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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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Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity Engineering

Kent State University’s Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity Engineering prepares students with problem-solving skills and a resourceful mindset to identify threats and vulnerabilities in systems and software, then apply their skills to developing and implementing high-tech solutions to defend against hacking, malware and ransomware, insider threats and all types of cybercrime.

Program Information for Cybersecurity Engineering - B.S.

Program Description

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.

Admissions for Cybersecurity Engineering - B.S.

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
  • Completion of high school algebra II or a college-level algebra 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 admission requirements.

Current Students: Students accepted into other Kent State programs may request to change their major to Cybersecurity Engineering once they meet the following criteria:

  • Minimum 3.000 overall Kent State GPA (starting with the fall 2026 admission term, minimum 12 credit hours completed at Kent State with a minimum 3.000 overall Kent State GPA is required)
  • Minimum C grade in both MATH 11022 and PHY 13001 (starting with the fall 2026 admission term, minimum C grade in PHY 13001 is no longer required)

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 11022 and PHY 13001 (or their equivalents) (starting with the fall 2026 admission term, minimum C grade in PHY 13001 is no longer required)

Transfer students who have completed fewer 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.

Students from countries or schools that do not specify math topics on their transcripts must demonstrate a minimum C grade in all math courses.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Learning Outcomes

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 while striving to meet personal career goals.

Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CIS 44041MANAGING CYBERSECURITY 3
CS 47221INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOLOGY 3
ENGR 10005INTRODUCTION TO CYBERSECURITY 3
ENGR 11001INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING 2
ENGR 11002INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1
ENGR 20000PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ENGINEERING 1
ENGR 28105FUNDAMENTALS OF NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE 2
ENGR 28106FUNDAMENTALS OF NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE LABORATORY 1
ENGR 35550LAW AND ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS 2
ENGR 37777CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS 2
ENGR 37778CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 38105IOT SECURITY IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS 2
ENGR 38106IOT SECURITY IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 38205NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS 2
ENGR 38206NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 46305NETWORK SECURITY 2
ENGR 46306NETWORK SECURITY LABORATORY 1
ENGR 47200SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 3
ENGR 48099ENGINEERING CAPSTONE I (ELR) 13
ENGR 48191ADVANCED CYBERSECURITY SEMINAR 3
ENGR 48199ENGINEERING CAPSTONE II (ELR) (WIC) 1, 23
ENGR 48200WIRELESS MESH NETWORK SECURITY 3
INS 29000INTRODUCTION TO INSURANCE AND RISK 3
MATH 12003ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II 33-5
or MATH 20011 DECISION-MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY
MATH 23022DISCRETE STRUCTURES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 3
MATH 30011BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS 3
PHIL 21002INTRODUCTION TO FORMAL LOGIC (KMCR) 3
Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level)3
Computer Science Electives, choose from the following: 38
CS 10062
CS 20062
PROGRAMMING FOR PROBLEM SOLVING IN SCIENCES
and ADVANCED PROGRAMMING WITH PYTHON 3
CS 13001
CS 23001
COMPUTER SCIENCE I: PROGRAMMING AND PROBLEM SOLVING
and COMPUTER SCIENCE II: DATA STRUCTURES AND ABSTRACTION
CS 13011
CS 13012
CS 23001
COMPUTER SCIENCE IA: PROCEDURAL PROGRAMMING
and COMPUTER SCIENCE IB: OBJECT ORIENTED PROGRAMMING
and COMPUTER SCIENCE II: DATA STRUCTURES AND ABSTRACTION
Technical Upper-Division Elective (40000 level), choose from the following:3
CAE 45092
AERONAUTICS AND ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP/COOPERATIVE EDUCATION (ELR) (WIC) 2
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
COMM 15000INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
MATH 11022TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
MATH 12002ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
PHY 13001
PHY 13021
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB) 3
5
or PHY 23101 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
PHY 13002
PHY 13022
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB) 3
5
or PHY 23102 GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Science or Mathematics Elective, choose from the following:3-4
CHEM 10050
FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY (KBS)
CHEM 10060
GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS)
CHEM 10970
HONORS GENERAL CHEMISTRY I (KBS)
ESCI 21062
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCE (KBS)
MATH 21001
LINEAR ALGEBRA
MATH 21002
APPLIED LINEAR ALGEBRA
MATH 22005
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS III
MATH 32051
MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE PHYSICAL SCIENCES I
PHY 32511
ELECTRONICS
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
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
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.

3

Preferred option for students: CS 10062, CS 20062, MATH 20011, PHY 13001 (and lab), PHY 13002 (and lab).

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.500 2.250
Roadmap

Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
ENGR 11001 INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING 2
ENGR 11002 INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING LABORATORY 1
MATH 11022 TRIGONOMETRY (KMCR) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Computer Science Elective 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Two
COMM 15000 INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION (KADL) 3
ENGR 10005 INTRODUCTION TO CYBERSECURITY 3
MATH 12002 ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS I (KMCR) 5
PHIL 21002 INTRODUCTION TO FORMAL LOGIC (KMCR) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours17
Semester Three
ENGR 20000 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ENGINEERING 1
ENGR 28105 FUNDAMENTALS OF NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE 2
ENGR 28106 FUNDAMENTALS OF NETWORKED INFRASTRUCTURE LABORATORY 1
INS 29000 INTRODUCTION TO INSURANCE AND RISK 3
PHY 13001
PHY 13021
or PHY 23101
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS I (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY I (KBS) (KLAB)
or GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I (KBS) (KLAB)
5
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
MATH 23022 DISCRETE STRUCTURES FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE 3
PHY 13002
PHY 13022
or PHY 23102
GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS II (KBS)
and GENERAL COLLEGE PHYSICS LABORATORY II (KBS) (KLAB)
or GENERAL UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II (KBS) (KLAB)
5
Computer Science Elective 4
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
ENGR 38105 IOT SECURITY IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS 2
ENGR 38106 IOT SECURITY IN ENGINEERING SYSTEMS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 47200 SYSTEMS ENGINEERING 3
MATH 12003
or MATH 20011
ANALYTIC GEOMETRY AND CALCULUS II
or DECISION-MAKING UNDER UNCERTAINTY
3-5
MATH 30011 BASIC PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
CIS 44041 MANAGING CYBERSECURITY 3
CS 47221 INTRODUCTION TO CRYPTOLOGY 3
ENGR 37777 CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS 2
ENGR 37778 CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 38205 NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS 2
ENGR 38206 NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION AND FORENSIC ANALYSIS LABORATORY 1
ENGR 46305 NETWORK SECURITY 2
ENGR 46306 NETWORK SECURITY LABORATORY 1
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
ENGR 35550 LAW AND ETHICS FOR ENGINEERS 2
!ENGR 48099 ENGINEERING CAPSTONE I (ELR) 3
ENGR 48191 ADVANCED CYBERSECURITY SEMINAR 3
Engineering (ENGR) Upper-Division Elective (30000 or 40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Eight
!ENGR 48199 ENGINEERING CAPSTONE II (ELR) (WIC) 3
ENGR 48200 WIRELESS MESH NETWORK SECURITY 3
Science or Mathematics Elective 3-4
Technical Upper-Division Elective (40000 level) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Kent Campus

Student Achievement Data
Cybersecurity Engineering; Enrolled
2018201920202021202220232024
--112212022
Cybersecurity Engineering; Graduated
2018201920202021202220232024
------1

First graduates are expected in Spring 2024.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Cybersecurity Engineering - B.S.

Graduates of Kent State University's Bachelor of Science degree in Cybersecurity Engineering find employment with companies needing information security analysts,  software quality assurance analysts, and computer systems managers. Many cybersecurity engineers work in banks, large retail corporations, government agencies, and the nonprofit sector. They typically work full time, and many work additional hours to protect networks and address cyberattacks and other threats.

Examples of Possible Careers
  • Application security engineer
  • Cloud security engineer
  • Cybersecurity architect
  • Cybersecurity engineer
  • Cyber risk analyst
  • Digital forensics analyst
  • Governance, risk and compliance (GRC) analyst
  • Identity and access management (IAM) engineer
  • Incident response specialist
  • Information security engineer
  • Malware analyst
  • Network security engineer
  • Penetration tester (ethical hacker)
  • Security consultant
  • Security operations center (SOC) analyst
  • Security operations manager