Bachelor of Science Cybersecurity

Students in the BS Cybersecurity program will learn the fundamentals of information security, security infrastructure design and implementation, computer forensics, risk assessment, and the impact of security requirements on a business operation. Students design, implement, integrate, and manage various security infrastructure components through hands-on activities in a state-of the-art Security Laboratory. The lab includes multi-vendor firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, intrusion detection and prevention systems, routers, switches, security scanners, and event correlation systems.

For international students: this is a STEM-designated program, which can qualify you to extend your post-graduation stay in the United States.

Degree Requirements
 

Cybersecurity Grads are Ready for Success

DePaul’s Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media is located in downtown Chicago, the heart of the city’s technology and business districts, providing students many opportunities to work professionally with leading companies in the fast-growing cybersecurity field.

Graduates are prepared for careers in various environments such as corporations, government agencies and consulting. Common career areas include Computer Forensics, Incident Response, Network Security Administration, Risk Assessment, and Web Development.

Companies hiring our graduates include Cisco, Deloitte, Northern Trust Corporation, TransUnion, IBM, and Discover Financial Services.

94% of reporting program graduates were employed, continuing education, or not seeking employment within six months of graduation

$72,500 median salary reported by program graduates 6 months after degree completion

Funding Awarded for New Cybersecurity Clinic

Janine Spears

School of Computing faculty member Janine Spears was awarded an Academic Growth and Initiative Fund to create a new cybersecurity clinic at DePaul that builds on her cybersecurity 390 class, which allows students to use their skills to provide free risk assessment, internal audits and security policy reviews for nonprofits in Chicago. Spears will connect with nonprofits through DePaul’s Steans Center, which incorporates nonprofits into service-learning courses at the university. She and her collaborators in the School of Computing, Filipo Sharevski and Ryan Healy, are also forming an interdisciplinary partnership with faculty in the College of Business and College of Law to expand the portfolio of services the clinic can offer.

2 America Agencies  

National Center of Academic Excellence

DePaul has been designated a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency. The designation indicates that we are helping to reduce threats to our national infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense as well as providing the nation with a pipeline of qualified cybersecurity professionals.

team posing for a pic  

Security Daemons

DePaul’s cybersecurity team, the Security Daemons, participate in many Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions throughout the year, and compete annually in the National Collegiate Cyber Defence Competition. In 2023 the team placed third nationally, beating out nearly 180 other college and university teams over the course of state and regional competitions.

 

Hands-On Learning

Coursework emphasizes hands-on learning with Cisco equipment. The CDM Security Lab contains more than 100 routers, 60 switches, 90 firewalls, and a wide variety of servers and specialized network appliances, all of which are available to students in Cybersecurity courses to practice and perfect their networking and security skills.

network hardware  

BS + CCNA Security

DePaul is a Cisco Networking Academy (CNA). CDM faculty can make use of Cisco online learning resources to supplement their course materials. Students who wish to earn their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) security have access to all Cisco review materials as a part of their coursework. However, unlike many CNA institutions, CDM’s courses provide a broad range of learning materials beyond what Cisco offers.

security locks  

CyberCenter

DePaul’s CyberCenter, founded in June 2003, is chartered to advance the science, teaching, and practice of computer security, information assurance, network security, and related disciplines. Through affiliated labs, including the Secure Design Lab, Adversarial Cybersecurity Automation Lab (ACAL), Network and Security Lab, and more, the Center aims to increase the awareness of security and produce program graduates who are better able to meet the increasing needs of the nation in the area of information assurance. The Center also works in cooperation with Chicagoland area corporations to assist them in applying information assurance practices into their businesses operations and coordinates with community service organizations to help increase their awareness and implementation of information assurance.

students collaborating  

School of Computing Research

DePaul treats cutting-edge, multidisciplinary, transformative research as integral to its delivery of first-class instruction. Learn more about some of the funded projects our faculty are working on and how you can participate.

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Rimsha Siddiqui
BS in Cybersecurity
 

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