Cybersecurity Program

Prepare for your career as an information systems security professional

Cybersecurity at St. Bonaventure equips you with the sophisticated tools necessary to pursue a career in computer crime investigation, information assurance and digital forensics. Cybersecurity students use their education to detect, investigate, and prevent technology related crimes.

Degrees & Certificates Offered

Our Early Assurance Cybersecurity program guarantees qualified high school seniors placement in our master’s degree in cybersecurity. Students who successfully complete the program earn their bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Early Assurance program students may begin taking graduate-level courses during their senior year of undergraduate studies. This not only provides a financial savings on the overall cost of the master's degree, but because the master's program is entirely online, it provides the opportunity to work and earn a salary while completing the degree.

St. Bonaventure University’s online Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity will provide an overview of the cybersecurity field that can complement your current work in a variety of fields including law enforcement, military, government agencies, and more. After completing these five courses you’ll gain the confidence to speak the language and bring an understanding of the cybersecurity landscape to your current role.

Cybersecurity professionals in high demand

Infosec, a leading cybersecurity training company, reported earlier this year that there is a worldwide shortage of nearly 3 million in the ranks of cybersecurity professionals, and about 500,000 in North America alone.

One of the most, if not the most, shorthanded sectors of the economy right now is information security, according to cybersecurityguide.org, a website that helps prospective students and early career professionals find career opportunities.

Government and military opportunities abound

"When it comes to federal jobs in cybersecurity, the sky is the limit," Fortune magazine reported earlier this year. From system engineers and software developers to cyber defense forensics analysts and ethical hackers, there are a wide range of jobs to be filled.

"There is a lot of value for cyber students to pursue work in government sectors, with the military being a great start," said Brian Kellogg, undergraduate cybersecurity program chair and university director of information security and infrastructure.

Students may want to explore opportunities through St. Bonaventure's Department of Military Science (Army ROTC program), which offers a number of scholarships for students interested in the military. For a PDF of the St. Bonaventure Army ROTC Scholarship Overview brochure, click here.

Other cybersecurity career opportunities include:

Intelligence analyst
Computer crimes special investigator
Information assurance specialist
Credit card fraud investigator
Health insurance special investigator
Money laundering analyst
Network administrator
Bank security compliance officer
Compliance, risk management and fraud supervisor
Digital forensics examiner

How to start a career in cybersecurity

Experienced professionals share advice for entering the exciting, important and high-demand field of cybersecurity in this informative webinar.

Article by Bopp examines data measurement on homelessness

Jan 26, 2023 | An article by Dr. Chris Bopp, assistant professor of computer science, along with a collaborator at the University of Colorado Boulder, will be published in the journal series Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction.

Ukrainian cybersecurity expert to talk Feb. 2 about hardships of Russian invasion

Jan 24, 2023 | A Ukrainian cybersecurity expert will speak to the St. Bonaventure University community about his experience fighting the cyberwar and the Ukrainian efforts against the Russian invasion.

Foerst to publish new book on cybersecurity and hacking ethics

Oct 21, 2022 | "Cybersecurity and Hacking Ethics," a new book by Dr. Anne Foerst, professor of computer science and chair of the computer science program, will be published in December by Kendall & Hunt.