New Cyber Security Engineering Program Offered at USU

Utah State University will be the first Utah school to offer a bachelor’s degree in cyber security engineering.

“Secure, safe and reliable engineered systems are needed now more than ever,” said Jake Gunther, head of the electrical and computer engineering department. “We want to develop the next generation of cyber security engineers and ensure that we’re preparing our students to be leaders in the next five to ten years. Adding a new degree program in this area is a big deal and we are grateful for the support to do so.”

The undergraduate program will be housed in the electrical and computer engineering department. New faculty with cyber security experience are being hired, and the degree will be ABET accredited.

Engineered systems that power our modern society are increasingly susceptible to physical and virtual threats. Water and energy systems, transportation and logistics, banking and finance, manufacturing, national defense, government and more all depend on secure cyber infrastructure.

The cyber security engineering BS degree path prepares future leaders who design and create robust safeguards for complex, interconnected systems. It will train future engineering professionals to design hardware and software solutions that are resilient to cyber attacks.

In 2023, $4.5 million in ongoing funding from the Utah Legislature was awarded to support the next generation of nursing and computer science professionals. These funds will ensure USU recruits top cyber security faculty who will bring their experience and knowledge to prepare students to take on current and future challenges.