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Cybersecurity Engineering - B.S.

Become a cybersecurity engineer with Kent State's B.S. program. Gain hands-on experience and develop the skills needed to protect systems and prevent cyber attacks. With our world being more connected than ever, this program prepares you to analyze and prevent potential security threats to an engineering system. Computer systems are just the beginning! Enroll now to jump start your career in a quickly growing field!

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Program Information

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity Engineering prepares students with problem-solving skills and a resourceful mindset to tackle cybersecurity threats in engineering systems. The program provides students with a working knowledge of analysis and evaluation of components and systems with respect to security and maintaining operations in the presence of risks and threats, with an emphasis on engineered systems. Students gain the understanding and skills necessary to address security issues pertaining to stakeholder needs and requirements (from a system engineering perspective) considering the lifecycle of the system from the outset. Design and development of systems, their components and associated networks to increase trustworthiness is a driving concern.

Applicants to this program should understand that this is a math-intensive program.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Admission to the Cybersecurity Engineering major is selective.

New Students: Admission into this major requires:

  • Minimum 3.0 high school GPA
  • Clear demonstration of an ability to be placed directly into MATH 12002 (or its equivalent); this will occur if the student is currently taking or has taken a calculus, pre-calculus or trigonometry course with a minimum C grade

Students who do not meet the above requirements will be admitted to the Computer Engineering Technology major, provided they meet the minimum program requirements.

Note: Applicants should understand that this is a math-intensive program. Students admitted to the program are expected to demonstrate prerequisite knowledge on a math placement exam (the ALEKS exam) prior to starting their first semester. Students who do not obtain the minimum score required to place into MATH 12002 will have their major changed to Computer Engineering Technology prior to their freshman year.

Current Students: Students accepted into the Computer Engineering Technology major may request a change in major to Cybersecurity Engineering as soon as placement into MATH 12002 has been demonstrated (prior to the beginning of freshman year). Otherwise, students may request to change their major to Cybersecurity Engineering after their freshman year if they meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 3.000 overall Kent State GPA
  • Minimum C grade in both MATH 12002 and PHY 23101

Transfer Students: Admission into this major requires:

  • Minimum 12 credit hours of college-level coursework
  • Minimum 3.000 overall GPA
  • Minimum C grade in both MATH 12002 and PHY 23101 (or their equivalents)

Transfer students who have completed less than 12 credit hours of college-level coursework will be evaluated on both collegiate and high school records and must submit a final high school transcript.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science and mathematics.
  2. Apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors.
  3. Communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
  4. Recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental and societal context.
  5. Function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives.
  6. Develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.
  7. Acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies.

The educational objectives of the program are the following:

  1. Drive positive change in the community by engaging in careers in the field of cybersecurity, information systems and other engineering disciplines in a manner that promotes excellence and integrity. 
  2. Practice forward-thinking through continued education by way of graduate education, professional development and other continued self-motivated learning.
  3. Successfully navigate the ever-changing trajectory of the world, practicing compassion as you strive to meet your personal career goals.  
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CS 13001COMPUTER SCIENCE I: PROGRAMMING AND PROBLEM SOLVING 4
or CS 13011
CS 13012
COMPUTER SCIENCE IA: PROCEDURAL PROGRAMMING
and COMPUTER SCIENCE IB: OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
CS 23001COMPUTER SCIENCE II: DATA STRUCTURES AND ABSTRACTION 4
CS 23022DISCRETE STRUCTURES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 3
CS 47207DIGITAL FORENSICS 3
CS 47221INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOLOGY 3
ENGR 10005INTRODUCTION TO CYBERSECURITY 3
ENGR 20000PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ENGINEERING 1
ENGR 26305NETWORKING I 2
ENGR 26306NETWORKING I LABORATORY 2
ENGR 27100FUNDAMENTALS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS FOR ENGINEERING 3
ENGR 33320APPLIED EMBEDDED SYSTEMS I 3
ENGR 35500SIGNALS AND CIRCUITS 3
ENGR 35501SIGNALS AND CIRCUITS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 35550LAW AND ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS 3
ENGR 36305NETWORKING II 2
ENGR 36306NETWORKING II LABORATORY 1
ENGR 36337INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY 3
ENGR 37777CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS 2
ENGR 37778CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 46305NETWORK SECURITY 2
ENGR 46306NETWORK SECURITY LABORATORY 1
ENGR 46312WIRELESS NETWORK AND TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 3
ENGR 46316SERVER ADMINISTRATION AND CONFIGURATION I 3
ENGR 47200SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 3
ENGR 48099ENGINEERING CAPSTONE I (ELR) 13
ENGR 48199ENGINEERING CAPSTONE II (ELR) (WIC) 1, 23
Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level)3
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 12002ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
MATH 12003ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II 5
MATH 30011BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS 3
MATH 32051MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES I 4
PHY 23101GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB) 5
PHY 23102GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB) 5
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each)9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines)6
Kent Core Additional3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:123
1

ENGR 48099 and ENGR 48199 must be taken during the same academic year.

2

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.500 2.250
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this major. However, courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
CS 13001
or CS 13011 and CS 13012
COMPUTER SCIENCE I: PROGRAMMING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
or COMPUTER SCIENCE IA: PROCEDURAL PROGRAMMING and COMPUTER SCIENCE IB: OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
4
!MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
ENGR 10005 INTRODUCTION TO CYBERSECURITY 3
!MATH 12003 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Three
ENGR 20000 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ENGINEERING 1
ENGR 27100 FUNDAMENTALS OF OPERATING SYSTEMS FOR ENGINEERING 3
MATH 32051 MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES I 4
PHY 23101 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB) 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Four
CS 23001 COMPUTER SCIENCE II: DATA STRUCTURES AND ABSTRACTION 4
CS 23022 DISCRETE STRUCTURES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 3
PHY 23102 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB) 5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
ENGR 26305 NETWORKING I 2
ENGR 26306 NETWORKING I LABORATORY 2
!ENGR 35500 SIGNALS AND CIRCUITS 3
ENGR 35501 SIGNALS AND CIRCUITS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 36337 INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SECURITY 3
MATH 30011 BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Six
CS 47221 INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOLOGY 3
ENGR 36305 NETWORKING II 2
ENGR 36306 NETWORKING II LABORATORY 1
ENGR 37777 CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS 2
ENGR 37778 CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 47200 SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
ENGR 35550 LAW AND ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS 3
ENGR 46316 SERVER ADMINISTRATION AND CONFIGURATION I 3
!ENGR 48099 ENGINEERING CAPSTONE I (ELR) 3
Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
CS 47207 DIGITAL FORENSICS 3
ENGR 33320 APPLIED EMBEDDED SYSTEMS I 3
ENGR 46305 NETWORK SECURITY 2
ENGR 46306 NETWORK SECURITY LABORATORY 1
ENGR 46312 WIRELESS NETWORK AND TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 3
!ENGR 48199 ENGINEERING CAPSTONE II (ELR) (WIC) 3
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:123
Program Delivery
  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus
Student Achievement Data

Cybersecurity Engineering; Enrolled

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

- - 1 12 21 20

Cybersecurity Engineering; Graduated

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

- - - - - -

First graduates are expected in Spring 2024.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries

Information security analysts

31.2%

much faster than the average

131,000

number of jobs

$103,590

potential earnings

Computer and information systems managers

10.4%

much faster than the average

461,000

number of jobs

$151,150

potential earnings

Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers

21.5%

much faster than the average

1,469,200

number of jobs

$110,140

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.