B.A., Cybersecurity
Want to join the fight against cyberattacks and work in one of the world’s fastest-growing fields? This flexible B.A. program provides a robust foundation that will prepare you to meet the surging demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals and succeed in the ever-changing cyber ecosystem.
With Cybersecurity Ventures research showing some 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs around the world, our expert-taught program provides core competencies that will enable you to protect both public and private organizations from today’s urgent threats. Through in-person, online, and hybrid course options ranging from Computer Networks to Ethical Hacking, our curriculum emphasizes risk management, risk tolerance, and risk mitigation.
A distinguishing characteristic of liberal arts education is a required core curriculum. The Bachelor of Arts programs require the following core courses:
- The Examined Life
- 2 English courses:
- College Writing
- Literary Works or other core literature course - 2 Philosophy courses (one of which should be an Ethics course)
- 2 Theology courses
- 2 Social Science courses
- 2 History courses (1 must be non-Western)
- 1 Quantitative Reasoning course
- 1 Natural Science course
- 1 Arts course
- 1 Cultural Diversity Course
- Designing Your Career
| Requirements for Major (10 courses) | Course Code |
|---|---|
| Cybersecurity Fundamentals | ADIT 2500 |
| Writing with Precision | ADIT 3010 |
| Computer Security | ADIT 2000 |
Programming Elective (Choose One) C++ Programming (ADIT 1990) Python Programming (ADIT 1985) |
ADIT 1990 ADIT 1985 |
| Computer Networks | ADIT 2100 |
| Systems Analysis and Design | ADIT 2757 |
| Ethical Hacking | ADIT 4110 |
| Laws, Frameworks, and Policies in Cybersecurity | ADIT 3500 |
| Incident Response and Disaster Recovery | ADIT 3650 |
| DevOps Automation and Cloud Security | ADIT 3102 |
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Discuss articulately and efficiently with large groups of diverse stakeholders, both technical and non-technical, to effectively demonstrate and communicate security concepts and the value of a modern cybersecurity program.
- Detect, analyze, identify, prioritize, and resolve security vulnerabilities, threats, risks, and breaches using appropriate tools.
- Develop cybersecurity programs, policies, and procedures to manage enterprise security risks.
- Apply security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats.
- Demonstrate foundational knowledge of risk management strategies, including calculation of risk, evaluating risk tolerance, compensating controls, and risk management planning.
- Evaluate and communicate the human role in security systems with an emphasis on ethics, social engineering vulnerabilities and training.
- Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
- Discuss relevant laws, regulations, and frameworks as they apply to cybersecurity operations.
- Describe professional, ethical, legal, security, and social issues and responsibilities related to computing and cybersecurity.
- Upon additional review, the ability to achieve the following industry certifications: Cisco – CCNA, CompTIA – Network+, CompTIA – Security+, CompTIA – CySA+, EC-Council Ethical Hacking, ISACA – CRISC, ISACA – CISA, ISACA – CISM, (ISC)² – CCSP, (ISC)² – SSCP, (ISC)² – CISSP, ITIL Foundations.
Deadlines
- Fall Enrollment
- August 1
- Spring Enrollment
- December 1
- Summer Enrollment
- April 15
- Rolling Admission
- After deadlines, as space permits.
Application
If you are mailing hard copies of application materials, please send them to:
Boston College
Woods College of Advancing Studies Admissions Office
St. Mary's Hall South
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
*Current Woods College Undergraduate degree students interested in adding a certificate to their plan of study should not use the online application.
Academic transcripts
Submit the following:
- Official high school transcript with degree conferral date or official GED
- Official college transcript(s) from all previously attended colleges or universities
If you have been conferred your associate's degree, you may submit an Attestation Form in lieu of an official high school transcript. The completed form can be sent to wcasadm@bc.edu.
Please mail transcripts to:
Boston College
Woods College of Advancing Studies Admissions Office
St. Mary's Hall South
140 Commonwealth Avenue
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
If your academic institution provides electronic transcripts please indicate wcasadm@bc.edu as the recipient.
Applicants whose Native language is not English are required to demonstrate English language proficiency, for required scores, visit our International Student page.
Essay
To be uploaded to your online Application Form.
Please submit one essay by responding to one of the topics listed below. The essay should be typewritten, double-spaced, and should be limited to 500 – 750 words in length.
The essay is essential to the Admissions Committee as it allows the committee to assess your personal goals, your reasons for choosing the program to which you are applying, your commitment to your educational goals, and your writing ability.
- Discuss your reason(s) for applying to the B.A. program at the Woods College of Advancing Studies at this time. Support your reasons with specific examples.
- Discuss your academic goals and how they apply to your planned career and/or life goals.
The essay must be uploaded as part of your online application.
Application Fee
Application fee: $45
- Paid through online application.
Recommendations
Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required. Letters must be sent directly from the recommender through our online application portal or sent directly to Woods College (wcasadm@bc.edu).
Please note: Letters of recommendation should be provided by recommenders who can speak to your professional or academic abilities.
If you are having difficulty securing a second letter of recommendation, please email wcasadm@bc.edu to schedule an interview with the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions. This interview will serve in lieu of the second letter of recommendation.
International Students
1. Demonstrated English Language Proficiency required (minimum TOEFL score of 90-100)
For additional information about scores, visit our International Student page.
2. Interview
For all international students and non-native English speakers, interviews are conducted as part of the application process.
The purpose of the interview is for the admission committee to gain a better sense of an applicant and how the program fits his or her academic and vocational needs. Additionally, the interview provides the committee an opportunity to assess a student’s specific information and to address the unique needs one may have in transitioning to Boston College. The interview will last no more than 15 minutes. Interviews will only be scheduled once an application has been submitted.
3. Transcript Evaluation
All students who have, or are currently attending, an institution outside of the United States must provide a detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation indicating the following:
For BA applicants: conferral of a secondary school degree that is equivalent to a U.S. high school’s degree from an accredited institution.
For MS applicants: conferral of an undergraduate degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
This evaluation is not just an English translation, but a document provided by an accredited evaluating agency that shows all grades, course titles, credit hours, United States degree equivalency, grade-point average (GPA), and date of degree conferral.
This detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation must be submitted to complete the application.
Please request a detailed, course-by-course transcript evaluation for all international institutions where a degree was conferred from one of the following agencies:
Educational Credential Evaluators | Center for Educational Documentation | SpanTran |
World Education Services Inc.
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Financial Aid & Scholarships
For Financial Aid and Scholarship information, please click the link below
Financial Aid and Scholarship Information
Questions
Schedule an appointment with an admissions counselor through our online calendar.