Cybersecurity
About Our Program
From smartphones and credit card readers to voting machines and even your car—cybersecurity is what keeps our digital infrastructure safe. It protects hospitals, power grids, water systems, and the sensitive data that shapes our daily lives.
At St. Lawrence, you’ll gain the knowledge and hands-on skills to build and protect the systems that power the world. Our technically rigorous and interdisciplinary Cybersecurity major blends computer science fundamentals with real-world applications, ethical reasoning, and a global perspective. You’ll learn to build secure software and systems, stop cyberattacks, secure networks, analyze vulnerabilities, and make informed, ethical decisions in high-stakes environments.
Your professors are more than teachers—they're mentors with industry and research experience in areas like AI, biometrics, cyber-physical systems, cyber- and data-ethics and policy, drone resilience, encryption, ethical hacking, hardware security, network monitoring and security, and software engineering. They’ll challenge you to think critically, work collaboratively, and lead confidently in one of the fastest-growing fields in the world.
Learning Experiences to Prepare for Your Career
Because our digital world is deeply interconnected with all aspects of society, our cybersecurity major is enriched by subjects across our liberal arts curriculum.Hands-On Learning with Industry Tools
Your faculty mentors will help you learn how to build, maintain, and defend software and systems and put cybersecurity into practice. You'll gain real-world skills that help you stand out in the job market through:
- Hacking labs that teach how to stop cyberattacks and analyze systems to find vulnerabilities before attacks even happen
- Programming practice using industry-standard tools and languages such as Python, Java, C, SQL, and more
- Cybersecurity internships and research fellowships
- Study abroad programs in places like New York City, London, Australia, and more
- Practice for certification exams like the CompTIA Security+ to prepare for cybersecurity careers
- Course projects you can proudly display on your resume and talk about in job and internship interviews
- Training and access to Ada, our high-performance computing cluster with more than 400 processors, 2.6TB of main memory, and NVidia graphics cards for machine learning
Explore Lab Makerspace
You'll have total access to the Explore Lab, our on-campus makerspace filled with everything you need for hands-on learning from 3D printers and laser cutters to soldering and electronics, software training, and more.
Meet Professor Ed Harcourt
With decades of experience as a software engineer, a passion for hands-on learning, and a penchant for diving deep into the zeros and ones of computing, Charles A. Dana Professor of Computer Science Ed Harcourt brings the digital world to life for St. Lawrence University students.
What’s one class you love teaching—and why?
I have the most fun teaching CS220: Computer Organization and Design. This class dives into the gritty details of how a computer works at its most basic level—binary. It demystifies the magic behind our digital world and shows how everything boils down to zeros and ones zipping through our devices and the Internet.
How do students get hands-on experience in your classes?
In Computer Organization, we use wallet-sized computers called Raspberry Pis. Students get real, hands-on experience building and troubleshooting these systems, which makes abstract concepts tangible.
What’s a favorite memory from your teaching career?
I once taught a course where students built the University’s computer labs from scratch. They assembled the hardware, networked the systems, and installed software. Then we used those machines to dive deeper into the Linux operating system. It was incredible to see their confidence grow as they brought the lab to life.
Peterson Quantitative Resource Center
Encouraging and developing quantitative reasoning, skills, and applications, the PQRC provides walk-in peer tutoring for students across all majors including cybersecurity. You can gain help (or help others!) preparing for a quiz or exam, analyzing data, calculating and interpreting statistics, using quantitative software, designing an experiment, or anything else that would support your academic success.
Festival of Science
St. Lawrence comes together each April to learn about and celebrate the research students conduct on campus every day. Share your research during a community day focused on what you and your peers have accomplished.
Industry Certifications
In the fast-paced world of cybersecurity, you'll be ready to quickly learn cutting-edge tools and stay ahead of the curve with new certifications as the industry continues to evolve. As part of your coursework, we'll prepare you to take and pass the industry-standard CompTIA Security+ exam that will help your resume stand out from other applicants.
Preparing for In-Demand Careers
Cybersecurity experts are in high demand. Every business, hospital, school, and government needs trained professionals to stop cybercrime. At St. Lawrence, you'll gain the necessary skills to pursue careers like:
- Information Security Analyst
- Ethical Hacker
- Security Auditor
- Intrusion Detection Analyst
- Data Recovery Technician
- Software Engineer
Center for Career Excellence
In addition to guidance from your faculty mentors, you'll have our Center for Career Excellence at your disposal to help you explore career opportunities through our signature career programs, internships, and nationally ranked alumni network.
Why St. Lawrence for Cybersecurity
Hands On Courses that Challenge You
You'll learn how to build resilient software and systems and protect them against cyber threats through courses like:
- Computer Networking and Security
- Web Programming
- Cryptography
- Software Engineering
Liberal Arts Advantage
Integrating technical skills with political, societal, and global context will make you a better programmer who understands and articulates how the software and systems you build and protect impact the people and societies in which we live.
Meet Prof. Torrey
Associate Professor of Computer Science Lisa Torrey's courses inspire intellectual curiosity and civic responsibility in order to equip students with the skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.
Professional Certifications Prep
You'll prepare for real-world credentials by completing mock exams for the CompTIA Security+ certification, and even have the opportunity to sit for the official exam during your senior year.
Day 1
Any student can get into and take introductory computer science classes as early as their first semester
Tech-rich Global Cities
Explore cybersecurity topics and their global context through our off-campus study programs in New York City, London, France, Australia, and more.
Fast-Growing Careers
Cybersecurity experts are in high demand. With a cybersecurity degree from St. Lawrence, you'll be ready to take on important roles in a wide range of industries, including:
- Ethical Hacking
- Software Engineering
- Information Security
- Digital Forensics
- Cybercrime Prevention
- Risk and Policy Consulting
- National Defense Contractors
- Government Agencies
- Network Security Specialist
More Program Information
Program Requirements & Courses
Learn more about the courses and requirements for cybersecurity.
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Cybersecurity Faculty
Our cybersecurity program is taught by faculty with expertise in security, systems, philosophy, and applied mathematics, allowing you to explore a deeply integrated curriculum from your first course to your last.
Dr. Kevin A. Angstadt
Assistant Professor
Math, Computer Science, and Statistics Department
Lisa Torrey
Associate Professor
Math, Computer Science, and Statistics Department
Dr. Ed Harcourt
Charles A. Dana Professor
Math, Computer Science, and Statistics Department
Dr. Jennifer L Hansen
Professor
Philosophy Department
Choong-Soo Lee
Associate Professor
Math, Computer Science, and Statistics Department
Get More Information
We’re excited to learn more about you, tell you more about our interdisciplinary academic programs, show you around our beautiful campus, and help you navigate your college search.
Apply to St. Lawrence
We’re looking for curious students who are eager to make a difference. We take a holistic approach to reviewing applications and consider all aspects of your application and what we learn about you.