Minor in Cybersecurity
Overview
The proposed Minor in Cybersecurity is aligned with the university’s strategic direction to develop academic programs that respond to emerging workforce needs, student demand, and areas of clear societal relevance. Cybersecurity has become a central concern for organizations across sectors, including finance, healthcare, government, education, and technology. Employers increasingly need graduates who understand secure systems, network protection, software vulnerabilities, risk awareness, privacy, and responsible digital practice.
The minor builds on existing strengths in the Computer Science curriculum while adding focused coverage in secure software development, computer and network security, penetration testing, digital forensics, and cybersecurity law, ethics, and governance. It gives students a coherent and market-relevant pathway to strengthen their preparation for internships, graduate study, and cybersecurity-related roles without creating a full new degree program.
The proposal also supports vertical alignment with LAU’s graduate offerings. LAU already offers an online MS in Cybersecurity, and the Department’s interest in developing an in-person master’s pathway would benefit from a clearly defined undergraduate feeder route.
Mission
The mission of the Minor in Cybersecurity is to equip undergraduate students across disciplines with the foundational knowledge and practical skills needed to understand, analyze, and address security challenges in modern computing systems. The minor emphasizes secure design and implementation, risk awareness, and responsible practice in the protection of digital infrastructure and information across diverse application domains.
Objectives
Graduates of the Minor in Cybersecurity will be able to:
- Develop a foundational understanding of secure systems, network protection, and software vulnerabilities, and apply this knowledge in academic or professional settings.
- Pursue further study, certifications, or career opportunities in cybersecurity and related areas through continuous learning and skill development.
- Recognize the importance of ethical responsibility, legal frameworks, and governance in the design and use of secure computing systems.
Minor Requirements
The minor requires completion of 18 credits, divided into 9 credits of core courses and 9 credits of electives.
Core Courses (9 credits)
- CSC435 Cyber Security (3 credits)
- CSC437 Network Security (3 credits)
- CYS330 Cybersecurity Law, Ethics & Governance (1 credit)
- CYS430 Secure Software Development and Engineering (2 credits)