Bachelor's Degree in Information Security

You can earn an undergraduate major in Information Security while completing a Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (BSPS). The BSPS requires 120 semester hours of coursework, including 30 hours for the major in Information Security. You may transfer up to 60 semester hours into the degree.

Bachelor’s Degree

Our major in Information Security seeks to prepare students to be IT security specialists and decision makers in information security and cybersecurity positions in private industry and government sectors.

The BSPS in Information Security provides a marketable credential, backed by cutting-edge theory and real-world application, in light of the growing importance of information and data security in a globally networked society. Check out careers available for information security professionals.

Minors in HR Management and Paralegal Studies may be used to complement the Information Security major to prepare for specific management, government, and legal sector employment opportunities.

Program Details

  • Degree Requirements

    BSPS Program of Study

    Total: 120 semester hours

    General Education

    30 semester hours. Includes Common Seminar and Areas of Study.

    Common Seminar

    6 semester hours

    • ADED 301U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines I
    • ADED 302U Knowledge Management: Seminar Across the Disciplines II

    Areas of Study

    24 semester hours. At least one 3-hour course from each of the following areas:

    • History
    • Literature
    • Natural Sciences
    • Social Sciences and Cultural Studies
    • MATH 103U Finite Mathematics (or higher)
    • The Arts

    General Distribution

    60 semester hours. Coursework selected from across the curriculum. Minors may be drawn from this area. Foundation Coursework applies toward General Distribution.

    Foundation Coursework

    The student’s placement test score, along with advising recommendations, will determine the pathway of foundation courses before other required coursework.

    • ENGL 101U Strategic Reading and Writing
    • ENGL 201U Critical Writing and Research I
    • ENGL 202U Critical Writing and Research II
    • MATH 103U Finite Mathematics

    Major

    30 semester hours. Select from Data Analytics, Human Resource Management, Information Security, IT Management or Paralegal Studies.

  • Major Requirements

    InfoSec Major Program of Study

    The undergraduate major in Information Security is available for the Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (BSPS).

    Total: 30 semester hours. Numbers after course titles represent semester hours earned.

    Professional Core

    9 semester hours

    • LDSP 368U Leadership in the Global Environment, 3
    • HUM 300U Applied Ethics, 3
    • MATH 265U Applied Statistics, 3

    Required

    10 semester hours

    • ISYS 302U Local Area Networks, 4
    • ISYS 303U IT Security, 3
    • ISYS 491U IT Security Planning & Risk Management, 3

    Focus

    11 semester hours from the following:

    • ISYS 306U Systems Analysis, 3
    • ISYS 308U Digital Forensics, 3
    • ISYS 311U Database Design, 4
    • ISYS 312U Predictive Analytics, 3
    • ISYS 314U Data Visualization, 3
    • ISYS 315U Big Data Analytics, 3
    • ISYS 316U Introduction to Business Analytics, 3
    • ISYS 317U Social Engineering, 3
    • ISYS 355U Computer Programming in Java, 4
    • ISYS 360U Electronic Commerce, 3
    • ISYS 365U Cloud Computing: Infrastructure & Services, 3
    • ISYS 370U Introduction to Ethical Hacking & Pen Testing, 3
    • ISYS 375U IT Control and Audit, 3
    • ISYS 398U Selected Topics, 1-6
    • ISYS 399U Independent Study, 1-6
    • ISYS 450U Project Management, 3
    • ISYS 490U Managing IT, 3
    • ISYS 492U Consulting and Design of Online Systems, 3
    • LAW 325U Cyber Law, 3
    • MGMT 342U Managing Business Processes, 3
  • Admissions

    Admission to Bachelor's Degree Programs

    Minimum requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts (BALA) or Bachelor of Science in Professional Studies (BSPS) degree program are:

    • An earned high school diploma or GED
    • A 2.0 average on any attempted college-level work

    To be admitted, applicants must submit the following:

    • A completed online bachelor's degree application (with application fee)
    • Original transcripts from all college-level work attempted (or evidence of high school graduation or GED)

    Admission placement requires ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension and Sentence Skills test scores and an admission decision meeting with a student advisor. All incoming bachelor's degree applicants must take the ACCUPLACER Reading Comprehension and Sentence Skills tests for placement.

    Applicants are notified about scheduling a testing session after submitting the undergraduate application.

    • Test scores are used to route applicants into an appropriate course of study that best enables academic success.
    • Student advisors will review ACCUPLACER test scores and admission pathway to determine if accepted students will place into ENGL 101U, ENGL 201U, ADED 300U or ADED 301U. Academic advisors will provide admission guidance and options after receiving applicant test scores.
    • Test scores are good for one year. Applicants may provide evidence of ACCUPLACER scores earned within the last 365 days for consideration and placement.
    • An applicant may opt to retake the placement test once at his or her own expense of $10. Applicants may register through their academic advisor for a retest on the next scheduled placement test date. The highest test score within a given session will be considered.
    • Students whose ACCUPLACER scores are deemed by their advisor not to qualify them for ENGL 101U or higher will be given the opportunity to take the noncredit course, English Foundations. At the end of English Foundations, students who re-take the ACCUPLACER but still do not achieve a score high enough for placement into ENGL 101U will be permitted to take English Foundations one additional time. No student may take the course a third time without permission from the Associate Dean for Academic & Student Affairs.

    Non-native English speakers may be required to submit valid TOEFL scores.

    Admissions Decisions

    The School uses a selective admissions process to evaluate applicants. The most important predictor is an applicant's ability to do college-level work. As such, the School offers several undergraduate admission pathways depending on college experience, writing aptitude and GPA.

    1. Well Qualified Transfer Admission

    Applicants who have recently completed college-level study at a regionally-accredited community college or four-year institution may be candidates for well qualified transfer admission (WQTA). WQTA applicants are given priority and must successfully demonstrate the following:

    • Minimum 24 semester hours of transferable coursework completed in the past 10 years
    • Minimum 2.5 GPA on all previously attempted college coursework
    • Earned a 'B' or better in English Composition and a 'C' or better in college-level math
    • Earned satisfactory ACCUPLACER scores

    2. Online Interdisciplinary Studies Admission

    Applicants to the Online Interdisciplinary Studies program must successfully demonstrate the following:

    • At least 45 semester hours of transferable college credit
    • Minimum 2.0 GPA on all previously attempted college coursework
    • Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA on all attempted coursework at the School
    • Earned satisfactory ACCUPLACER scores

    3. Transfer Admission

    Applicants who have completed some college-level study at a regionally-accredited community college or four-year institution but do not meet the minimum requirements for WQTA may qualify for transfer admission (TA). TA applicants must successfully demonstrate the following:

    • Minimum 3 semester hours of transferable college-level coursework
    • Minimum 2.0 GPA on all previously attempted college coursework
    • Earned satisfactory ACCUPLACER scores

    4. Non-Transfer Admission

    Applicants who have never studied at the college level or do not meet the minimum requirements for TA will only be considered for non-transfer admission (NTA). NTA requires applicants to complete foundation coursework at the School pursuing part-time study (registering for no more than nine semester hours) while completing these requirements. NTA applicants must successfully accomplish the following:

    • Complete all foundation coursework with a grade of 'C' or better in the first 3 semesters at the School
    • Maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA on all attempted coursework at the School
    • Earned satisfactory ACCUPLACER scores

    Students admitted to any undergraduate or degree program, without prior college experience, may enroll (register) in a maximum of nine (9) semester hours of credit in the first semester of study in SPCS.

    Admission Notifications

    Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions by letter, generally during an interview with an academic advisor. If admitted to a degree program, the admissions letter will include a University ID to be used in establishing a BannerWeb account and network ID.