Cyber Security Major

CYBER SECURITY
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE

An in-demand skill set for the digital age.

High-profile domestic and global cyber attacks have made private sector and government decision-makers painfully aware of the need for well-trained cyber security professionals. In response to this growing need, the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) has established the first undergraduate curriculum guidelines for cyber security, while the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have developed a cyber security certification.

Mercyhurst University’s Cyber Security bachelor’s program is one of the first stand-alone programs in the nation to follow both of these guidelines. Already home to one of the nation’s most respected Intelligence Studies programs, Mercyhurst is now able to leverage our experience, faculty expertise, cutting-edge resources and industry connections to provide an unparalleled cyber education at the undergraduate level.

Fast Facts

Mercyhurst’s Cyber Security programs is the only one in the nation to allow students to pursue a double major with Intelligence Studies, offered through the nation’s largest academic intelligence program
The Cyber Security major couples technical computer networking and hacking skills with data analytic skills and cyber law and policy
Cyber professions are among the fastest-growing careers in the nation, with projected 36 percent job growth by 2024 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) and more than 3 million unfilled job openings in the next few years (Cybersecurity Ventures)
Mercyhurst’s on-campus Network Operations Center, operated by MCPc, offers majors internship opportunities to gain real-world cyber security experience

CYBER EDUCATION

Dedicated in August 2018, the MCPc Cyber Education Center is an 8,000-square-foot state-of-the-art cyber training and mitigation facility on the campus of Mercyhurst University.

SPECIALIZED EDUCATION

The Cyber Security major is one of few undergraduate programs in the nation that can offer the professional training and specialized skill sets required for a cyber career.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

For majors interested in advancing their education beyond the bachelor’s level, Mercyhurst’s 4+1 master’s programs are excellent options.

High Tech Facilities

The MCPc Cyber Education Center includes four separate spaces:

A Cyber Security Lab
A Security Operations Room
Two Computer Labs

The Cyber Security Lab features 20 individual terminals, each outfitted with high-end computing power and large monitors. The lab operates on an independent network with its own servers and firewalls, completely isolated from the campus network. In addition, the lab features virtual forensic workstations, mobile devices for exploitation tests, threat-analysis software packages, and other relevant platforms.

The Security Operations Room is staffed and operated by Cleveland-based technology firm MCPc. Two full-time MCPc employees work with and hire Mercyhurst students to address real-time cyber security threats.

The Computer Labs provide hands-on education to undergraduate and graduate students in Mercyhurst’s cyber, data science and intelligence programs.

See what industry and government leaders are saying about the new cyber facility.

Career Opportunities

“America’s daily life, economic vitality, and national security depend on a secure cyberspace. A vast array of interdependent IT networks, systems, services, and resources are critical to communication, travel, powering homes, running the economy, and obtaining government services.” – U.S. Department of Homeland Security

For our majors, these experiences can open a world of opportunities that offer job stability, career mobility and excellent earning potential.

As you consider future career opportunities, keep in mind these points about the cyber industry:

The cyber security market will be worth upwards of $230 billion by 2022 (Markets and Markets Research)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 36 percent job growth in the IT security sectors by 2024
Globally, cyber crime losses are projected to top $6 trillion annually as of 2021.
Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that 3.5 million cyber security job openings will remain unfilled by 2021.

4+1 Programs

Students in the 4+1 programs can save time and money by earning both a bachelor’s and a master’s in five years. As a 4+1 student, you’ll complete grad-level coursework in your junior and/or senior years, earning master’s degree credits as an undergrad (included in your undergraduate flat billing). You’ll still graduate on time with your class before seamlessly transitioning to the graduate program to finish your master’s in one year or less.

The following Mercyhurst master’s programs include 4+1 options: