Beat hackers. Learn to keep data safe.
We live our lives digitally. Cybersecurity protects our most valuable data — from health records to trade secrets — from exposure.
Discover how to build and maintain secure networks in UMSL’s online or on-campus Bachelor of Science (BS) in Cybersecurity with Information Systems and Technology (IST) emphasis. In this AACSB-accredited degree program, you learn to identify looming threats and shore up defenses against existing vulnerabilities.
Once you graduate, you’ll enter a field in need of skilled cybersecurity experts, and a degree from UMSL puts you in line for a lucrative career as soon as you graduate.
Why earn your bachelor’s in cybersecurity with an information systems and technology emphasis from UMSL?
Every program at the Ed G. Smith College of Business is designed to meet the immediate needs of actual businesses. That’s one reason why our alumni do so well. Here’s why you should join them:
- Earn a flexible degree that meets your needs. Online, in-person and hybrid options mean you can complete your degree on your schedule, and evening classes allow you to maintain a career while earning a degree.
- Learn from experts. You’ll study with faculty who are both skilled teachers and accomplished cybersecurity experts in the public and private sectors. Your instructors have experience in finance, health care, artificial intelligence, wireless sensor networks and other emerging technologies.
- Recognized among the best. UMSL is recognized as a national Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), a designation created by the National Security Agency and managed by the FBI, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Homeland Security.
If you are interested in learning beyond the undergraduate level, we also offer an accelerated master’s degree program.;
Program type:
Major, BS
Format:
On-Campus, 100% Online, 100% Evenings
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Put your skills to the test
“Move fast and break things” might be a mantra appropriate to tech startups, but cybersecurity demands getting it right the first time. That’s why we focus on hands-on experience. In our Cybersecurity and IT Innovation Lab (CITIL), you work in a sandboxed environment with a private cloud, servers, workstations and a Raspberry Pi testbed. As an IST student, you also have exclusive access to a dedicated lab where you can learn what works — and what doesn’t — before venturing into the real world.
By the time you graduate, you’ll be familiar with the same tools and techniques networking experts rely on daily. That positions you to take on professional responsibilities right away.
What can you do with a BS in Cybersecurity degree?
No sector of the economy, from manufacturing to higher education, is immune to cybersecurity threats. According to IBM, the average cost of a single breach is nearing $5 million, adding up to billions of dollars a year. More than money is lost, though — consumers may lose trust in organizations that fumble sensitive data, costing them even more in the long run.
Your UMSL degree delivers the kind of job-ready skills employers need. Classes focus on the principles of cybersecurity, security of data networks, penetration testing and risk management, equipping you to defuse today’s threats while preparing for future challenges.
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Career Opportunities
- Cloud Security Specialist
- Cyber Defense Analyst
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Forensics Analyst
- Information Security Analyst
- IT/Security Auditor
- Malware Analyst
- Vulnerability Assessment Analyst
Cybersecurity IST major curriculum
The BS in Cybersecurity with an emphasis in Information Systems and Technology degree program requires 60 credits to complete: 24 hours of core coursework, plus another 36 dedicated to the IST emphasis.
Build knowledge of basic technology and business needs through your core coursework, which includes classes such as Programming and Data Structures, Secure Software Development, and Information Security Risk Management and Business Continuity.
As you progress through the program, you’ll pursue more specialized skills, taking classes such as Data Networks and Security, Database Management Systems and Applied Cryptography for Business. Electives let you focus on areas of particular interest, such as cloud computing, web design, data mining and object-oriented programming.
Plan of study
All majors must meet the general education requirements of the university in addition to completing degree-specific curriculum requirements.
Review Full Degree Requirements Review Sample Four-Year Plan
Non-Missouri Residents: Prospective students are responsible for reviewing the UMSL state authorizations page to see if this program is offered in their state throughout their program and to review the licensure or certification requirements for the state in which they reside.
Student organizations
Make new friends and learn new skills by joining one of our Recognized Student Organizations. Here are several opportunities you may be interested in as a cybersecurity major:
- Information Technology and Cybersecurity Club
- Student Government Association
- Students of the University of Missouri
Internship opportunities and undergraduate research
The Career and Internship Program at the UMSL College of Business Administration will help prepare you with the real-world experience to hit the ground running when you get a job. We also encourage majors in computer science to participate in Undergraduate Research and Scholarship to innovate and collaborate with leaders in your field.
Honors College
The UMSL Honors College is a certificate program that can be paired with any major without adding extra classes or extending time to graduate. Classes in the Honors College are seminar-style, meaning that they are based in reading, writing, discussion, and critical thinking. This unique class format fosters an intellectual climate centered around democracy, civility and academic excellence.
