Online Bachelor of Science in Applied Cybersecurity (BSCYBR)
Applied Cybersecurity
Program Overview
Cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It affects hospitals, schools, businesses, financial systems, public agencies, and critical infrastructure. Organizations need people who can protect digital environments, respond to threats, and make sound security decisions.
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s online Bachelor of Science in Applied Cybersecurity prepares you for that work. Through the College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS), you’ll build practical skills in cybersecurity tools, cryptology, incident management, risk assessment, cybersecurity policy, and data protection.
Program Requirements
The Applied Cybersecurity major includes 21 credit hours of cybersecurity core coursework plus two CECS capstone courses totaling 6 credit hours. Together, these 27 credits build foundational and applied knowledge in cybersecurity concepts, tools, cryptology, incident management, risk assessment, and cybersecurity laws and policies. Students also complete 30 credit hours of Transdisciplinary Options (TOPS). As part of TOPS, students must complete at least one certificate, minor, second major, or second bachelor’s degree listed in the undergraduate catalog.
What Will I Learn?
Applied Cybersecurity builds skills across prevention, detection, response, policy, and risk. By graduation, you’ll be able to:
- Understand core cybersecurity concepts, threats, vulnerabilities, and attack methods
- Use cybersecurity tools for monitoring, scanning, intrusion detection, encryption, and incident response
- Apply cryptography and data protection methods
- Assess and manage cybersecurity risk in organizations
- Respond to cybersecurity incidents using structured methods
- Understand cybersecurity laws, policies, standards, and procedures
- Connect cybersecurity to other fields through TOPS, electives, internships, and capstones
What can you do with an Applied Cybersecurity degree?
Applied Cybersecurity prepares students for cybersecurity roles across industries:
- Ethical Hacker
- Vulnerability Assessor
- Network Security Specialist
- Compliance Analyst / Auditor
- IT Professional
- IT Consultant
- Administrator
Median salary: $124,910 | Projected job growth: 29% from 2024 to 2034 (BLS)
Admission Requirements
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA
- Minimum 1 transfer credit hour (must be earned post-high school graduation)
- Applicants who have earned fewer than 24 credit hours must also submit a high school transcript.
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Key Dates & Deadlines
Featured Courses
Provides foundational training and knowledge in and a broad overview of cybersecurity concepts and the field, including the nature of cyber-attacks on computers and networks and identification and mitigation of attacks from the perspective of applications in real-world scenarios and sectors. Human factors in cybersecurity, ethics, privacy, and the governance and policy around cybersecurity, in addition to the terminology, approaches, and underlying technologies used in cybersecurity, are also covered.
This course introduces the basic mathematical ideas, implementations, and vulnerabilities of methods to keep sensitive data safe against malicious attacks, and to authenticate electronic documents publicly available. Topics include Elgamal, RSA, and elliptic curve-based cryptosystems and authentications.
This course introduces a variety of cybersecurity tools used for monitoring, analyzing, and securing computer systems and networks. Topics include network scanning, vulnerability assessment, intrusion detection, encryption, and incident response. Practical hands-on exercises will be an integral part of the course.
As the landscape of cyber threats continues to change, the demand for innovative AI-driven solutions becomes paramount. In this course, students will journey through the intricate relationship between artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. They’ll begin with an introduction to the foundational principles of cybersecurity and the challenges that professionals face in this domain. As they progress, they’ll familiarize themselves with the AI tools and algorithms tailored for threat detection and mitigation. Furthermore, through case studies, students will gain insights into AI-driven cyberattacks and the corresponding defense strategies employed to counteract them. The curriculum is further enriched with hands-on projects that emulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios. Upon completing the course, students will be adept at designing and executing AI strategies to enhance cybersecurity infrastructures.
This course explores the evolving landscape of cybercrime and the methods employed by law enforcement to investigate and combat digital offenses. Students will examine various cyber threats, investigative techniques, legal challenges, and the ethical considerations associated with digital law enforcement.
