Cybersecurity & Networking, Major, Undergraduate Program, RWU
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About the Cybersecurity & Networking Major
The B.S. in Cybersecurity & Networking is a four-year undergraduate program designed to meet the increasing professional needs of the Cybersecurity and Cyberdefense industries. Our program of study (PoS) is validated by the National Security Agency (NSA).
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Cybersecurity & Networking Success By The Numbers
Real-World Experience
SJS students have guaranteed opportunities for internships or co-op experiences at various agencies.
Average Starting Salary
of our 2021 graduates.
Placement of 2021 Grads
Even with the challenges of the pandemic, our 2021 SJS graduates found success in employment or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation.
CAE-CD Designation
Roger Williams University has been designated as a
National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD)
for the validated program of study, Cybersecurity & Networking B.S., through the academic year 2028.
Cybersecurity & Networking Degree Requirements
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Juris Doctor/Bachelor's 3+3 Accelerated Program (J.D.)
Earn your bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees in six years through RWU’s 3+3 Law program. You’ll get a jump-start on your J.D. by integrating law courses into your undergraduate studies and completing undergraduate requirements in your first year of law school. Accepted students will take first-year courses in the School of Law along with legal electives to fulfill undergraduate fourth-year requirements. Interested students must indicate their intent to pursue a 3+3 pathway early in their undergraduate studies for curriculum planning and advising.
Learn More About the 3+3 Program
CARDS
The
Center for Cybersecurity, Applications, Research, and Cyber-Defense Strategies (CARDS)
at Roger Williams University is an interdisciplinary and intercollegiate center for education, research, training, and community outreach.
The CARDS provides the cybersecurity workforce with requisite knowledge and skills, as well as a learning platform in various aspects of cybersecurity and privacy through degree programs, professional certificates, training opportunities, research, and community outreach. CARDS is housed in RWU’s School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management, which is committed to interdisciplinary and intercollegiate education.
Hands-On Approach to Cybersecurity
This program, designed by faculty experts and industry professionals, provides students with the opportunity to study aspects of computing and technology related to TCP/IP networking, digital forensics, penetration testing, cryptography, and xybersecurity. In particular, this program allows for a broad background in both information technology security as well as networking skills during the first three years of study, and then allows the students to practice and develop those skills over the course of a semester-long internship and additional senior-level coursework.
Instruction focuses on a hands-on approach to computers, routers, switches, and other technologies as a basis for study, and adds a security focus to provide insight into the security needs of modern corporations that deal with sensitive data and hacking attempts from both internal and external threats.  This hands-on experience is offered in a variety of ways, including in-person physical hardware and software explorations, simulation packages such as Cisco’s PacketTracer and Labsim, and segmented virtual environments to explore and practice in.
The program is IT-oriented but security-driven and will provide students with a diverse set of necessary skills suitable for jobs in such areas as network administration, IT security specialist, firewalling support, penetration testing, packet analysis, and other IT support roles within the networking, security, or IT departments of organizations. Furthermore, many of the courses are built around industry-standard exams (e.g. A+, N+, S+, CCNA, GPEN, CISSP, etc), should the student wish to pursue these valued credentials during the program or at a later date to demonstrate ability and skillset relevance.
Cutting-Edge Technology
In the Forensics and Networking Security (FANS) lab, students work with cutting-edge technology to learn how to solve issues around hacking and cyberattacks and discover how to acquire, analyze, and manage evidence collected from computers or mobile devices.
Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity & Networking
Internships allow our students to put their knowledge and skills to the test in hands-on learning situations. Some recent internships include:
Dell SecureWorks
FM Global
Naval Undersea Warfare Center
Charles Stark Draper Laboratory
Raytheon Technologies
Fidelity Investments
Mass General Brigham Hospital
Internships and Field Experience
Every Cybersecurity & Networking major completes a guaranteed internship. You’ll implement classroom theory in real-time practice and experience what it’s like to work in the industry.
Often, these internships lead to full-time job offers. Internship placements include Dell SecureWorks, Raytheon, Security Weekly, MediTech, FM Global, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, and Police Crime Lab.
Hear from Hawks
Kasey Litchford '22
"Because it’s a newer branch, cyber can be very competitive. RWU prepared me to compete and get that slot for cyber. I attribute it to the program Doug White has cultivated, as well as some of the extracurricular groups we have on campus."
Kasey Litchford '22
Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army’s Cyber Branch
Major: Cybersecurity & Networking
Honors Student Lands Competitive Position in U.S. Army
Nicole Black '24
Courses such as Advanced Networking and Advanced Python Programming allowed me to strengthen my skills through creating and designing computer networks and solving programming problems with creative freedom.
Nicole Black '24
Cyber Analyst, Raytheon Technologies (RTX)
Major: Cybersecurity & Networking
Faculty Experts in Cybersecurity & Networking
Shakour Abuzneid, Ph.D.
Computing Program Coordinator & Professor of Cybersecurity
Related Academic Programs
Digital Forensics Minor
Study the growing field of Digital Forensics at RWU, where students learn how to solve computer crimes like viruses, data sabotage, and financial fraud. Through hands-on study in our Forensics and Networking Security lab, you’ll discover how investigators acquire, analyze, and manage evidence collected from computers and mobile devices, as well as how to present this evidence in court.
Cloud Computing Minor
The minor in Cloud Computing allows students the option to pursue study in the trending area of cloud computing architecture and security, which includes building cloud infrastructure for comping nodes, databases, virtual networks, storage solutions, directory services, vaults, and cloud security.
Security Assurance Studies Major
Security in the 21st century transcends law enforcement and government service to encompass many disciplines – and many avenues to career success. As a Security Assurance Studies major, you’ll learn how to become a security professional who makes sound decisions in the face of dynamic local, national and global issues. This broad interdisciplinary program allows you to specialize in the area of security that interests you most, whether that’s modern languages or computer science.
Cybersecurity (M.A. & M.S.)
As technology threats continue to grow worldwide, so does the demand for highly trained cybersecurity experts. RWU offers both an M.S. in Cybersecurity, for students who wish to gain the technical skills, situational management, and problem solving to train for a career in information security, and an M.A. in Cybersecurity for working professionals to understand the intersections of Cybersecurity with their work. The M.A. and M.S. Cybersecurity programs are taught fully online.
Cyberspecialist Certificate
As technology threats continue to grow worldwide, so does the demand for highly trained cybersecurity experts. RWU’s Cyberspecialist Undergraduate Certificate combines technical skills, situational management and problem solving to train you for a career in information security. Created in partnership with industry professionals, this cutting-edge program is taught online using virtual environments to simulate the operating systems that you’ll monitor on the job.
Cybersecurity Certificate (EXT)
This RWU Extension School (EXT) certificate will provide students with knowledge and experience in the cybersecurity field. After completing this certificate, students may be eligible to take external field certifications.
Cyberspecialist Graduate Certificate
This certificate allows individuals with a technical background to expand their cybersecurity skillset with technical coursework in the program. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university in order to be eligible for Graduate Certificate Admission.
Digital Forensics Graduate Certificate
Study the growing field of Digital Forensics at RWU, where students learn how to solve computer crimes like viruses, data sabotage and financial fraud. Through hands-on study in our Forensics and Networking Security lab, you’ll discover how investigators acquire, analyze and manage evidence collected from computers and mobile devices, as well as how to present this evidence in court.
Cloud Computing Graduate Certificate
This intensive, career-oriented certificate equips students with comprehensive expertise in the fundamental services of cloud computing.
CARDS
Email
cards@rwu.edu
Phone
(401) 254-3165