Bachelor of Science Cybersecurity

Students in the BS Cybersecurity program will learn the fundamentals of information security, security infrastructure design and implementation, computer forensics, risk assessment, and the impact of security requirements on a business operation. Students design, implement, integrate, and manage various security infrastructure components through hands-on activities in a state-of the-art Security Laboratory. The lab includes multi-vendor firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, intrusion detection and prevention systems, routers, switches, security scanners, and event correlation systems. This degree program prepares students for the fast growing cybersecurity field and careers in various environments such as corporations, government agencies and consulting. Common career areas include Computer Forensics, Incident Response, Network Security Administration, Risk Assessment, and Web Development.

For international students: this is a STEM-designated program.

Degree Requirements
 
 

Kara Keene (BS ‘20)
Senior Consultant, TransUnion
Security, Orchestration, and Automation Response Team"All throughout my time in school I was connected to the professional role at the same time. I think I spent most of my junior and senior year in the network lab on routers and switches. I learned so much about the basics of networks and how they work and that translates every single day to my career."

Career Success

94% of reporting DePaul bachelor's degree recipients were employed, continuing education, or not seeking employment within six months of graduation

$72,500 median salary reported by program graduates 6 months after degree completion

Faculty Member's NSA Grant Brings Cybersecurity to High Schools

Associate Professor Filipo Sharevski has earned a $949,000 grant from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity, housed within the National Security Agency, to bring cybersecurity courses into high school classrooms. Sharevski led the creation of the National Cybersecurity Teaching Academy, a collaboration among 10 institutions throughout the U.S. As the first certification program of its kind for high school teachers, the inaugural program will prepare 90 high school teachers to teach an advanced cybersecurity course.

2 America Agencies  

National Center of Academic Excellence

DePaul has been designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency. The designation indicates that we are helping to reduce threats to our national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense as well as providing the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals.

team posing for a pic  

Security Daemons

DePaul’s cybersecurity team, the Security Daemons, participate in many Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions throughout the year, and compete annually in the National Collegiate Cyber Defence Competition. This year, the team placed third nationally, beating out nearly 180 other college and university teams over the course of state and regional competitions.

 

Hands-On Learning

Coursework emphasizes hands-on learning with Cisco equipment. The CDM Security Lab contains more than 100 routers, 60 switches, 90 firewalls, and a wide variety of servers and specialized network appliances, all of which are available to students in Cybersecurity courses to practice and perfect their networking and security skills.

network hardware  

BS + CCNA Security

DePaul is a Cisco Networking Academy (CNA). CDM faculty can make use of Cisco online learning resources to supplement their course materials. Students who wish to earn their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) security have access to all Cisco review materials as a part of their coursework. However, unlike many CNA institutions, CDM’s courses provide a broad range of learning materials beyond what Cisco offers.

security locks  

CyberCenter

DePaul’s CyberCenter, founded in June 2003, is chartered to advance the science, teaching, and practice of computer security, information assurance, network security, and related disciplines. Through affiliated labs, including the Secure Design Lab, Adversarial Cybersecurity Automation Lab (ACAL), Network and Security Lab, and more, the Center aims to increase the awareness of security and produce program graduates who are better able to meet the increasing needs of the nation in the area of information assurance. The Center also works in cooperation with Chicagoland area corporations to assist them in applying information assurance practices into their businesses operations and coordinates with community service organizations to help increase their awareness and implementation of information assurance.

students collaborating  

Faculty Research

School of Computing faculty perform research in a wide variety of areas, with many projects funded by federal agencies. Faculty research areas include artificial intelligence, data mining, database systems, high performance and scientific computing, human-computer interaction, programming languages and systems, security, software engineering, technology education, theory, and visual computing.

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Rimsha Siddiqui
BS in Cybersecurity
 

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