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Cybersecurity

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In this digital age of business and communication, cyber threats are on the rise.

The Cybersecurity major prepares you for a career helping to safeguard organizations from cyberattacks. In the Cybersecurity major, you will learn fundamental IT and computer skills, while emphasizing information security, risk mitigation, and data analytics. You will learn how to identify security risks, understand programming languages, and be able to develop risk management strategies. Course topics include national security policy, cyber investigation, and vulnerability testing.

Program Features

  • Develop your skills in technology, critical thinking, analysis, ethics, and oral and written communications.
  • Complete at least one industry-relevant internship in industries such as healthcare, finance, engineering, and retail.
  • Learn skills for needed to take on management positions in this expanding industry.
  • Be ready to earn CompTIA certifications: CompTIA IT Fundamentals, CompTIA A+, CSA+, and CompTIA Network+

What You'll Learn

From your first day, you’ll take courses in your major and advance towards graduation with a yearly plan. Not sure what classes to take? We’ll help you create the perfect plan. 

Courses and Sample 4-Year Plan

This example four-year plan is provided as a broad framework that you can follow in order to complete your degree within four years. Be sure to always consult your academic advisor before registering for classes.

This course is an introduction to the essentials of Euclidean geometry. Topics covered include: reasoning in mathematics, the relationship between algebra and geometry, analytic geometry, proofs and constructive triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, polygons, surfaces and solids and historical notes about famous geometricians. Prerequisite: MATH 106 with a grade of C or better or demonstrated competency through placement testing.
This course provides students with the fundamental skills and concepts required to maintain, support, and work efficiently with personal computers. It will assist students in preparing for the Digital Transformation. The course is organized around the five important uses of technology in business – IT concepts, Infrastructure, Applications and Software Development, Database fundamentals, and Security and Cloud Computing
In this course, students gain understanding of and confidence in strategies for effective writing by composing and reading in a variety of genres. The course emphasizes writing as a process and focuses on the rhetorical choices writers make. Students engage critically with sources by examining how genre, context, purpose, credibility, and bias work together to create meaning and impact audiences. Students who choose to take Writing I Workshop are provided with time during class to work on their writing while the instructor and a writing tutor are present to provide assistance. Students must earn a “C” or higher in order to pass this course
The First Year Seminar (FYS) is part of the Core Curriculum and a requirement for all incoming first year students and transfer students with fewer than 15 credits. The First Year Seminar is a theme-based inquiry course that engages students in a specific area of interest while providing support for a smooth transition into the Lasell University community and the Connected Learning philosophy. Through studying an academic topic, students develop and apply core intellectual skills and receive an introduction to the core knowledge perspectives. At the same time, students connect to the experiences and people that make up the Lasell University Community. Course outcomes are accomplished through engaging activities including reading, writing, class discussions, presentations, team projects, field trips, and exploration of campus resources. Civic engagement and service-learning activities are often part of this course as is participation in the Connected Learning Symposium. Through the seminar, students develop close ties with faculty and peer mentors who serve as advocates for first year students' academic success. Past course titles have included: The Immigrant Experience, Fashion & Film of the 20th Century, The Social History of Rock & Roll, Exploring Cultures & Languages, The Spark of Creativity, Women and Sports, and Latin America: Food And Traditions. This requirement may be fulfilled by taking either FYS103 or HON101 (for students enrolled in the Honors Program).
KP (Knowledge Perspective) Course
This course is designed to familiarize students with various aspects of the business world. Areas covered include: private enterprise; forms of ownership; legal aspects; management practices in a diverse and global business environment; marketing; human resources; global operations management; labor relations; and finance. In addition, students become aware of how business functions are integrated into an organization to achieve specific goals both locally and internationally.
This course introduces students to basic Microsoft Excel skills. Excel is an electronic spreadsheet program used for storing, organizing and manipulating data. It is critical to the business world today as the volume of data generated has exploded. This introductory course will provide students with information and skills needed to create basic workbooks and worksheets, create simple formulas, copy and move data, format data and cells, work in large spreadsheets and with data series, create pivot tables, and more. As part of this course, all students will have the opportunity to become certified in Microsoft Excel through the professional certification called Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel 2016 – Core Data Analysis, Manipulation, and Presentation. The certification also comes with an electronic badge. Students are also introduced to Income Statements, Balance Sheets, Statement of Cash Flows, Ratios, and the Basic Accounting Cycle.
This course is a continuation of Writing I and focuses on research and public writing. Theme-based courses provide students with lenses to explore issues of interest and develop their reading, research, and writing skills. Students work with a topic of their choice, broadly based on the course theme. Assignments build upon each other, lead up to a researched position paper, and culminate in a public piece. Students who choose to take Writing II Workshop are provided with time during class to work on their writing while the instructor and a writing tutor are present to provide assistance. Students must earn a grade of “C” or higher in order to pass this course. Prerequisite: WRT 101
KP (Knowledge Perspective) Course
Equity & Intersectionality(KP)
This is an introductory course in descriptive and inferential statistics. Topics include: data analysis, and graphical methods of describing data, measures of central tendency and variability, probability, the normal distribution, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, correlation, and regression analysis. Prerequisites: MATH 106 with a grade of C or better or demonstrated competency through placement testing and ENG 102.
This introduction to computer science, emphasizes problem solving and data analysis skills along with computer programming skills. Using Python, students learn design, implementation, testing, and analysis of algorithms and programs. And within the context of programming, they will learn to formulate problems, think creatively about solutions, and express those solutions clearly and accurately. Problems will be chosen from real-world examples such as graphics, image processing, cryptography, data analysis, astronomy, video games, and environmental simulation. Students get instruction from a world-class computer science professor, delivered remotely through video and interactive media and attend class for collaborative team projects to solve real-life problems. Prior programming experience is not a requirement for this course. Formerly: INTC102
This course is an overview of the history, philosophy, ethics, and legal issues related to the criminal justice system. The course provides an overview of the criminal justice system, focusing on critical decisions with an emphasis on contemporary issues, controversies, and trends.
This Knowledge Perspective course will provide students with the opportunity to interpret and analyze the complex interrelationships and inequities in human societies in a global historical context. Emphasizing the interrelatedness and mutuality of influence between East and West, we examine questions of exclusiveness, intolerance, and cooperation. Prerequisite: ENG101 with a C or better
Quantitative statistical tools for modern data analysis are used across a range of disciplines and industries to guide organizational, societal and scientific advances. Using data sets from across a variety of fields, the focus will be on applications and analysis. Topics include two sample confidence intervals, Chi Square tests, multiple regression analysis, ANOVA, non- parametric tests, sampling, and simulation. Prerequisite: Math 208 or Math 209
In this project-based course, students explore a social or intellectual problem using at least two knowledge perspectives. Faculty and students follow a collaborative process of exploration, discussion, and problem solving that integrates knowledge perspectives and core intellectual skills.
An introduction to the theory and structure of modern operating systems, including hardware abstraction, process management, memory management, system performance, and security. Specific attention to multi-threaded processing, semaphores, locking and inter-process communication. Prerequisites: DSCI102 and DSCI103 (formerly INTC102/INTC103).
Topics will include elementary logic and set theory, equivalence relations, functions, counting arguments, inductively defined sets, recursion, graphs and trees, Boolean algebra and combinatorial circuits, and countability arguments. Prerequisite: MATH203 with a C or better.
In this course the advances in technology developed in crime investigation will be examined, like crime mapping. The impact of technology and media on international crime and new globally-oriented cooperative enforcement strategies will also be examined. Students will gain a better understanding of crime control in a global society.”
This course will address the interaction between the lives we lead and the application of traditional (and some nontraditional) ethical theories and principles to important decision points in our lives. Students will take on real-life ethical problems and dilemmas for each class; each student will be responsible for presenting a number of issues, as well as for guiding the discussion of those issues in class. The problems we address will largely span a lifetime of experiences and concerns. Students will also write several papers that evaluate formal arguments, using standard tools of critical thinking and philosophy. The course is discussion based, so a willingness to read carefully, to think critically, and to engage in classroom presentations and discussions is essential. Prerequisite: Junior standing, MDSC203 & ENG102.
This course provides a working knowledge of everyday law as it applies to both business and personal needs. The primary focus is on contract law and property law. Different sections offered are specific to majors and/or interests (Section A – General Business, Section B – Sport Management, Section C – Hospitality Management). Students can choose any section that they prefer, regardless of major.
A course that covers fundamental mathematical concepts from modern algebra, number theory, and other areas of mathematics. Provides a foundation for the understanding of classical encryption systems and modern encryption methods. Emphasis on the mathematical underpinnings germane to cryptology. Prepares students for advanced study of modern cryptography. Experience implementing encryption, decryption and crypt-analytic methods on a variety of systems. Prerequisites: DSCI102, MATH208 and MATH209.
This course includes extensive discussion of the legal constraints, both civil and criminal, that underlie acceptable behavior using computers and networks today. Prerequisites: BUSS205 & DSCI103
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts of computer networks and data communication, including a survey of major protocols, standards, and architectures. Students will use the concepts and terminology of data communications in describing how software applications and network services communicate with one another. Students will read and analyze network traces to monitor communications, diagnose issues, and evaluate protocols. Prerequisites: DSCI102 and DSCI103 (formerly INTC102/103).
Choose an Elective, 5th year, or Minor course
This course focuses on the concepts, terminology and practice of network security. Topics include the fundamental goals of network security and practical applications of wired and wireless network security techniques such as applications of cryptology in network protocols, authentication, access control, network security devices such as firewalls and intrusion detection and prevention systems, incident response, log analysis, honeypots and honeynets. Prerequisites: DSCI102 and DSCI103.
This course provides student with the opportunity to perform basic forensic techniques and use appropriate media analysis software. Basics of security, structure and protocols of network operating systems and devices are covered as students will work to gather evidence in a networked environment and to image and restore evidence properly without destroying value. Students will practice gaining evidence from a computer system while maintaining its integrity and a solid chain of custody. Within the laboratory, students will gain hands-on experience in the use of current investigative tools. Prerequisites: DSCI205 & DSCI310
Choose an Elective, 5th year, or Minor course

This example four-year plan is provided as a broad framework that you can follow in order to complete your degree within four years. Be sure to always consult your academic advisor before registering for classes.

Student Profile
Trevor Lopinsky with a book

"The Forensic Science program has given me so much hands-on knowledge. I feel confident about getting a job."

Trevor Lopinsky '24

Forensic Science

Read more about Trevor
Trevor Lopinsky with a book

Career Outlook

Our students have interned with:

  • qBotica
  • MIT Lincoln Labs
Beyond the Classroom

Lasell's new virtual reality lab enhances classroom experience by with cutting edge virtual reality/artificial intelligence technology.