Application Security Engineer
• Security Software Specialist
• Security Consultant
• Technical Assessments Consultant
• Cyber Security Analyst
• Penetration Tester
• Site Reliability Engineer
• Vehicle Cybersecurity Engineer

Industries

• Electronic and Computer Hardware
• Government (Local, State, Federal)
• Health Care
• Internet and Software
• Medical Devices
• Telecommunications
• Utilities and Renewable Energy

Cooperative Education

• What’s different about an RIT education? It’s the career experience you gain by completing cooperative education and internships with top companies in every single industry. You’ll earn more than a degree. You’ll gain real-world career experience that sets you apart. It’s exposure–early and often–to a variety of professional work environments, career paths, and industries.
• Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Your computing co-ops will provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your computing knowledge in professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.
• Students in the cybersecurity bachelor’s degree are required to complete two blocks of cooperative education experience.