Lawrence Township, USA
DURATION
4 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest startdate
TUITION FEES
USD 37,700 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Rider practices rolling admissions
** additional fees may apply
Key Summary
Introduction
Be well-equipped with the foundational knowledge and technical training needed to excel in the cybersecurity field. Rider cybersecurity majors may choose to concentrate in the Technical Track or the Policy Track. Students develop the ability to collaborate and apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
Prepare for a career designing, implementing and assessing security measures to protect computer networks from cyber attacks. Gain practical experience through a combination of hands-on and experiential learning, classroom lectures, and professional internships that offer a powerful competitive edge as you launch your career.
Just as computing technology has become an integral part of many aspects of our lives, the need to secure the operation of that technology has become critical. The importance of secure computational operations has had significant impacts in social, commercial, financial, industrial, and political realms, and will continue to grow as the right to privacy is tested.
In NJ and the surrounding Philadelphia and New York metro areas, the demand is even greater, with over 27,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions. On a national level, cybersecurity has been recognized as a critical component of Homeland Security, and the Senate Appropriations Committee funded cybersecurity efforts above the President’s request for FY 2019. Students pursuing a B.S. in Cybersecurity will bring a powerful combination of a traditional liberal arts education with foundational knowledge and technical training needed to excel in the cybersecurity field. A Minor in Cybersecurity is also available.
Education beyond the classroom
Gain practical experience through a combination of hands-on and experiential learning, classroom lectures, and professional internships and co-ops that offer a powerful competitive edge as you launch your career.
Program Outcome
Graduates of the Cybersecurity major will be able to:
- Graduate with a broad understanding of the nature of cybercrime and cybersecurity.
- Graduate with a deep understanding of security at multiple levels.
- Graduate with the ability to collaborate and apply their knowledge to real-world problems.
- Graduate with a passion for lifelong learning, professional responsibility to uphold ethical behavior.
Curriculum
Rider students in this program will benefit from a curriculum aligned with the latest national guidelines, adaptable to meet the evolving demands of industry and research. Cybersecurity is a nascent academic affair, although it has been in existence for nearly as long as computers. Thus, any cybersecurity curriculum should be founded in basic principles: that the computers, including data, software, systems, and networks, as well as the people and organizations using the machines, are kept secure and operational. The courses comprising the major are foundational, with the concentrations offering breadth and expertise in a given aspect of cybersecurity.
The following educational plan is provided as a sample only. Rider students who do not declare a major during their freshman year; who are in a Continuing Education Program; who change their major; or those who transfer to Rider may follow a different plan to ensure timely graduation. Each student, with guidance from his or her academic advisor, will develop a personalized educational plan.
Year 1
Fall Semester
- CYB 105 Introduction to Cybersecurity
- CSC 110 Computer Science I
- MTH 105 Algebra and Trigonometry
- or MTH 210 Calculus I
- CMP 120 Seminar in Writing and Rhetoric
- HIS 150 World History to 1500
Spring Semester
- CYB 110 Cybercrime and Cyberterrorism
- CSC 120 Computer Science II (for Technical Track)
SOC 150 Introduction to Forensics (for Policy Track) - CSC 150 Cyber Ethics and Societal Impact
- CMP 125 Seminar in Writing and Research
- HIS 151 World History Since 1500
Year 2
Fall Semester
- Technical Track
- CYB 130 IT Fundamentals
- CSC 140 Discrete Structures
- CYB 130 IT Fundamentals
- CSC 140 Discrete Structures
- Policy Track
- SOC 119 Introduction to Criminal Justice: Police, Courts, Corrections
- HLS 203 Homeland Security
- SOC 119 Introduction to Criminal Justice: Police, Courts, Corrections
- HLS 203 Homeland Security
- Cybersecurity Policy Elective
- Social Perspectives Course
- Aesthetic Perspectives: Literature
Spring Semester
- Technical Track
- CYB 200 Operating Systems & Cybersecurity
- CIS 270 Computer Networking
- CYB 200 Operating Systems & Cybersecurity
- CIS 270 Computer Networking
- Policy Track
- HLS 204 Development and Structure of the US Intelligence Community 3
- SOC 210 Criminal Investigation
- HLS 204 Development and Structure of the US Intelligence Community 3
- SOC 210 Criminal Investigation
- Social Perspectives Course
- Two Elective Courses 1
Year 3
Fall Semester
- Technical Track
- CYB 240 Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
- CYB 260 Network Defenses and Countermeasures
- CSC 130 Data Structures and Algorithms
- CYB 240 Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
- CYB 260 Network Defenses and Countermeasures
- CSC 130 Data Structures and Algorithms
- Policy Track
- POL 301 Civil Liberties in the U.S.
- HLS 304 Political Behavior: Fear, Risk, and Crisis
or HLS 205 Spies, Double Agents, and Moles: The World of Counterintelligence - Elective Course 1
- POL 301 Civil Liberties in the U.S.
- HLS 304 Political Behavior: Fear, Risk, and Crisis
or HLS 205 Spies, Double Agents, and Moles: The World of Counterintelligence - Elective Course 1
- Foreign Language 1 of 2
- Philosophical Perspectives Course
Spring Semester
- Technical Track
- CSC 250 Software Security Engineering
- CSC 340 Cybersecurity Essentials
- CSC 250 Software Security Engineering
- CSC 340 Cybersecurity Essentials
- Policy Track
- HLS 220 Terrorism & Counter Terrorism
- LAW 310 Cyberspace Law and Policy
- HLS 220 Terrorism & Counter Terrorism
- LAW 310 Cyberspace Law and Policy
- Cybersecurity Policy Elective
- Foreign Language 2 of 2
- Aesthetic Perspectives: Fine Arts
Year 4
Fall Semester
- Technical Track
- CYB 300 Developing & Deploying Cybersecurity Programs
- CYB 300 Developing & Deploying Cybersecurity Programs
- Policy Track
- POL 327 Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy
- POL 327 Contemporary Issues in American Public Policy
- Cybersecurity Technical Elective
- Three Elective Courses 1
Spring Semester
- Technical Track
- CSC 350 Analysis of Algorithms
- Four Elective Courses 1
- CSC 350 Analysis of Algorithms
- Four Elective Courses 1
- Policy Track
- SOC 343 Policing and Counter Terrorism
- POL 351 Critical Views of Global Security
- Three Elective Courses 1
- SOC 343 Policing and Counter Terrorism
- POL 351 Critical Views of Global Security
- Three Elective Courses 1
1Elective credits may be used to complete requirements in a second major or minor.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Scholarships and Funding
At Rider, there’s no such thing as one-size-fits-all, and our aid packages are no exception. In fact, 99% of students receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid. Let us work closely with you and your family to find scholarships and aid that are right for you.
| 99% of students receive Rider-funded scholarships and financial aid | $21.8 Average student assistance package | $71.2 million Total institutional funds awarded by Rider for the 21–22 school year |
Career Opportunities
| 188K projected number of job prospects by 2030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) | $102,600 median salary made in 2021 by Cybersecurity professionals* |
Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand and Rider graduates are available to answer the call. Students are well-equipped with skill sets related to the cutting edge of today’s high-tech/computing revolution and can immediately venture into the industry to hold lucrative positions.
Be on the frontline of cyber protection:
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Forensics Computer Investigator
- Information Security Analyst
- IT Security Engineer
- Security Administrator