Help prevent crime - digitally! Keeping our digital information safe and secure is a growing need, and the Information Technology industry is responding by preparing professionals trained in cybersecurity. As a Cybersecurity major, you’ll be on the frontlines of this emerging field of study, not only learning about the industry but also helping to shape it!
Why be a Cybersecurity major?
Here’s what makes the Mount’s Cybersecurity major unique:
24 credits in Information Technology | 24 credits in Cybersecurity | 2.0 GPA or higher
Learn about Cybersecurity academic requirements and courses here. Learn about Information Technology major with a concentration in Cybersecurity academic requirements and courses here.
In order to be a good cybersecurity analyst, one must be knowledgeable in all of the other areas of technology - after all, you can only protect what you know! Our Cybersecurity majors learn about all the aspects of technology in addition to the specific skills needed to secure it.
You’ll start with a groundwork of courses in programming, operating systems, computer architecture, databases and computer networks. From there, you'll explore more specialized courses in both technical and non-technical areas of cybersecurity, including ethical hacking, penetration testing, cryptography, digital forensics, security risk management, cyber law, and ethics. You'll also have the opportunity for both independent studies on a topic of your choosing and internships at a variety of technology operations in the Hudson Valley, New York City, and beyond!
Students may also choose to declare the traditional Information Technology major but concentrate or minor in Cybersecurity.
Justin Parker ’23“It is truly amazing how close you can become with the professors. They really care about their students like family and I count my blessings every day that I have been able to get to know and work with these people.”
Cybersecurity is a growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 200,000 cybersecurity-related jobs remained unfilled in 2016; the number is projected to grow by 18 percent by the year 2024. The median annual wage for an information security analyst was above $90,000 in 2016.
Mount Cybersecurity majors are prepared for lead careers in several industry sectors including technology and internet, security software, defense, government, teaching, e-commerce, banking, finance, business, and more.
While Cybersecurity is a new major at the Mount, several of our alumni are already enjoying security-related positions in the industry:
Get to know the rest of our incredible Math and IT professors!