Three students are in the computer lab, looking at a laptop.

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

A 21st century integrated approach to flexibility and breadth of competencies for tomorrow's cybersecurity specialists, the cybersecurity major prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and expertise for success in a wide variety of related career fields.

Fast Facts

  • common app no application deadline

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  • 32% job growth by 2028

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  • $102,600 average salary

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Program Overview and Quick Facts

Program Overview

The bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity allows you to build your cybersecurity knowledge and skills through interactive course content and projects. This interdisciplinary program leverages the strength of the Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, giving you twice the resources in terms of career events and services, student and professional organizations, and more.

The program contains both practical applications and underlying foundations of the discipline of Cybersecurity. There is no minor required for this major.

 

Educational Objectives

Graduates will:

  • Be employable and successful in a variety of professional cybersecurity positions.
  • Possess backgrounds which qualify them to pursue graduate study in cybersecurity.
  • Exhibit knowledge and skills sufficient for continued intellectual growth in cybersecurity.
  • Possess an awareness and understanding of social and ethical issues in cybersecurity.
  • Be able to communicate orally and in writing.
  • Be able to work collaboratively with others.

Quick Facts

Format: Fully online and interactive

Typical completion: 4 years

Credits required: 122

Minimum overall GPA: 2.5

Cost per credit hour:

  • $577 online

  • $633 on-campus

Application Requirements

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to:

  • Analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
  • Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program's discipline.
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  • Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  • Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
  • Apply security principles and practices to the environment, hardware, software, and human aspects of a system.
  • Analyze and evaluate systems with respect to maintaining operations in the presence of risks and threats.

 

Call to Action

  • Secure your future. Our program offerings are designed with industry feedback to establish the best cybersecurity programs for students both in Michigan and outside the state.

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Interdisciplinary Program

Interdisciplinary Program

The Western Michigan University cybersecurity programs are interdisciplinary between the Haworth College of Business and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, giving you access to leading industry experts.

 

Attend a Virtual Information Session

Learn about Western Michigan University's B.S. in Cybersecurity degree program at any of these free online events.

  • April 12 Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. ET

B.S. in Cybersecurity

Virtual Information Session

 Date: Wednesday, April 12     Time: 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. ET     Location: Online via Webex

  SIGN UP NOW

Cybersecurity Curriculum

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity must satisfy the following requirements in addition to those required by Western Michigan University:

 

Cybersecurity Foundations (15 credits)

Credits

CYCS 1110
Computer Programming 1
4 credits
CYCS 1120
Computer Programming 2
4 credits
CYCS 1200
Programming in C for Cybersecurity
3 credits
CYCS 1310
Foundations of Cybersecurity
4 credits

 

Cybersecurity Core Requirements (36 credits)

CYCS 2110
Cryptology Concepts and Techniques
3 credits
CYCS 2230
Basic Computer Organization
3 credits
CYIS 2310
Ethics and Impacts
3 credits
CYIS 2710
Windows System Administration
3 credits
CYIS 2910
Linux System Administration
3 credits
CYIS 3110
Cybersecurity Data Analytics
3 credits
CYCS 3240
Secure Systems Programming Concepts
3 credits
CYIS 3600
Secure Systems Analysis and Design
3 credits
CYIS 3660
Cybersecurity Management Principles
3 credits
CYIS 3900
Secure Web Applications and Technologies
3 credits
CYCS 4540
Operating Systems for Cybersecurity
3 credits
CYIS 4600
Secure Database Management Systems
3 credits

 

Cybersecurity Capstones and Certifications (11 credits)

CYCS 4910
Cybersecurity Capstone 1
3 credits

OR

CYIS 4910
Cybersecurity Capstone Project 1
3 credits

AND

CYCS 4920
Cybersecurity Capstone 2
2 credits

OR

CYIS 4920
Cybersecurity Capstone Project 2
2 credits

AND

CYIS 3910
 certificate icon Computer Networking with Network+
3 credits
CYCS 4710
 certificate icon Core Cybersecurity with Security+
3 credits

 

Requirements

Students enrolling in the Cybersecurity program are required to own a laptop computer with minimum specifications set by the program.

Students enrolling in the Cybersecurity program are not required to declare and complete a minor.

  • 1. Mathematics/Discrete Mathematics and Statistics

    All students must complete at least six credit hours of mathematics, including discrete mathematics and statistics. Mathematics requirements will be satisfied by:

    • CYCS 1310 Foundations of Cybersecurity (4 credits - 1 of the CYCS 1310 credits counts towards the six-hour Mathematics minimum)
    • CYCS 2110 Cryptology Concepts and Techniques (3 credits)
    • CYIS 3110 Cybersecurity Data Analytics (3 credits)

     

  • 2. WMU Essential Studies

    A list of approved WMU Essential Studies courses can be found in the "Graduation and Academic Advising" section in the catalog.

    WMU Essential Studies requirements include one course from each of the following categories: Writing, Oral and Digital Communication, Quantitative Literacy, Inquiry and Engagement: Critical Thinking in the Arts and Humanities, Personal Wellness, World Language and Culture, Science and Technology, Scientific Literacy with Lab, Artistic Theory and Practice, Societies and Cultures, Local and National Perspectives, and Global Perspectives. No more than three WMU Essential Studies courses may be from any one course prefix.

     

  • 3. Minimum Grades

    Students may receive at most two grades below a "C" in all courses with a CYCS or CYIS prefix.

     

  • 4. Complete 122 Semester Credit Hours

    The B.S. in Cybersecurity program requires the completion of 122 credit hours in total at Western Michigan University.

NOTE: Many of the early Cybersecurity (CYCS/CYIS) courses, CYCS 1110 and CYCS 1120, for example, have been designated to transfer to the Computer Science (CS) or Computer Information Systems (CIS) curriculum, and various CS and CIS classes would also transfer to the CYCS/CYIS curriculum. This gives students a great deal of flexibility in planning their course of study.

 

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