The Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Cybersecurity is designed to meet the growing employment demands for an information security related workforce. This program is for undergraduate students with a strong interest in practical and applied training in information technology and cybersecurity pathways and who have already earned an associate’s degree or equivalent hours and are looking to complete the last two years necessary for a bachelor’s degree. The program is completed online.
The Kansas City area is home to numerous tech-sector growth initiatives, such as the National Security Crossroads, an effort led by Kansas and Missouri focused on raising government awareness of security-related operations. These initiatives encompass seven major military bases as well as 11 national-security installations. In 2020, more than 20,000 tech-job openings were posted in Kansas City, the third-highest percentage growth in tech jobs in the U.S., trailing only San Francisco and Austin. In the next 10 years, the region’s tech-workforce demand is expected to increase. More specifically related to information security workforce needs, in 2019 the Mid-America Regional Council identified a need to strengthen educational offerings in cybersecurity to meet area employers’ growing demand for talent. Nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 16,300 openings for information security analysts are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
The B.A.S. in Applied Cybersecurity follows university admission requirements for transfer students. In addition to the university GPA requirements, students applying to the B.A.S. in Applied Cybersecurity must also have eared a C (2.0 GPA) or better in College Algebra or higher.
First year students apply for admission through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
This program offers flexible pathways for students to complete their degree. Students can take foundational courses at community colleges or the KU Lawrence Campus, and complete upper-level coursework through the School of Professional Studies.
Upper-level course requirements for the major are available online.
The School of Professional Studies strongly encourages students to contact an academic advisor prior to applying for admission to develop a personalized degree completion plan. To schedule an appointment, please call 913-897-8539.
Transfer students with an associate’s degree or equivalent:
- Students with an associate's degree or equivalent, after meeting with an advisor and developing a degree completion plan, can typically begin taking junior and senior-level courses in their major.
Transfer students with 24-59 credit hours:
- Students with 24-59 credits, after meeting with an advisor and developing their plan, may still need to complete prerequisite and lower-level courses.
- Please note that online lower-level courses are limited, and no lower-level courses are offered at the Edwards Campus.
- Students may find more lower-level course availability in-person at the Lawrence Campus or at a community college.
- Schedule an appointment with an advisor and create a personalized plan, contact 913-897-8539.
First-year students:
Incoming first-year students wanting to pursue this major apply through the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. An academic advisor will guide you through lower-level course selections and help you declare Applied Cybersecurity as your academic major when you are ready to begin junior and senior level courses.
First-year students should select the following options on the KU admission application:
Program: College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Plan: Deciding
Subplan: Science and Technology
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| MATH 101 | College Algebra: _____ | 3-5 |
| or MATH 104 | Precalculus Mathematics |
| or MATH 115 | Calculus I |
| or MATH 125 | Calculus I |
| MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| or BSAN 202 | Statistics |
| or EECS 461 | Probability and Statistics |
| or MATH 107 | Introductory Statistics |
| or MATH 526 | Applied Mathematical Statistics I |
| or MATH 628 | Mathematical Theory of Statistics |
| or PSYC 210 | Statistics in Psychological Research |
| ITEC 303 | Discrete Math for Information Technology Professionals | 3 |
| or EECS 210 | Discrete Structures |
| ITEC 301 | Survey of Information Systems | 3 |
| ITEC 302 | Python, Algorithms, and Data Structures | 3 |
| or EECS 268 | Programming II |
| ITEC 380 | Managing IT Projects | 3 |
| PFS 301 | Communication in the Workplace | 3 |
| or ENGL 362 | Foundations of Technical Writing |
| PFS 302 | Leadership in Practice | 3 |
| or ABSC 150 | Community Leadership |
| or BBA 303 | Survey of Management and Leadership |
| or BBA 305 | Operations and Supply Chain Management |
| or COMS 342 | Problem Solving in Teams and Groups |
| or MGMT 305 | Survey of Management and Leadership |
| or MGMT 310 | Principles of Management |
| or PUAD 441 | Public Service Leadership |
| or SCM 310 | Management Science and Operations Management |
| ITEC 312 | Emerging Technologies in Cybersecurity | 3 |
| ITEC 340 | Computer and Information Security | 3 |
| ITEC 342 | Information Security Management | 3 |
| ITEC 420 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| ITEC 422 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| ITEC 424 | Network Security | 3 |
| ITEC 426 | Cyber Defense and Countermeasures | 3 |
| ITEC 428 | Testing and Vulnerability Analysis | 3 |
| ITEC 450 | Social and Professional Issues | 3 |
| ITEC 454 | Information Security Law and Policy | 3 |
| |
| Computer Organization and Platform Technologies | |
| Fundamentals of Applied Data Analytics | |
| Database Applications | |
| System and Network Administration | |
| Web Systems and Technologies | |
| Fundamentals of Data Visualization | |
| Data Mining and Intelligence | |
| Software Engineering and Management | |
| Predictive Analytics and Forecasting | |
| Database Design | |
| System Integration and Architecture | |
| Digital Forensics | |
| Human-Computer Interaction | |
| Cloud Computing | |
| Special Topics in ITEC: _____ | |
| ITEC 490 | ITEC Capstone | 3 |
| Total Hours | 118-120 |
While completing all required courses, students must also meet each of the following hour and grade-point average minimum standards:
Total Hours: Satisfied by a minimum of 120 total hours.
Junior/Senior Hours: Satisfied by a minimum of 45 junior/senior hours (300+) hours.
Graduation GPA: Satisfied with a minimum 2.0 KU GPA and a minimum of a "C" in all Foundational Information Systems Core, Professional Studies Core, Applied Cybersecurity Core, Applied Cybersecurity Electives, and Capstone requirements.
B.A.S. Applied Cybersecurity 4-Year Graduation Plan
The undergraduate program in applied cybersecurity B.A.S. is designed for students who have earned an associate’s degree or equivalent hours (freshman/sophomore level) and wish to complete the upper-level courses necessary for a bachelor’s degree. Junior/Senior level KU courses are offered online through the School of Professional Studies at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park.
Students considering this degree option should contact the Applied Cybersecurity academic advisor on the Edwards Campus (913-897-8539) for advising on the first two years of study. An academic advisor will help develop a personalized program plan of study for degree completion.
| Freshman |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 | Core 34: English (SGE)010 | 3 |
| Core 34: Communications (SGE)020 | 3 | Core 34: Natural and Physical Sciences (SGE)040 | 4 |
| Core 34: Math and Statistics (SGE) College Algebra Pathway*030 | 3 | Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 |
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 | Elective | 2 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Sophomore |
|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
|---|
| Core 34: Social and Behavioral Sciences (SGE)050 | 3 | Core 34: Global Culture (SGE)070 | 3 |
| Core 34: US Culture (SGE)070 | 3 | MATH 365 (or MATH 107*) | 3 |
| Core 34: Arts and Humanities (SGE)060 | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective | 3 |
| Elective | 3 | Elective 1 | 3 |
| | 15 | | 15 |
| Total Hours 60 |
Third and Fourth Year Online through the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park
Notes:
* This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to effectively work as both a team member and leader in workplace environments.
- Effectively communicate to a wide-ranging audience with varying levels of technical ability.
- Recognize the need and importance of continued learning and professional development.
- Analyze systems, programs, and processes (for security risks in Cyber; data problems in Applied Data) and provide appropriate analysis and solutions.
- Apply current practices and procedures.
