Cybersecurity (BS)

Vision Statement

The UMFK Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program will be the preferred interdisciplinary and collaborative leader in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance (IA) education in the state of Maine. We will be recognized throughout the state and nation as a source of knowledge, expertise, and innovation in the fields of Cybersecurity and IA. We will be recognized also for providing ongoing academic leadership in education, research, and practice that empowers our students to be the IS/IT professionals of tomorrow who are capable of meeting this nations Cybersecurity needs.

Mission Statement

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program and National Security Administration (NSA)/Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-recognized UMS distributed Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense is an interdisciplinary collaborative that dedicates itself to promoting the study and advancement of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program prepares professionals capable of leading technological changes in industry both locally and nationally, with an emphasis on the protection of technological infrastructures for the preservation of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance.

It does this by providing a supportive and instructional learning and research environment in which students meet the challenges of developing and mastering in-depth knowledge, understanding, and skill-sets in the varied domains within Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, with hands-on applications in analysis, prevention, deterrence and countermeasures of information security and integrity in a global arena. Students who pursue this program of study will find that hands-on application will enable them to design, implement, and administer the security of information systems by embracing the concepts studied and applying those concepts in laboratory settings.

To achieve this mission, the program faculty and administration:

• Foster and fine-tune the curriculum and student selection process to optimize our role of being a bridge between technology, management, and society,
• Deliver the curriculum through the intelligent use of synchronous, asynchronous learning instructional environments for both full-time and part-time students,
• Promote appropriate student and professional responsibility through a multidisciplinary studies approach,
• Promote instructional excellence that inspires our students to become successful Cybersecurity/Information Assurance practitioners,
• Coordinate availability of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance coursework to assist Maine and the nation meet their demand for Cybersecurity and Information Assurance professionals,
• Develop partnerships and alliances with external corporate and industry organizations for pursuing joint educational and research opportunities in Information Assurance;
• Pursue research and grant opportunities in all areas related to Cybersecurity and Information Assurance,
• Provide outreach opportunities to K-12 educational levels as well as other interested parties and organizations, and
• Promote Cybersecurity collaboration among colleges, government and industry.

Program Description/Goals

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program is designed to prepare students to obtain employment in the cybersecurity field or as a course of study leading to graduate studies in cybersecurity.

Student Learning Outcomes

UMFK Cybersecurity program graduates will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of computing and information technologies and use software development and security analysis tools to produce effective designs and solutions for specific cybersecurity problems within a variety of computing platforms and employing an approved secure systems development process model;
• Identify, analyze, and synthesize scholarly and professional literature relating to the fields of cybersecurity, information security, or information assurance, to help solve specific problems and to stay abreast of the rapidly changing security context;
• Participate as an active and effective member of a project team engaged in achieving specific computer-based results or solutions;
• Communicate, both orally and in writing, and negotiate with colleagues and other stakeholders including employees, managers, and executives. Negotiation and communication skills should also extend to all relevant external persons and organizations;
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and sound judgment on ethical issues as they arise in information security and cyber defense and will adhere to accepted norms of professional responsibility;
• Integrate knowledge from other disciplines, such as economics, management science, psychology and human factors, with their technical expertise to arrive at practical solutions that work successfully in real organizations; and
• Use appropriate tools to prevent, detect, react, and recover from attacks.