I have been searching for colleges with good computer science.
I have been surprised to find most only have one or two classes about cyber security, hacking, or data mining. This has been a disappointment to me as I am interested in this branch of computer science, and want to be prepared to be useful in cyber warfare scenarios (http://map.norsecorp.com/) that may arise in the future. I would love to see what it takes to be the one to make sure government secrets are safe in databases, or that target isn’t getting credit card information stolen from it.
Perhaps cyber security really isn’t as complicated as I think it is, and is thus not deserving of any more than one or two classes at a school. If so please let me know, I know basically nothing about this branch of computer science so it is quite possible it is much simpler then I think it is.
What are some schools that are ahead of the ball when it comes to cyber security, encryption, ethical hacking?
That’s because at the undergraduate level, most of your classes are going to be core/foundational classes. Typically you only have room for a few electives - maybe 3-5 at most - within your major. Cybersecurity is really typically a concentration that you develop on the graduate level.
If you are looking for data mining classes, also check out the statistics major/department as a lot of data mining classes are actually housed there. You also might look for classes on cryptography - a lot of CS departments or math departments offer at least one class in that area.
A lot of “security” topics are core topics that you’ll get in a lot of programs - OS and Networks classes for example. While they aren’t explicitly labeled security, they are very relevant.
I would recommend looking at:
Univiserity of Maryland (ACES program): http://www.aces.umd.edu/
Northeastern (solid CS, Cyber Ops concentration, data science degree offered as well):
https://www.ccis.northeastern.edu/program/computer-science-bs-and-ba/
Sample of CS with CyberOps: http://www.northeastern.edu/rasala/data/ug2014/CSBS_Cyber_2014.htm
I don’t know all the programs, but looking for schools with security concentrations would be the route to go.
If you’re looking into CyberSec, I’d recommend taking a look here (sfs.opm.gov) at the government’s Scholarship for Service program. It allows select students at participating universities to get full-rides plus an annual stipend for up to 3 years, with the promise of working for local/state/federal government(s) for the length of the scholarship. You might not get the scholarship, but the list of participating universities will give you an idea of what the government is looking for since that seems to be your goal.
You could also try to attend an in-state university, do well, and then move on to graduate school.
@LiberaCivitas Thankyou so much! I am definitely looking at that program. I just need to make sure I like cyber security enough to commit myself to a few years of it.
UIUC is known for getting lots of research grants in the cybersecurity area.