COURSE CURRICULUM

The Cybersecurity BS curriculum at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a four-year program totaling 126 credit hours, designed to build strong technical expertise along with practical, real-world experience in securing digital systems. In the first year, students establish a foundation in cybersecurity, programming, and mathematics through courses such as Introduction to Cybersecurity, software development, calculus, and discrete mathematics, along with general education subjects like ethics, writing, and global perspectives.During the second year, the curriculum focuses on developing core security and system-level skills, including programming for information security, systems administration, networking, reverse engineering, and probability and statistics. Students also complete science and general education requirements while preparing for cooperative education through a seminar and initial co-op experience.In the third year, students advance into specialized cybersecurity topics such as cryptography, endpoint security, database systems, cybersecurity policy and law, and web application security. They also take elective courses that allow them to explore specific areas of interest within cybersecurity. Cooperative education continues to play a key role, giving students valuable industry experience in real-world security environments.The fourth year emphasizes advanced electives, ethical considerations, and a capstone project in cybersecurity, where students apply their knowledge to solve complex security problems. Immersion courses and open electives further broaden their academic experience. Overall, the curriculum blends theoretical knowledge, technical skills, and hands-on training, preparing graduates for careers in cybersecurity, ethical hacking, network defense, and digital forensics, as well as for advanced studies in the field.