Catalog

2025-2026

Major:

Cybersecurity (B.A., B.S.)

Departments/Programs:

Business, Accounting and Economics (Undergraduate)

The Cybersecurity major provides students with a comprehensive foundation in the principles, technologies, and strategies used to secure digital systems and protect sensitive information. The program emphasizes both the theoretical and practical aspects of cybersecurity, equipping students with the skills to identify, assess, and mitigate cybersecurity threats.

Cybersecurity Major (B.A. or B.S., 39 hours)
Required Courses	39 hours
BUSAD 2300 Business Communication	3 hours
BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management	3 hours
BUSAD 3100 Managing Information Systems	3 hours
BUSAD 3300 Quantitative Methods	3 hours
CYBER 1700 Introduction To Cybersecurity**	3 hours
CYBER 2200 Career Nav & Exploratn In Cybersecurity**	3 hours
CYBER 2400 Network & System Security**	3 hours
CYBER 2700 Cybercrime And Governance**	3 hours
CYBER 3200 Security Operations**	3 hours
CYBER 3400 Ethical Hacking**	3 hours
CYBER 3600 The Future Of Cybersecurity**	3 hours
BUSAD 4970 Business Internship	3 hours

Capstone	3 hours
CYBER 4800 Cybersecurity Capstone*	3 hours

Recommended Courses
CMPSC 2200 Python Programming I CMPSC 3200 Python Programming II CYBER 2250 Google Cloud Computing Foundations CYBER 3150 Networking Technologies and Telecommunications

**This course is offered remotely via NWU's partnership with a Consortium. The partnership allows students to earn NWU credit for specific courses. Classes are designed by top academics and industry leaders, vetted by NWU, and taught by experts in the field.

BUSAD 2300 Business Communication (3 hours)

This course will review the basics of effective oral and written communication and apply these basics to business writing and presentations. A variety of individual and collaborative projects, including memos, letters, and reports, will emphasize the process of drafting, revising, and editing business communications.
Prerequisite(s): Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Cybersecurity, Economics, International Business, or Sport Management major.

Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Writing Instructive
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Speaking Instructive

BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management (3 hours)

An introduction to management theory and practice. Students explore the history of management and the environment in which managers operate. Classroom discussion focuses on the basic managerial functions of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.
(Normally offered each semester.)

Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Experiential Learning: Exploratory
Archway Curriculum: Integrative Core: Power Thread

BUSAD 3100 Managing Information Systems (3 hours)

This course will provide an introduction and overview to the managing of information systems (MIS) in today's organizations. The focus is on the use of strategic information systems related to decision making processes and activities in the functional areas of organizations such as operations, management, and marketing.
Prerequisite(s): BUSAD 2500 Principles of Management or permission of the instructor.

Archway Curriculum: Integrative Core: Innovation Thread

BUSAD 3300 Quantitative Methods (3 hours)

This course will review modern quantitative methods used in decision making. The intent is to expose the student to various modeling techniques and to apply these techniques using Excel. Topics include productivity and capacity analysis, forecasting, regression analysis, linear programming, PERT/CPM, and statistical process control.

Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C-" or better in BUSAD 2100 Business and Economic Statistics, ECON-2100, MATH 1300 Statistics, or MATH 3300 Mathematical Statistics I, and one of MATH 1100 College Algebra or MATH 1600 Calculus I, or department chair permission.

(Normally offered each semester.)

CYBER 1700 Introduction To Cybersecurity (3 hours)

In today's world, no one is safe from cyber-attacks, but everyone can be prepared. This course will teach you how malicious actors use social skills and technology to facilitate cyber attacks and provide you with the tools and information you need to defend against those attacks. Whether you pursue one of the many available jobs in cybersecurity or just want to secure your own privacy, you'll learn how to make the Internet safer.This course is an online class offered through the Lower Cost Models Consortium. The class has optional live sessions.

Archway Curriculum: Integrative Core: Power Thread
Archway Curriculum: Essential Connections: Writing Instructive

CYBER 2200 Career Nav & Exploratn In Cybersecurity (3 hours)

This course will help you find a job in Cybersecurity upon graduation. Not just any job; one that meets your personal and financial needs and makes you excited about the future. In this course, you'll explore career paths in Cybersecurity, potential salary outcomes, and different roles. Then, you'll pick target jobs and opportunities that are the best fit for you and make a clear plan of action toward securing them.

CYBER 2400 Network & System Security (3 hours)

Modern organizations know that even the strongest systems can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. As a result, jobs in cybersecurity are rapidly expanding as companies look to secure their digital assets. This course will teach you how to secure those assets by identifying and fixing potential security vulnerabilities. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify and remedy common network and systems vulnerabilities.

CYBER 2700 Cybercrime And Governance (3 hours)

Cybercrime is one of the biggest threats companies face on a daily basis, and they are constantly looking for new hires to help protect them. In this course, you will get a firsthand look at the methods used to commit cybercrimes. You will also learn how governments detect, investigate, and stop these crimes, and become familiar with the laws and policies in place to deter cybercriminals. This online class has optional live sessions. This course is an online class offered through the Lower Cost Models Consortium. The class has optional live sessions. Prerequisite(s): DATA 1700.

CYBER 3200 Security Operations (3 hours)

The moments after a breach can make or break an organization. When the unthinkable happens and a cybercrime is discovered, the actions taken by the security operations team can either contain the damage and restore order or lead to catastrophic consequences. This course examines the tools and techniques used to conduct investigations into cybercrimes and teaches the defensive skills necessary to ensure a breach doesn't occur in the first place. Prerequisite: CYBER-1700 and CYBER-2400

CYBER 3400 Ethical Hacking (3 hours)

To stop a hacker, you need to be able to think like a hacker. In this course, you will learn hands-on techniques for attacking and penetrating networks and systems. You'll learn the tools to launch these offensive tactics and then complete a hands-on project where you will be asked to ethically hack a real system. Prerequisite: CYBER-2400

CYBER 3600 The Future Of Cybersecurity (3 hours)

Technology is racing forward, and cybersecurity must stay ahead to meet new challenges and threats. In this class, you will learn about the changing landscape of cybersecurity, emerging mobile technologies that are likely to be targeted, and new forms of cyber-attacks being launched. By the end of the course, you will be able to implement the most cuttingedge practices in cybersecurity in order to protect against attacks. Prerequisite: CYBER-2400

BUSAD 4970 Business Internship (3 hours)

Each student must work with the department internship coordinator to obtain a business-related internship related to the specific area of emphasis or interest of the student. This course presents each student the opportunity for work-related application of business interest. Under special circumstances, a second internship may be taken for credit with the approval of the business department chair and the internship coordinator.
No Pass/Fail.
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of the department internship coordinator.
(Normally offered each semester.)

CYBER 4800 Cybersecurity Capstone (3 hours)

The Capstone course is the culmination of the Cybersecurity program, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Students will undertake a comprehensive project integrating various aspects of cybersecurity, including log analysis, vulnerability assessment, incident response, ethical hacking, and cloud security. This project will develop critical thinking skills and prepare students for major cybersecurity certifications. Prerequisites: CYBER 1700 Introduction To Cybersecurity, CYBER 2400 Network & System Security, CYBER 2700 Cybercrime And Governance, CYBER 3200 Security Operations, CYBER 3400 Ethical Hacking, and CYBER 3600 The Future Of Cybersecurity

CMPSC 2200 Python Programming I (4 hours)

An introduction to computational problem-solving using Python. Hands-on labs are used to motivate basic programming concepts, including basic data types and structures, functions, conditionals, and loops. Additional topics may include building and scraping HTML webpages. The course is recommended for all who wish to explore data science and/or computer science. Recommended: Math ACT score of at least 21 or instructor permission of a prerequisite waiver.

(Normally offered every spring semester.)

Archway Curriculum: Foundational Literacies: Mathematical Problem Solving

CMPSC 3200 Python Programming II (4 hours)

A project-based continuation of the techniques developed in CMPSC 2200 Python Programming I. Topics include object-oriented programming, algorithm design and analysis, data structures, and general problem-solving techniques (such as recursion) while following industry-standard software development principles. Prerequisite(s): Grade of "C" or better in CMPSC-2200 or instructor permission of a prerequisite waiver.

(Normally offered every fall semester.)

CYBER 2250 Google Cloud Computing Foundations (3 hours)

This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of Cloud Computing, Infrastructure and Networking, and will explore how the cloud is used in a range of situations, including IT, App Development and Machine Learning. By the end of the course you will know what the cloud is, and how to use it effectively. This course uses the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and was built in concert with the Google Cloud Learning Services team. This online class has optional live sessions. Prerequisite: DATA-1350.

CYBER 3150 Networking Technologies and Telecommunications (3 hours)

Whether a workplace is just a few people connected to a wireless router, or a financial giant, wired directly into the Nasdaq, it likely relies heavily on Network Technologies. This course will teach you how networks work, and how to set up and secure them. By the end of this course, you will be able to manage and maintain a range of different network types. This online class has optional live sessions. Prerequisite: BUSAD-3150.