Cybersecurity BS and Minor Program Specifics

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing and most strategically important industries in America today.

Protecting Data, Networks and Systems

There are more than 700,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs nationwide, many of which pay more than $100,000/yr. Students will learn to become protectors and defenders of both public and private data, networks and computer systems. Topics covered include the latest threats, attacks and vulnerabilities; hardware and software fundamentals; cryptography techniques; secure scripting and programming; network and system security; organizational cyber needs; digital forensics; and law and ethics.

Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies

The BS in Cybersecurity program at Rhode Island College is housed within the Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies, a regional center of excellence that provides education, programming and research to help develop Rhode Island’s cybersecurity industry. The institute is led by RIC alumnus James Langevin ’90, a former 11-term congressman and nationally recognized leader in the field. While representing Rhode Island in Congress, Langevin co-founded and co-chaired the House Cybersecurity Caucus.

BS and Minor Program Details

Course Information

The Academic Rhode Map lists all the courses you will need to complete the program and graduate in a timely fashion:

Academic Rhode Map

Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Program/Learning Goals

Students will:

demonstrate an understanding of the basic threats, attacks and vulnerabilities that exist in today’s digital world
create a virtual secure environment to practice with basic networking, password cracking and security tools
demonstrate secure programming techniques
articulate basic cryptography techniques from the past and from today’s world
gain a basic understanding of security and compliance laws, cyber security opportunities and job market

Minor in Cybersecurity

This minor provides an overview of today’s major cybersecurity challenges. Students learn to utilize a cybersecurity mindset and to question processes and procedures to help create more secure environments. Courses draw the student’s attention to writing secure programs. Students also learn how to write scripts, program securely, practice various command line techniques and use hacking tools in a secure virtual machine environment. Ethics, current events, cybersecurity laws and standards will be introduced.

Minor Course Requirements

Faculty Contact

Department of Computer Science and Information Systems

The Department of Computer Science and Information Systems is your source for technology-related majors.

Dr. Suzanne I. Mello-Stark

Associate Professor