Cybersecurity (B.S.)
Marymount’s cybersecurity program recognizes the need for cybersecurity professionals to protect the increasingly digital world of today and tomorrow in business, in society, and in our personal lives.
The Cybersecurity program provides the following:
- A solid foundation of all of the digital assets that must be protected in the digital world: how they work and are used today and how these digital assets may develop and be used in the future;
- Knowledge and experience in cybersecurity tools and techniques that are used to protect the privacy and security of digital assets including desktops and laptops, mobile devices, servers, networks, devices in the cloud, and more;
- A background in the underlying technology used in cybersecurity today including coding/scripting, data science, and network administration;
- Identification of the many cyberthreat actors including cyber criminals, nation states, hactivists and others and their common cyberattacks including phishing, ransomware, denial of service attacks, and exfiltration to name a few; and
- An ethical framework for working in the cybersecurity field.
Upon successful completion of the B.S. in Cybersecurity program, students will be able to:
- Analyze cybersecurity issues in government and industry as cybercriminal and nation state attacks continue to increase;
- Apply cybersecurity processes and tools to defend computer assets from attack;
- Apply knowledge and skills in at least four of the cybersecurity fields where workforce demand is high including in a security operations center, in digital forensics; in penetration testing, and in compliance;
- Adapt to the changing needs of the workplace by understanding the full spectrum of technology assets that need to be protected;
- Exhibit an ability to communicate effectively to both technical and non-technical individuals to convey the importance of cybersecurity and ethical behavior to individuals, businesses, and the government.
The Marymount cybersecurity program is recognized as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), a group of elite universities recognized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
Students learn the body of knowledge associated with important industry-wide certifications such as Security+. Recognized certifications can also be used as transfer credit for the program.
Marymount University has worked with community colleges in the region to maximize the credits that can be transferred into the program.
The faculty for this program, full time and part time, are experienced and knowledgeable in the specific subjects they teach and, when applicable, use extensive hands-on activities to support learning.
Students are encouraged to engage in research with full-time faculty in areas of the cybersecurity filed such as privacy, cryptography and cybercrime detection.
Internship Prerequisites: All students must take a for-credit internship in the cybersecurity field before graduation. A minimum of 90 credits with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 and grade of C or better in IT 323, Junior IT Seminar, are required to register for the internship.
Credits Required: The B.S. in cybersecurity requires at least 120 total credits.
Minimum Grade Requirements: A minimum grade of C is required in all IT and Data Science courses. A minimum grade of C+ is required for IT 423 Senior IT Seminar and IT 489 Capstone Project.
Residency Requirement: Students must complete 21 credits of their cybersecurity major at Marymount.
Degree Requirements - Cybersecurity
Liberal Arts Core
See the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
To fulfill the requirements of the major, all students in this program will take the following coursework in a sequence determined in collaboration with an advisor.
IT Fundamentals
A minimum grade of C is required in all IT and Data Science courses. A minimum grade of C+ is required for IT 423 Senior IT Seminar.
| IT 110 | Information Technology in the Global Age | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 112 | Introduction to Computer Systems | 3 |
| | |
| IT 205 | Digital Technology | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 212 | Software Architecture and Design | 3 |
| | |
| IT 129 | Python Scripting | 3 |
| IT 210 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| IT 223 | Sophomore IT Seminar | 1 |
| IT 229 | Advanced Python Applications | 3 |
| IT 310 | Database Technology | 3 |
| IT 323 | Junior IT Seminar | 1 |
| IT 343 | IT Project Management | 3 |
| IT 355 | Software Testing, Documentation, and Quality Assurance | 3 |
| IT 423 | Senior IT Seminar | 1 |
| IT 423 | Senior IT Seminar | 1 |
| | |
| MA 132 | Statistical Analysis * | 3 |
| OR | |
| MA 218 | Probability and Statistics * | 3 |
Cybersecurity
A minimum grade of C is required in all IT and Data Science courses. A minimum grade of C+ is required for IT 489 Capstone Project.
Cyber Law and Ethics
Sample Degree Plan - Cybersecurity
Year One - Fall
| EN 101 | Composition I * | 3 |
| | |
| IT 110 | Information Technology in the Global Age | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 112 | Introduction to Computer Systems | 3 |
| | |
| HI | History (HI) core course * | 3 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
| | Philosophy (PH) core course * | 3 |
Year One - Spring
MA 132: MT core course
MA 218: DSCI core course
TRS 100: TRS core course
Year Two - Fall
| DATA 260 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| IT 208 | Computer Networking | 3 |
| IT 210 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| IT 223 | Sophomore IT Seminar | 1 |
| | Social Science (SS) core course * | 3 |
| PH 313 | Cyberethics * | 3 |
Year Two - Spring
| IT 205 | Digital Technology | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 212 | Software Architecture and Design | 3 |
| | |
| IT 229 | Advanced Python Applications | 3 |
| IT 343 | IT Project Management | 3 |
| | Literature (LT) core course * | 3 |
| | Natural Science (NS) core course with lab * | 4 |
Year Three - Fall
| IT 310 | Database Technology | 3 |
| IT 315 | Operating Systems and Virtualization | 3 |
| IT 321 | Cloud Computing | 3 |
| IT 323 | Junior IT Seminar | 1 |
| IT 373 | Wireless Networks and Security | 3 |
| | Fine and Performing Arts (FPA) core course * | 3 |
Year Three - Spring
| DATA 325 | Data Analytics | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 351 | Cloud Security and DevSecOps | 3 |
| | |
| IT 335 | Corporate Cybersecurity | 3 |
| IT 355 | Software Testing, Documentation, and Quality Assurance | 3 |
| IT 376 | Network Administration | 3 |
| LA 350 | Cyber Law | 3 |
Year Four - Fall
Year Four - Spring
| IT 377 | Understanding Cybersecurity Risk | 3 |
| IT 390 | Cybersecurity: Attack and Defend | 3 |
| IT 489 | Capstone Project | 3 |
| | Depth in Humanities core course | 3 |
| | One (1) elective | 3 |