Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

Cybercrime is a growing problem for businesses and industries worldwide. Experts in cybersecurity and digital forensics are in great demand.
 
Degree Type: BS
 

About the BS in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

CBU’s Bachelor of Science (BS) in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics degree program is centered around equipping you with the tools you need to protect precious data and catch cyber criminals. Through our interdisciplinary program, you engage in exciting courses spanning business, computer science, electrical engineering, and management information systems—all with the help of faculty and fellow students.

Along with your courses, you’ll have access to CBU’s Digital Forensics Lab, which fosters collaboration that leads to fresh, innovative solutions to the growing problem of cyberattacks. As you move through the cybersecurity and digital forensics degree program, you apply your newfound skills through an internship with one of CBU’s neighboring corporate partners, allowing you the opportunity to challenge yourself while making meaningful professional connections.

What You’ll Study

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree requires a total of 123 credit hours. Through the program, you’ll take two major courses of study:

  • Computer science and engineering courses that focus on digital design, data structures, programming, networks, and database design.
  • Business coursework that covers business applications, management information systems, information security, and digital forensics.

The Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree program encompasses a variety of business, engineering, digital forensics, and cybersecurity courses that offer the opportunity for exploration of interests while ensuring your education is well-rounded. Each of these courses build upon each other, allowing you to carve out a solid foundation for your career.

Within the Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree program, you must complete four areas of coursework:

  • General Education – 34 credits
  • Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Major – 59 credits
  • Major-Specific Electives – 9 credits
  • Minor – 21 credits*

* At least seven classes for the minor must be taken in a subject relevant to cybersecurity.

View Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Course Requirements

Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics Minor

CBU offers non-cybersecurity and digital forensics majors the opportunity to enroll in our 21-credit cybersecurity & digital forensics minor, which consists of at least seven courses related to the subject of cybersecurity.

Complementary Minors

Within the School of Science, CBU offers six minors that pair well with the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree program:

  • Biology: 23 credits in Biology courses
  • Chemistry: 23 credits in Chemistry courses
  • Computer Science: 24 credits in Mathematics and Computer Science courses
  • Mathematics: 21 credits in Mathematics courses
  • Physics: 21 credits in Physics courses
  • Public Health: 36 credits in a variety of Biology and Chemistry courses. Additionally, students will have the choice of enrolling in Medical Ethics or Environmental Ethics, which will fulfill their upper-level philosophy requirement for the minor.

Careers with a BS in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

According to Statista, annual cybercrime costs across the globe may exceed upwards of $20 trillion by 2026. To combat cyberattacks, maintaining proper cybersecurity is the first step in securing an organization’s data. When that data is breached or compromised, digital forensics comes into play. These digital forensics investigators work to identify how a data breach was conducted and what information was stolen or compromised. 

While cybersecurity is concerned with carrying out the collective methods and processes required to protect data, networks, and systems from unauthorized access, digital forensics is concerned with the aftermath of a cyberattack. Together, the two work to ensure that all data is accounted for safely. Through the Digital Forensics Lab and coursework taught by supportive faculty, earning your Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics at CBU prepares you for an exciting career in technology. The field of cybersecurity and digital forensics can guide you to the following job titles: 

  • Information Security Crime Investigator/Forensics Expert
  • System, Network, and/or Web Penetration Tester
  • Forensic Analyst
  • Information Technology Auditor
  • Incident Responder
  • Security Architect
  • Malware Analyst

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that information security analysts are in high demand, with the job outlook projected to grow 35 percent into 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Is a Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics Major for You?

With a Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree, you gain the analytical skills needed to protect an organization’s sensitive information. If you have interest in one or more of these areas, a cybersecurity and digital forensics major may be for you:

  • Computer forensics
  • Computer science
  • Computer systems
  • Criminal justice
  • Cybercrime
  • Database design
  • Engineering
  • Network security
  • Solving complex problems
  • Virus removal

If you have further questions about navigating the field of cybersecurity and digital forensics, reach out to us by requesting more information.

Meet the Faculty

 Protect Data with a BS in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

Through meaningful coursework, the Digital Forensics Lab, and opportunities to put your cybersecurity knowledge to the test with an internship, the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics degree program is dedicated to shaping your profession. As your courses span business, cybersecurity, engineering, and digital forensics, you emerge well-rounded and ready to tackle the issues of cybercrime one step at a time.