St. Bonaventure University, Hilbert College collaborate to offer degrees in cybersecurity

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Aug 27, 2015, 02:31 ET

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y., Aug. 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Bonaventure University and Hilbert College announced today that they will each offer Bachelor of Science degree programs in Cybersecurity beginning in the fall of 2016. They are the only higher education institutions in the region to offer undergraduate majors in this high-demand field.

The two institutions will share faculty resources to offer the programs, taking advantage of St. Bonaventure's expertise in its Department of Computer Science and Hilbert's strength in its Department of Computer Security and Information Assurance.

No travel between campuses will be necessary for students or faculty, as shared courses will be offered via distance-learning technology.

Students in the cybersecurity program will learn the appropriate tools, techniques, policies, and technologies required to identify, analyze, mitigate, and communicate the risks of information systems.

"These programs offer emphasis in both the technical and managerial sides of the cybersecurity field, which distinguishes them from other programs out there," said Alan Katerinsky, Hilbert's Cybersecurity program director and professor of Computer Security and Information Assurance.

"As a complement to our general education curriculum, we have also interwoven ethics across the cybersecurity curriculum, which is of particular concern given the myriad ethical challenges that will face today's and tomorrow's cybersecurity leaders and technicians," said Dr. Steven Andrianoff, St. Bonaventure's Cybersecurity program director and chairperson of the Department of Computer Science.

The Cybersecurity major will prepare students for careers as information systems security professionals, responsible for information systems and security of those systems.

"Given the growing demand for highly skilled information assurance professionals, the cybersecurity program is a perfect example of an innovative program that meets the educational needs and interests of today's students," said Andrianoff.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2012 and 2022, information security analyst positions will grow at a rate of 37 percent. Cybersecurity positions rose 73 percent in the five-year period ending in 2012 — 3.5 times faster than postings for computer jobs as a whole, according to Burning Glass Technologies, a labor market analytics firm.

U.S. News & World Report ranked "information security analyst" third among the best technology jobs, eighth among the top 100 professions and 15th among the highest-paying jobs.

The concept for these programs was developed during the process of investigating a possible strategic alliance between the two schools. A grant from The John R. Oishei Foundation supported the process that included a faculty think tank which envisioned opportunities for academic collaboration. Cybersecurity was identified as one of several potential areas of academic opportunity for the schools.

This collaboration expands upon the partnership between St. Bonaventure and Hilbert College that started more than two decades ago. St. Bonaventure continues to offer graduate programs on the campus of Hilbert College in a weekend format. The institutions are two of more than 20 Franciscan colleges and universities in the U.S.

For additional information about the major in cybersecurity at St. Bonaventure, visit www.sbu.edu/cybersecurity.

For additional information about the major in cybersecurity at Hilbert College, visit: www.hilbert.edu/cybersecurity.

Both institutions encourage prospective students interested in the program to complete their application as soon as possible; space in the first cohorts that will enroll in the fall of 2016 is limited.

More about The John R. Oishei Foundation

The John R. Oishei Foundation strives to be a catalyst for change to enhance economic vitality and quality of life for the Buffalo Niagara region through grantmaking, leadership and network building. The Foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation.

More about St. Bonaventure

The nation's first Franciscan university, we believe in the goodness of every person and in the ability of every person to do extraordinary things. St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders and team members, and innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them. Named the #3 best college value in the North by U.S. News and World Report, we are establishing pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers in the context of our renowned liberal arts tradition. Our students are becoming extraordinary.

More about Hilbert

Hilbert College, located in suburban Hamburg, N.Y., south of Buffalo, is a private four-year college founded in 1957 in the Catholic Franciscan tradition. With nearly 1,100 students, Hilbert is a dynamic Western New York college that offers career-focused majors, including one of the top criminal justice programs in the region, and more than 50 minors and concentrations. The college's engaging, student-centered campus community offers numerous leadership, internship, and service learning opportunities from which students launch successful careers while making positive changes in their communities. The Hilbert Blueprint promotes a well-rounded student experience over four years – starting with the Foundations Seminar in the freshman year, followed by Sophomore Service, Junior Symposium, and culminating with the Senior Capstone. Hilbert has expanded its academic offerings with the college's first graduate programs and new Accelerated Degree Programs geared to adult learners.

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