Program Overview

Cybersecurity Major

The Cybersecurity major at Southeast Missouri State University is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to secure and defend cyber-enabled systems. The program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET and has been recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

Degree Type and Program Type

• The degree type is a Bachelor's Degree.
• The program type is Undergraduate.

Location and College

• The program is located on the Main Campus in Cape Girardeau.
• The college offering the program is the Harrison College of Business & Computing.
• The department responsible for the program is the Department of Computer Science.

Program Details

The Cybersecurity major requires a minimum of 120 credit hours to complete, including general education requirements and at least 39 senior division hours. The program includes coursework in computer science, software engineering, information assurance, computer forensics, network security, and cryptography.

Required Courses

The following courses are required for the Cybersecurity major:

• BA252 Business Communication (2)
• CS101 Intro to Computer Programming (3)
• CS155 Computer Science I (3)
• CS245 Discrete Structures I (3)
• CS288 Computer Systems and Assembly Language (3)
• CS351 C and the Posix Environment (3)
• CS380 Computer Operating Systems (3)
• CS440 Database (3)
• CS445 Software Engineering I (3)
• CS499 Capstone Experience (3)
• CS533 Mobile Computing (3)
• CY201 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3)
• CY310 Information Security and Assurance (3)
• CY320 Information Security in System Administration (3)
• CY410 Web Application Security (3)
• CY420 Computer Forensics (3)
• CY440 Cloud Computing (3)
• CY450 Introduction to Cyber Operations (3)
• IS245 Web Development and Security (3)
• IS299 Security in Data Protocols (3)
• MA223 Elementary Probability and Statistics (3)
• MA464 Mathematical Cryptography (3)
• TN275 Introduction to Networks (3)

Elective Courses

Students must choose 7 hours from the following elective courses:

• CS480 Data Communications (3)
• CS485 Internship in Computer Science (3)
• CS491 Independent Study (1)
• CS495 Senior Seminar (1)
• CY453 Special Topics in Cybersecurity (3)
• TN375 Routing and Switching Essentials (3)

General Education Requirements

Some general education requirements may be fulfilled by coursework in the major program. The requirements include:

• Social and Behavioral Sciences 6 hours
• Constitution Requirement 3 hours
• Written Communication 6 hours
• Oral Communication 3 hours
• Natural Sciences 7 hours (from two disciplines, one to include a lab)
• Mathematics 3 hours
• Humanities & Fine Arts 9 hours (from at least two disciplines)
• Additional requirements 5 hours (to include UI100 for native students)
• Civics examination

Four-Year Sample Plan

A sample plan for completing the Cybersecurity major in four years is provided, outlining the courses to be taken each semester.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Cybersecurity major can pursue a variety of career opportunities, including:

• Information Security Crime Investigator/Forensics Expert
• System, Network and/or Web Penetration Tester
• Security Architect
• Malware Analyst
• Network Security Engineer
• Vulnerability Researcher/Exploit Developer
• Security Auditor
• Embedded Security Engineer
• Software Security Engineer

Employment and Internship Opportunities

Recent graduates of the Cybersecurity major have found employment or internships with companies such as:

• FireEye Mandiant
• CrowdStrike
• Emerson Electric Company
• Enterprise Holding
• Accretive Health
• Big-River Communications
• MasterCard

Research Facilities

The Department of Computer Science maintains state-of-the-art research facilities, including the Cyber Range and the Research Cluster, which provide students with hands-on experience in cybersecurity and other areas of computer science.

Accreditations and Designations

The Cybersecurity major is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET and has been recognized by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

Related Programs

Related programs offered by the university include:

• Computer Information Systems (CIS) Degree
• Computer Science Degree
• Technology Management: Computer Network Systems Administration Degree