Why a degree in Cybersecurity?
Cyberspace isn't getting any safer. Every day the news is filled with stories of bad actors, criminals, and renegade governments engaging in cybercrime, attacks on infrastructure, information warfare, and cyberterrorism.
Cybercrimes range from identity theft, computer malware, ransomware, and even physical crimes. Governments, corporations, organizations, and individuals are all in need of capable cybersecurity professionals.
Cybersecurity Option Highlights
The Penn State Scranton’s Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with Cybersecurity Option provides students with the knowledge and cyber defense skills needed to critically assess and respond to modern information security threats. They will be prepared to protect information infrastructure and data from attacks and unauthorized access.
Penn State Scranton’s Cybersecurity Option prepares students to be leaders and experts in computer and network security with an emphasis on active-learning exercises and hands-on work with the tools and technology of cybersecurity. As an example, the course in network security sets students up with a virtual network including firewalls, servers, and even attack systems so that students learn to both defend systems and how their computers and networks might be attacked.
The faculty are really nice and engaging which makes learning easier and classes more fun.
Related coursework for the cybersecurity option
Select 12 credits (with at least 3 credits at the 400-level):
- CYBER 262: Cyber-Defense Studio
- IST 451: Network Security
- IST 454: Computer and Cyber Forensics
- IST 456: Information Security Management
- SRA 472: Integration of Privacy and Security
or any 300 or 400 level CYBER course
Careers in Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is a rapidly expanding field that combines information technology skills with risk management and cyber defense techniques. As one of the quickest expanding industries, Cybersecurity Analysts in Pennsylvania are reporting a lucrative $97,216 annual average salary.
Most cybersecurity graduates go to work in technical areas helping organizations to identify and resolve security problems. In an ideal world, most of that work deals with proactively preventing attacks. Still, in cybersecurity, it is never an ideal world, and graduates will be called upon to defend organizations against cyber threats in real time that are doing real damage to systems and people.
Cybersecurity related careers include:
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Cybersecurity Analyst
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Information Security Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- Cyber workforce Developer
- Infrastructure Analyst