Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
About This Programme
The Cybersecurity degree teaches students to protect assets, find security vulnerabilities, prove that threats occurred and plan how data is recovered. It begins with a broad computing base in programming, scripting, databases, cryptography, security policy, networks, and systems and network administration. Advanced electives then let students design the focus of their security studies, in areas such as forensics, mobile device forensics or network and system security. The 126-credit sequence runs over four years with cooperative education and a capstone in cybersecurity, and the job responsibilities graduates may take on include security assessment, penetration testing, computer and network forensics, cryptography, risk management, and cyber policy and law.
Course Highlights
- 126 credit hours over four years in RIT Dubai's typical course sequence, with co-op (CSEC-499) in the second and third years
- Five advanced electives, at least three of them CSEC courses, covering areas such as system and network security, digital forensics, malware analysis and secure software development
- Capstone in Cybersecurity (CSEC-490) in the fourth year
- Combined accelerated BS/MS route of 147 credit hours over five years
- Programme labs: Computer Networking Lab, Computing Security Lab and TDRA-ICTFUND Digital Transformation Lab
- Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
What You'll Study
Students complete 126 semester credit hours of core courses, advanced courses and cooperative education. The core includes a programming sequence, an ethics course, a networking and systems administration sequence, and foundation courses in computer and network security.
First Year
- CSEC-140 Introduction to Cybersecurity3 credits
- GCIS-123 Software Development and Problem Solving I4 credits
- GCIS-124 Software Development and Problem Solving II4 credits
- UWRT-150 FYW: Writing Seminar3 credits
- MATH-181 Calculus I4 credits
- MATH-182 Calculus II4 credits
- MATH-190 Discrete Mathematics for Computing3 credits
- NSSA-241 Introduction to Routing and Switching3 credits
- YOPS-10 RIT 365: RIT Connections0 credits
- General Education – Global Perspective3 credits
- General Education – Ethical Perspective3 credits
Second Year
- CSEC-201 Programming for Information Security3 credits
- MATH-251 Probability and Statistics3 credits
- CSEC-202 Reverse Engineering Fundamentals3 credits
- NSSA-221 Systems Administration I3 credits
- NSSA-245 Network Services3 credits
- CSEC-99 Cooperative Education Seminar0 credits
- General Education – Social Perspective3 credits
- General Education – Natural Science Inquiry Perspective4 credits
- MATH-241 / STAT-257 General Education – Elective: Linear Algebra/Statistical Inference3 credits
- General Education – Artistic Perspective4 credits
- CSEC-499 Cooperative Education in CSEC0 credits
- General Education – Scientific Principles Perspective4 credits
Third Year
- CSEC-310 Endpoint Security Engineering3 credits
- CSCI-462 Introduction to Cryptography3 credits
- PUBL-363 Cybersecurity Policy and Law3 credits
- CSEC-380 Principles of Web Application Security3 credits
- CSEC-472 Authentication and Authorization3 credits
- ISTE-230 Introduction to Database and Data Modeling3 credits
- General Education – Immersion 13 credits
- Open Elective 13 credits
- CSEC Elective Course 13 credits
- Open Elective 23 credits
- CSEC-499 Cooperative Education in CSEC0 credits
Fourth Year
- CSEC-490 Capstone in Cybersecurity3 credits
- PHIL-102/202/306 General Education – Elective: Introduction to Moral Issues/Foundations of Moral Philosophy/ Professional Ethics3 credits
- CSEC Elective Course 23 credits
- CSEC Elective Course 33 credits
- Open Elective Course 33 credits
- General Education – Immersion 23 credits
- General Education – Immersion 33 credits
- CSEC Elective Course 43 credits
- CSEC Elective Course 53 credits
- Open Elective Course 43 credits
Advanced electives
Complete five advanced electives, with at least three from CSEC offerings:
- CSEC-462 Network Security and Forensics
- CSEC-464 Computer Systems Forensics
- CSEC-465 Network and System Security Audit
- CSEC-467 Mobile Device Security and Forensics
- CSEC-468 Risk Management for Information Security
- CSEC-470 Covert Communications
- CSEC-471 Penetration Testing Frameworks & Methodologies
- CSEC-473 Cyber Defense Techniques
- CSEC-476 Malware Reverse Engineering
- CSEC-520 Cyber Analytics and Machine Learning
- CSEC-521 Security of AI
- CSEC-559 UG Sem in Computing Security
- CSEC-569 Wireless Security
- CSEC-577 Disaster Recovery Planning and Business Continuity
- CSEC-731 Web Server and Application Security Audits
- CSEC-742 Computer System Security
- CSCI-455 Principles of Computer Security
- CSCI-464 Xtreme Theory
- CSCI-531 Introduction to Security Measurement
- CSCI-532 Introduction to Intelligent Security Systems
- CSCI-622 Data Security and Privacy
- CSCI-642 Secure Coding
- CSCI-762 Advanced Cryptography
- SWEN-256 Software Process and Project Management
- SWEN-261 Introduction to Software Engineering
- SWEN-331 Engineering Secure Software
- SWEN-352 Software Testing
- SWEN-511 Software Engineering for Good
- SWEN-567 Hardware/Software Co-design for Cryptographic Applications
- NSSA-244 Virtualization
- NSSA-320 Configuration Management
- NSSA-322 System Administration II
- NSSA-342 Large Scale Networking
- NSSA-370 Project Management
- NSSA-423 Scalable Computing Architectures
- NSSA-425 Data Center Operations
- NSSA-441 Advanced Routing and Switching
What You'll Learn
Programme learning outcomes
- Analyse complex cybersecurity issues and solve problems with cybersecurity theory and current or emerging technologies
- Develop and implement software solutions for cybersecurity challenges, working fluently through the development process
- Design cybersecurity solutions that draw on perspectives such as business, psychology, and policy and law
- Manage risk or compliance by evaluating evidence with critical thinking and advanced knowledge
- Assess the ethical questions that arise in cybersecurity
- Work effectively in teams to reach a goal
- Write clear technical documents and give effective oral presentations
Programme educational objectives
- Be employable in cybersecurity and cyber forensics roles in the private and public sectors
- Have the foundational skills to keep learning in the field
- Be prepared to work in teams and take on leadership when needed
- Be prepared for further academic study and to contribute to cybersecurity and cyber forensics
Entry Requirements
Computing applicants take a maths placement test before registering for courses. The physics placement test is optional, for students who want to take physics-related courses.
Careers
Typical job titles: Assistant Reverse Engineer, Application Security Engineer, Cyber Security Analyst, Cyber Threat Responder, Security Software Specialist, Penetration Tester, Security Assurance Engineer, Security Consultant, Site Reliability Engineer, Threat Analyst, Technical Assessments Consultant, Vehicle Cybersecurity Engineer. Industries: Health Care; Government; Medical Devices; Electronic and Computer Hardware; Utilities and Renewable Energy; Internet and Software; Telecommunications.
Accreditation & Professional Recognition
Accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and listed as Active on the Commission for Academic Accreditation's register. The degree is issued by RIT's main campus in Rochester, New York.
Programme Details
Award
Bachelor of Science (BS)
Start Date
August (Fall) and January (Spring)
Typical Offer
Maths and one science; 70% overall (UAE General 75%); IB 24 points
Duration
4 years
Qualification
BS
Subject Area
Computer Science
Campus
Dubai Silicon Oasis
Tuition Fee
AED 68,000/yr
Applications for the Spring and Fall 2027 intakes are open and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Spring: early admission until 31 October, regular admission until 31 December, deadline 8 January. Fall: early admission until 15 January, regular admission until 31 May, deadline 22 August. RIT Dubai offers scholarships of up to 50% based on academic and non-academic achievements.