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Scripps College of Communication
Schoonover Center
1 µÛÍõ»áËù
Athens OH 45701-2979
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Cybersecurity Operations B.S.
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Cybersecurity Operations B.S.

A Cybersecurity Operations Degree for a Career in Data-Driven Industries

Our new bachelor's degree in Cybersecurity Operations provides the foundational and advanced skills needed for careers in network security, cyber defense, data privacy, compliance, cybersecurity management, business operations, and data analytics.

Offered in collaboration with the College of Business and the Russ College of Engineering and Technology, this B.S. degree is available in fall 2025 through the J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies.

Cybersecurity Operations professionals secure business and industrial operations data and information networking assets. Graduates from this program can join a variety of positions that demand hands-on and solid knowledge of network security, encryption, business operation principles, and data analysis.

  • Admissions Information

    Freshman Admissions: Our degree in Cybersecurity Operations has no requirements beyond University freshman admission requirements. If you have already applied to one of our programs, you can consider this new degree as well. You will have an option to select it as your major during Bobcat Student Orientation in early summer.

    Transfer Students: Students need a minimum GPA of 2.5 to transfer into any McClure School program. If you are interested in transferring or starting the degree, please contact our undergraduate director Dr. Charles Linscott.

  • Tuition & Fees

    U.S. News & World Report ranked µÛÍõ»áËù the #1 Best Value Public University in µÛÍõ»áËù and 30th in the nation. We're continuously striving to make college more affordable and accessible, while maintaining the high quality and value of an OHIO education.

    Tuition & Fees

  • Financial Aid & Scholarships

    Our Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships provides services to students and parents both in-person and remotely. You can visit our office on the ground floor of Chubb Hall or reach us at financial.aid@ohio.edu or 740.593.4141.

    Financial Aid & Scholarships
ITS students meeting around a table.

Courses and Expertise Across Three Colleges

Students in our Cybersecurity Operations program benefit from faculty expertise and coursework that spans emerging technologies, communication, business and engineering.

The program is offered by the Scripps College of Communication's J. Warren McClure School of Emerging Communication Technologies and in collaboration with the College of Business and the Russ College of Engineering and Technology.

Coursework: Courses are offered by the McClure School as well as the College of Business and the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. In addition to having advisors from McClure School faculty, students in the Cybersecurity Operations degree have access to one-on-one academic planning advising through the Harris Student Support Center in the Scripps College of Communication.

Laboratories: Our extensive laboratory facilities provide hands-on experiences. Our prized GRID lab features Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), mixed reality experiences, game design, and computer animation.

Mentorship: In collaboration with our Industry Advisory Board, the McClure School offers a Mentorship Program for all students interested in solidifying their professional skills as they prepare to join industry.

B.S. in Cybersecurity Operations Curriculum

Through the Cybersecurity Operations degree, you will gain both a foundational and advanced skillset to solve cybersecurity business and technical problems in diverse business and industrial sectors. 

In addition to µÛÍõ»áËù's general education courses, you will have the opportunity to take core coursework across information networking, cybersecurity principles, data privacy and information systems. You'll also dive into business analytics as well as statistics, coding and communications.

To complete this program, students must meet all University-wide graduation requirements and the College-Level Requirements for the Scripps College of Communication.

Core Courses

These courses provide you with the foundations of information networking, cybersecurity principles, data privacy and information systems.

  • ITS/SEC 1034 Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • ITS 2300 Data Networking
  • ITS 3100 Internet Applications & Network Systems
  • ITS 4310 Privacy in the Internet Age
  • ITS 4510 Network Security
  • ITS 4330 IT Compliance and Planning
  • MIS 2200 Systems Analysis and Design
  • MIS 2800 Business Intelligence and Information Management
  • MIS 3800 Cybersecurity for Business Information Systems
  • Capstone: ITS 4440 Lifecycle Management in Emerging Communications Systems

Electives

You will be able to select five courses from diverse topics in cybersecurity and related topics.

  • ITS 4020 Strategic Decision Making in Info. & Telecom.
  • ITS 4530 Encrypted Communication
  • ITS 4750 Internet Engineering
  • ITS 4900 Topical Seminar
  • ITS 4920 Practicum
  • ITS 4930 Special Studies
  • MIS 2021 Business Information Systems
  • MIS 3200 Systems Development
  • CS 4770 Introduction to Computer Software Security
  • CS 2653 Professional and Ethical Aspects of Computing

Business Analytics

As part of the Cybersecurity Operations degree, all students complete the coursework necessary for the Business Analytics Minor offered by the College of Business.

  • QBA 1720 Introduction to Information Analysis and Descriptive Analytics
  • QBA 2720 Business Analytics

Choose 2 of the courses below:

  • MIS 4580 Advanced Business Intelligence
  • QBA 3720 Predictive Analytics
  • QBA 4720 Prescriptive Analytics

Statistics, Coding and Communications

All students acquire skills to be successful in today's business settings where problem solving, communications and persuasion are key components of cybersecurity daily operations.

  • COMS 1030 Fundamentals of Public Speaking
  • BUSL 2000 Law and Society
  • ITS 2801 Scripting Projects

Choose one among the courses below:

  • COMS 2020 Communication and Persuasion
  • COMS 2500 Organizational Communication for Non majors

Area of Concentration

In coordination with their academic advisor, students are required to propose a 15-credit-hour set of classes from outside the McClure School. This sequence of courses could cover a variety of topics such as foreign languages, marketing, computer science, mathematics, communications, etc.

Career Opportunities

Upon graduating with your Cybersecurity Operations (CSO) bachelor's degree, you'll have the skills to join the growing field of cybersecurity.

The degree will provide you with advanced skills in cybersecurity and its impact on business operations. Through the CSO degree, you will gain competence in areas such as data privacy, industry compliance standards, information networking, security, or encryption.

Some of the graduates from the McClure School's other programs have joined cybersecurity positions at companies like JP Morgan Chase, Amazon, Progressive and Rubrik.

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