Department of Cybersecurity

Overview

The Department of Cybersecurity (CSEC) advances the state of the art in cybersecurity and provides students with the education they need to launch their careers as world-class cybersecurity professionals. CSEC students get a hands-on education in how to protect computers, networks, and data, and they take that into the world through co-op opportunities with industry leaders and security competitions. Students also work alongside expert faculty to investigate protecting connected cars, defending wireless communications in the Internet of Things, improving online privacy, and many other ways to secure our world.

2013

Collegiate Cyber Defense Competition National Champions

$92k

Median salary, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics

0%

Unemployment rate in cybersecurity field (Rasmussen)

CAE - Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity logo

RIT is designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and Cyber Research by the National Security Agency.

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Undergraduate Programs

The Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity produces professionals who understand people and processes that impact information security. In addition to possessing state-of-the-art knowledge in the preservation of information assets, students become experts in the identification of cybersecurity vulnerabilities, proving an attack occurred, identifying its origin, assessing the damage, and designing strategies that ensure data can be recovered.

In RIT’s cybersecurity bachelor’s degree you’ll learn to preserve assets, identify security vulnerabilities, prove threats occurred, and design strategies for data recovery.

Learn more about the Cybersecurity BS program 

Graduate Programs

The Master of Science in cybersecurity gives students an understanding of the technological and ethical roles of cybersecurity in today’s society and its importance across the breadth of computing disciplines. The program enables students to develop a strong theoretical and practical foundation in secure computing, preparing them for leadership positions in both the private and public sectors.

The Ph.D. in computing and information sciences is a research degree that produces independent scholars, cutting-edge researchers, and well-prepared educators. You'll study with RIT's world-class computing faculty and take advantage of diverse academic offerings and modern facilities as you identify and research challenges within and beyond computing. 

Learn more about the Computing and Information Sciences Ph.D. program 

Earn a cybersecurity master’s degree at RIT, recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity Research and Education by the National Security Agency.

Learn more about the Cybersecurity MS program 

A graduate certificate in cybersecurity that develops a strong foundation in computing security in order to create secure network environments.

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Adv. Cert. program 

Minors and Immersions

With the prevalence of mobile computing, the advantages of cloud computing, the ubiquity of computing in general, and the issues of securing big data caused by the world-wide explosion of eBusiness and eCommerce today, secure computing environments and appropriate information management have become critical issues to all sizes and types of organizations. Therefore, there is a vital and growing need for all computing professionals to have a foundation in the issues critical to information security and how they apply to their specific disciplines. The minor consists of two required courses and three electives chosen by the student from the computing security advanced course clusters. There are many elective course choices to provide flexibility. Therefore, the minor provides any computing major outside of the computing security degree program with basic knowledge of the issues and technologies associated with computing security and allows students the opportunity to select a set of security electives that are complementary to their majors. Before beginning the minor in students must possess prerequisite knowledge that can be obtained from various programming sequences and courses in calculus and discrete math.

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Minor program 

With the prevalence of data breaches and cyber-attacks, securing intellectual properties and customer’s personally identifiable information has become increasingly challenging in business, government, and academia. It is commonly recognized that a key factor for having a cyber-secured environment and operations is well-trained employees with good cyber hygiene. A small human error may lead to a disastrous cyber incident. The cybersecurity risk management minor is designed for students in non-computing majors who are interested in learning about cybersecurity and developing the knowledge and skills to support organizations in their efforts to protect their computing and informational resources. Students learn the basics of computing and cybersecurity and then gain knowledge and practice in cybersecurity policy and law, risk management, and business continuity plans in the event of a cybersecurity attack.

Learn more about the Cybersecurity Risk Management Minor program 

Research

Learn more on the Global Cybersecurity Institute website or in the videos below.

Exterior of the GCI building from a drone.

ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute at RIT

student using a computer in a computer lab.

Research at RIT's ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute

overhead drone photo of students walking on campus.

Ph.D. Student Experience at RIT: Cybersecurity

Scholarships

Both the National Science Foundation and Department of Defense offer scholarships for service, designed to increase and strengthen the cadre of federal information assurance professionals that protect the government's critical information infrastructure.

Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Program
NSF CyberCorps Scholarship for Service