Computer Science, Cybersecurity Concentration

Cybersecurity Concentration

Securing cyberspace is one of the 14 Grand Challenges for Engineering in the 21st Century.  We rely on software systems for everything from utilities, banking, and entertainment to business, travel, and health care.  However, these systems are vulnerable to attack, which could have a significant impact on our society.  Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand to protect the security and privacy of software systems for government and industry.  

The Cybersecurity Concentration provides students with the opportunity to analyze security risks, define a threat landscape, and defend against threats from adversaries in software, networks, and systems.  Students complete 21 hours of cybersecurity-focused coursework beyond the computer science core. Concentration students complete a concentration capstone project where they will explore cybersecurity solutions as part of an industrially sponsored project.

Students in the Cybersecurity Concentration are eligible to apply for the CyberCorps(R) Scholarship for Service program with the Department of Computer Science.

Departmental Information

The Department of Computer Science is located in Engineering Building II on NC State's Centennial Campus.  

Department of Computer Science

Contact Computer Science Academic Advising

Applicants attending school outside the U.S. must submit the following materials to complete their application:

• Official secondary school transcripts and English translations
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Proof of Financial Ability
• Optional SAT or ACT scores

Applicants attending school in the U.S. must submit the following materials to complete their application:

• Official high school transcripts
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Proof of Financial Ability (for F-1 or J-1 students)
• Optional SAT or ACT scores

Designing computer systems, and the software that runs on them is the job of computer scientists. Computer scientists find demand for their innovation, design, analysis, testing, and engineering skills across all domains. As a direct consequence of the increasingly critical role of computers in society, the discipline of computer science has enjoyed rapid growth for many years, with the trend likely to continue.  Employment projections indicate a critical nationwide shortfall in the supply of people skilled in computing and information technology, and a resulting steady rise in demand and salaries, for decades to come. Computer Science graduates from NC State are in high demand, including by employers that are extremely selective in their national recruiting.

Anchoring one corner of the world-famous Research Triangle Park, and located in modern state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities on NC State's Centennial Campus, the department and its students and faculty benefit from strong and active industry partnerships. NC State Computer Science is one of the top suppliers in the nation of new graduate hires to a number of high-tech companies, including several Fortune 500 companies, some with a substantial presence in the Research Triangle. Starting salaries for our undergraduates now average over $75,000 and show a steady increase. Opportunities are also plentiful for graduate study for those who wish to pursue the field in more depth.

Choose to apply through one of our two applications – we do not have a preference which application you choose. A non-refundable application fee of $100 is required, and application fee waivers are not accepted.

• Common App
• Coalition on Scoir