Liberal Arts
& Sciences

Data Security

Every day the media brings us stories about computer systems that are hacked, compromising everything from people's bank accounts to national security. This exciting major will provide you with the training necessary to defend computer systems and networks from attacks from within and from without an organization. You will take courses that address a broad range of necessary skills, including the essential elements of security, how to detect intrusion, how to deal with incidents when they arise, firewalls, perimeter protection, and operating system security. Computers and computer systems are now an integral part of business, government, and society overall, and computers are used in new and innovative ways every day. As a result, the skills necessary to keep these systems secure and safe will continue to be in high demand.


Salaries

  • Median Starting Salary: Approx: $43,000*
  • After 5 Years Experience: Approx: $63,000

Department Homepage

Quick Facts

  • The courses offered in this major will teach students to identify and deter the most dangerous threats to computer systems now and in the future.
  • This relatively new program offers a new perspective for students that will help them be prepared when entering the occupational field.
  • Students are provided with access to the Computer Science Lab and are given assistance with homework and projects by knowledgeable student assistants and faculty.
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for Data Security personnel was $69,570. Employment in this field is expected to increase by 23% over the next nine years, significantly faster than the average increase in all fields.

Career Opportunities

  • Data Mining
  • Analytics
  • Quantitative and Qualitative Data Analysis
  • Computational Analysis

Major Requirements

  • General Education Program: 48 hrs
  • Data Security Requirement: 50 hrs
  • Elective Courses: 20 hrs

Clubs

  • Association for Computer Machinery
  • Kappa Mu Epsilon
  • Honorary society for exceptional mathematics students
  • MASTER-IT

August 2008: www.payscale.com: Data Security Analyst