New Cybersecurity Major at St. Lawrence University Prepares Students for a Complex Digital World
St. Lawrence University has announced the launch of a new Bachelor of Science degree in cybersecurity, a technically rigorous and interdisciplinary program approved by the New York State Education Department. This major was developed to meet the fast-growing demand for cybersecurity professionals who are well-rounded problem-solvers ready to tackle complex cyber threats with both deep technical expertise and ethical reasoning. St. Lawrence is among the first liberal arts institutions in the region to offer a full major in cybersecurity.
St. Lawrence’s cybersecurity major provides a strong foundation in computer science and systems enriched by the University’s broad liberal arts tradition. The curriculum features instruction in secure coding and software engineering, operating systems, network defense, ethical hacking, database security, and cryptography—complemented by vital insights from philosophy, political science, psychology, and economics.
“Cybersecurity is a deeply technical field—our program teaches students how systems work from the ground up and how to defend them against attacks in real-world scenarios,” says Charles A. Dana Professor of Computer Science Ed Harcourt, one of the program’s architects. “Students will graduate with hands-on experience designing, breaking, and securing our modern digital infrastructure.”
Cybersecurity is a deeply technical field—our program teaches students how systems work from the ground up and how to defend them against attacks in real-world scenarios."
–Charles A. Dana Professor of Computer Science Ed Harcourt
St. Lawrence’s cybersecurity major includes a suite of high-level technical courses such as Computer Systems and Security, Cybersecurity, Operating Systems and Security, Web Programming, and Computer Networking and Security. A required experiential learning component gives students practical experience in both defensive and offensive security strategies, including penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and cryptographic analysis. Students are also prepared for industry-standard certifications, such as CompTIA Security+, before graduation.
At the same time, St. Lawrence’s cybersecurity program emphasizes and integrates the human and ethical dimensions of cybersecurity. A required Cyberethics course, developed and taught by faculty in philosophy, equips students to grapple with ethical and legal puzzles like ethical hacktivism, intellectual property, AI and machine learning, surveillance, and cyberwarfare.
“Today’s security challenges demand professionals who can reason ethically, understand global systems, and anticipate unintended consequences,” says Professor of Philosophy Jennifer Hansen, who developed the Cyberethics course. “We equip students with an ethical toolkit for analyzing and evaluating the systems they will study in our core technical electives and eventually build and maintain in industry.”
The program’s design promotes experiential learning through internships, independent research, and study abroad programs focused on global cyber challenges. Technical and related electives are drawn from across the curriculum, encouraging students to double-major in fields such as political science, psychology, or economics.
“We’ve intentionally built a major that’s rich in technical training but also provides flexibility to students,” says Assistant Professor of Computer Science Kevin Angstadt, who helped spearhead the new major and is a 2014 graduate of St. Lawrence. “Whether students want to become ethical hackers, security analysts, or pursue further training in graduate programs, they’ll leave here with the knowledge and skills to make a significant impact in cybersecurity.”
Whether students want to become ethical hackers, security analysts, or pursue further training in graduate programs, they’ll leave here with the knowledge and skills to make a significant impact in cybersecurity.”
–Assistant Professor of Computer Science Kevin Angstadt
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for information security analysts are expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations, with median salaries around $125,000. A 2024 report from the National Science Foundation also confirmed that cybersecurity roles are projected to outpace national job growth for years to come.
St. Lawrence’s new major also reflects its commitment to interdisciplinary innovation. The University has recently launched majors in data science, pre-health chemistry, and digital media and film, among others, and the new cybersecurity program draws on many existing faculty strengths and course offerings—enabling students to explore diverse areas of interest while building technical depth.
Faculty teaching the core technical courses have significant expertise and background in cybersecurity topics, including decades of combined industry experience and partnerships, federally funded research, and training from top research programs in artificial intelligence, cryptography, computer networking, software engineering, and computer architecture.
“This is a serious program for serious students,” says Vice President of the University and Dean of Academic Affairs Alison Del Rossi. “It’s going to resonate with students and families who are looking for meaningful career outcomes, but who also want the intellectual breadth, depth, and intensive mentorship of a liberal arts education.”
The program officially launches and will begin accepting students in Fall 2025.
