Cybersecurity
Protect networks, data, and systems from cyber threats
What You'll Study
Cybersecurity teaches you to be a digital bodyguard. You learn how hackers think so you can defend against them. It covers network security, cryptography, risk management, and ethical hacking.
- Network Security
- Cryptography
- Ethical Hacking / Penetration Testing
- Digital Forensics
- Security Policy & Governance
- Operating Systems Internals
- Cloud Security
- Incident Response
Example Classes
How to Know If You'll Like It
You'll probably enjoy this if...
- ✓You are protective and like keeping things safe
- ✓You enjoy finding loopholes in rules or systems
- ✓You stay calm under pressure (during attacks)
- ✓You have a strong sense of ethics
- ✓You are curious about how the internet works
- ✓You want a high-demand career
You might not enjoy this if...
- ✕You break rules just for "fun" (black hat)
- ✕You find network protocols boring
- ✕You dislike constant updates (threats change daily)
- ✕You want a pure coding job (this is less coding than CS)
Self-Check Quiz
Answer these questions honestly to see if this major might be a good fit for you.
If you locked your keys in your car, would you try to pick the lock?
Career Outcomes
Featured In-Demand Careers
Cybersecurity Analyst
Protect organizations from cyber threats by monitoring, analyzing, and responding to security incidents.
Cloud Architect
Design and oversee cloud computing strategies for organizations, ensuring scalability, security, and efficiency.
Software Engineer
Design, develop, and maintain software applications and systems. Work with cutting-edge technologies to solve complex problems.
Product Manager
Lead product development from conception to launch, bridging business strategy with user needs and technical capabilities.
Other Common Career Paths
- •Security Consultant
- •Penetration Tester
- •Security Architect
- •Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Industries
Try It First
Test if you like this field before committing to a major:
Set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on all your important accounts.
Try a "Capture The Flag" (CTF) challenge for beginners (like PicoCTF).
Write a security policy for a hypothetical company and set up a secure home network.
Related Majors
Frequently Asked Questions
Less than CS, but you need to read code to find vulnerabilities.
It can be during an incident, but day-to-day is prevention.
Yes! Certs like CompTIA Security+, CEH, CISSP are huge in this field.
Yes, governments are top employers for cyber talent.
For cryptography yes, for general analysis, basic logic is fine.
Ready to Explore This Major?
Get personalized guidance on whether Cybersecurity is right for you and how to build a competitive profile.