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 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.

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 more about such scholarships, consult the St. Bonaventure Army ROTC Scholarship Overview brochure.

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.

STEM-designated program

This program meets the requirements for STEM designation, as determined by the United States Department of Homeland Security.

STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers are among the fastest-growing and highest-demand fields worldwide. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations is expected to grow by 10.4% from 2023 to 2033 — significantly faster than other professions.

For international students, St. Bonaventure offers unique advantages. Pursuing a STEM degree here qualifies F1 visa holders for Optional Practical Training (OPT), including the opportunity for a 24-month STEM OPT extension. This means you could gain up to three years of practical experience in the U.S., enhancing your career prospects in global job markets.

Learn more about STEM at St. Bonaventure

Graduates of the Cybersecurity program at SBU will:

Work professionally to protect data and analyze any threats to systems and networks in a global and societal context.
Participate in cybersecurity related activities ethically either by an individual or in teams using knowledge, and communication skills.
Continue to grow professionally through continuing education, certifications and/or professional activities.

Cybersecurity Student Learning Outcomes

The faculty has adopted the following student learning outcomes for the Cybersecurity program:

Analyze a complex computing problem and apply the principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions.
Design, implement and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program's discipline.
Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program's discipline.
Apply security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats.

SBU offers early college opportunities for high schoolers

Apr 09, 2025 | Local high school students can accelerate their academic journey through St. Bonaventure University’s Early College Access programs, which allow them to earn affordable college credits while gaining real-world academic experience.

Foerst gives lecture, meets with students at Butler University

Nov 08, 2024 | Dr. Anne Foerst, professor of Computer Science, gave a lecture titled "Large Language Models: Theological Implications" at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.

CS researcher to discuss impact of machine learning and AI at SBU

Nov 01, 2024 | St. Bonaventure University will host computer science researcher Sai Suman for a conversation and question-and-answer session on working with machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) models.