Cybersecurity

About the cybersecurity major

The cybersecurity major will prepare you to enter the workforce in the rapidly advancing field of cybersecurity. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity will enable you to address the security challenges and risks that all industries encounter daily. Cybersecurity is a multidisciplinary area—a combination of information technology, computing, and engineering.

This program will provide a solid, comprehensive background in the related topics of cybersecurity engineering and their applications. With more companies in all industries increasingly relying on technology for their operations, cybersecurity is a rapidly growing field.

Skills and abilities this major develops: problem solving, abstract thinking, malware analysis and reversing, risk analysis, risk mitigation, security data analytics, cloud security, and more.

Engaged learning experiences

Regardless of your major or future career, engaged learning is vital to your present and future. It makes you more marketable for jobs and professional schools upon graduation, it enables you to build deeper connections with faculty and staff in your field of study, and it makes your learning personal by connecting your interests and values with the curriculum from your classes. Check out the three ideas below for places to get started, or learn more at IUPUI’s Institute for Engaged Learning website.

Student organizations

ET has many student organizations, which are a great way to build your skills, network, and grow as a professional.

Professional work experience

Grow your skills through internships, co-op, or part-time jobs.

Study abroad

ET has many program-specific study abroad opportunities—a great way to gain cultural competency and grow your skills.

Opportunities after graduation

Employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 19,500 openings for information security analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as retirement (Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2022).

According to the IUPUI First Destination Survey in 2021, the average starting salary for graduates from the School of Engineering and Technology with a bachelor's degree was $60,383, and the median was $60,320.

The national median annual salary for information security analysts was $102,600 in 2021 (Occupational Outlook Handbook).

(This section is intended for informational purposes, not prediction of actual salary.)

Technological advances come rapidly in the computing field, so continued study is necessary to remain competitive. Cybersecurity graduates may choose graduate work in areas such as:

Business (M.B.A.)
Computer information technology
Information systems
Ongoing education in a particular industry area

Quick facts

Sample coursework

Advanced network security
Database security
Digital forensics
Introduction to cybersecurity
IT risk assessment
Wireless security

Possible careers

Cybercrime investigator
Information security analyst
Malware analyst
Risk manager
Security analyst
Security software developer

Where could I work?

Anthem
IU Health
Eli Lilly
Infosys
Salesforce
State of Indiana

Complementary interests

CConventional

IInvestigative

RRealistic

Get your interest code

Where to get more information

Purdue School of Engineering and Technology

TechPoint

Information Systems Security Association

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Cluster

This major belongs to the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) cluster. The STEM cluster is the academic home of University College students pursuing majors in the sciences, technology, engineering, informatics, and computing. The STEM cluster partners with students on their academic advising and career plans to guide them into their degree-granting schools.

Learn about the STEM cluster

Learn about other clusters

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