The program contains both practical applications and underlying foundations of the discipline of Cybersecurity.

The Cybersecurity major is offered in two instructional delivery modes: fully synchronous online or on campus. Students must choose a delivery mode when applying to the program.

For the completely online mode, students do not need to attend classes at the main or any regional campuses to earn the degree.

There is no minor required for this major.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates will:

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

Student Outcomes

Students will be able to:

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

Requirements

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

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

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

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, Credits: 4 hours
(1 of the CYCS 1310 credits counts towards the six-hour Mathematics minimum)

CYCS 2110 - Cryptology Concepts and Techniques, Credits: 3 hours

CYIS 3110 - Cybersecurity Data Analytics, Credits: 3 hours

2. WMU Essential Studies

A list of approved WMU Essential Studies courses can be found in the “Graduation and Academic Advising” section in this 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 the following courses:

All courses with a CYCS or CYIS prefix.

4. Complete 122 Semester Credit Hours

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.