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Cybercriminology - B.S.

Explore the intersection of crime, technology and human behavior with Kent State’s B.S. in Cybercriminology. You’ll build knowledge in criminology, cybersecurity and digital forensics while developing the skills to understand, investigate and respond to crime and hackers in an increasingly digital world.

 

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Where Criminology Meets Technology: the Cybercriminology Bachelor's Degree from Kent State

As cybercrime evolves, organizations need professionals who understand both the technology behind digital threats and the human behavior that drives them. Kent State's B.S. in Cybercriminology brings those disciplines together, combining criminology with information technology, cybersecurity, digital forensics and criminal investigation.

Through project-based research and experiential learning, you'll explore the legal, ethical and technological dimensions of cybercrime while preparing for careers in cybersecurity, digital forensics, intelligence, law enforcement and related fields.

Program Information for Cybercriminology - B.S.

Program Description

Full Description

The Bachelor of Science degree in Cybercriminology incorporates the understanding of computer systems and networks with criminal behavior and processes in identifying, preventing and investigating cyber-related threats and crimes. Students are involved with project-based research and other experiential learning opportunities focused on technology and the legal, ethical and criminology aspects of modern crime, making them well prepared for work in a myriad of professional positions ranging from security/intelligence analysts and investigators to network and security administrators.

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries*

Computer and information systems managers

  • 15.2% much faster than the average
  • 667,100 number of jobs
  • $171,200 potential earnings

Computer network support specialists

  • 1.8% slower than the average
  • 152,700 number of jobs
  • $73,340 potential earnings

Database administrators

  • -0.7% little or no change
  • 78,000 number of jobs
  • $104,620 potential earnings

Database architects

  • 8.7% much faster than the average
  • 66,900 number of jobs
  • $135,980 potential earnings

Detectives and criminal investigators

  • -0.7% little or no change
  • 117,900 number of jobs
  • $93,580 potential earnings

Information security analysts

  • 28.5% much faster than the average
  • 182,800 number of jobs
  • $124,910 potential earnings

Network and computer systems administrators

  • -4.2% decline
  • 331,500 number of jobs
  • $96,800 potential earnings

Additional careers

  • Computer forensic analysts
  • Cybercrime investigators
  • Digital forensic investigators
  • District attorney’s office investigators
  • Forensic analysts
  • Incident managers
  • Law enforcement agency (local, state, federal)
  • Malware analysts
  • Penetration testers
  • Security architects
  • State department

Admissions for Cybercriminology - B.S.

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students.

First-Year Students on the Kent Campus: First-year admission policy on the Kent Campus is selective. Admission decisions are based upon cumulative grade point average, strength of high school college preparatory curriculum and grade trends. Students not admissible to the Kent Campus may be administratively referred to one of the seven regional campuses to begin their college coursework. For more information, visit the admissions website for first-year students.

First-Year Students on the Regional Campuses: First-year admission to Kent State’s campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, as well as the Twinsburg Academic Center, is open to anyone with a high school diploma or its equivalent. For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of proficiency of the English language (unless they meet specific exceptions) through the submission of an English language proficiency test score or by completing English language classes at Kent State’s English as a Second Language Center before entering their program. For more information, visit the admissions website for international students.

Former Students: Former Kent State students who have not attended another institution since Kent State and were not academically dismissed will complete the re-enrollment process through the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center. Former students who attended another college or university since leaving Kent State must apply for admissions as a transfer or post-undergraduate student.

Transfer Students: Students who attended an educational institution after graduating from high school or earning their GED must apply as transfer students. For more information, visit the admissions website for transfer students.

Admission policies for undergraduate students may be found in the University Catalog's Academic Policies.

Students may be required to meet certain criteria to progress in their program. Any progression requirements will be listed on the program's Coursework tab

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Describe the scope of cyber threats and crimes.
  2. Apply criminological theories to the commission of computer-related crimes.
  3. Apply a solid foundational grounding with digital technologies to digital investigations to combat cybercrime or threats.
  4. Compare and contrast digital and traditional evidence as it relates to investigation, processing and use in prosecution.
  5. Define and apply policies that include privacy, regulatory, legal and ethical considerations as they relate to responding to and/or investigating cyber threats.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
CRIM 12000INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES 3
CRIM 13000CRIME AND TECHNOLOGY 3
CRIM 33200CRIMINAL LAW 3
CRIM 34200CRIMINAL PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE 3
CRIM 36702CRIMINOLOGY 3
CRIM 46800INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY 3
CRIM 46803INFORMATION AND CYBER SECURITY 3
IT 11005INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11009COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 13000APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
IT 15000FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21002NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 21006DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 21110NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING 3
IT 30000PYTHON PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 36320COMPUTER FORENSICS 3
IT 36321DIGITAL AND NETWORK FORENSICS 3
IT 36330NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
IT 36355COMMAND LINE UTILITIES 3
IT 38000AI IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 38001CYBER WARFARE 3
IT 40000CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 46331NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS 3
SOC 32210RESEARCHING SOCIETY (ELR) (WIC) 13
TAS 47999TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC) 13
Major Electives, choose from the following: 26
CRIM 30000
INTRODUCTION TO WHITE COLLAR CRIME
CRIM 37091
SEMINAR IN CRITICAL ISSUES IN CRIMINOLOGY AND JUSTICE STUDIES
CRIM 46792
INTERNSHIP (ELR)
CRIM 46801
HOMELAND SECURITY
CRIM 46802
TERRORISM AND COUNTERTERRORISM
IT 36314
SEMINAR IN EMERGING COMPUTER AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES
IT 36319
GENERATIVE AI AND ETHICS IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (WIC)
IT 36392
INTERNSHIP FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS (ELR)
IT 36396
CERTIFICATION PREPARATION IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
IT 41002
CLOUD TECHNOLOGY
IT 42000
SOCIAL MEDIA SECURITY
IT 46300
ADVANCED COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION
IT 46313
VIRTUAL MACHINE CONFIGURATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
SOC 12050INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (KSS) 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
American Civic Literacy Requirement 33
Kent Core Composition6
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning 43
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts (minimum one course from each) 36-9
Kent Core Social Sciences (must be from two disciplines) 30-3
Kent Core Basic Sciences (must include one laboratory)6-7
Kent Core Additional6
General Elective (total credit hours depends on earning 120 credit hours, including 39 upper-division credit hours)2
Minimum Total Credit Hours:120
1

A minimum C grade must be earned to fulfill the writing-intensive requirement.

2

It is recommended that students choose one criminology and justice studies (CRIM) course and one information technology (IT) course.

3

If students complete the American Civic Literacy requirement by taking HIST 12061, the course will apply to the Kent Core Humanities category. If they complete it with POL 10101, the course will apply to the Kent Core Social Sciences category.

4

Students are strongly advised to take MATH 10041 or MATH 10051 to fulfill the Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning requirement.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
CRIM 12000 INTRODUCTION TO JUSTICE STUDIES 3
IT 11005 INTRODUCTION TO OPERATING SYSTEMS AND NETWORKING TECHNOLOGY 3
SOC 12050 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY (KSS) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester Two
CRIM 13000 CRIME AND TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 11009 COMPUTER ASSEMBLY AND CONFIGURATION 3
IT 13000 APPLIED SECURITY ESSENTIALS 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Three
CRIM 33200 CRIMINAL LAW 3
IT 21002 NETWORK SETUP AND CONFIGURATION 3
American Civic Literacy Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Four
CRIM 34200 CRIMINAL PROCEDURES AND EVIDENCE 3
CRIM 36702 CRIMINOLOGY 3
IT 15000 FUNDAMENTALS OF PROGRAMMING FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 21110 NETWORK ROUTING AND SWITCHING 3
IT 36320 COMPUTER FORENSICS 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Five
CRIM 46800 INTELLIGENCE AND NATIONAL SECURITY 3
IT 21006 DATABASE PROGRAMMING 3
IT 30000 PYTHON PROGRAMMING IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 3
IT 38001 CYBER WARFARE 3
SOC 32210 RESEARCHING SOCIETY (ELR) (WIC) 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Six
IT 36321 DIGITAL AND NETWORK FORENSICS 3
IT 36330 NETWORK SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS 3
IT 36355 COMMAND LINE UTILITIES 3
IT 38000 AI IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND CYBERSECURITY 3
Major Elective 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Seven
IT 40000 CYBERSECURITY 3
IT 46331 NETWORK SECURITY AND FIREWALLS 3
Major Elective 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours15
Semester Eight
CRIM 46803 INFORMATION AND CYBER SECURITY 3
TAS 47999 TECHNICAL AND APPLIED STUDIES CAPSTONE (ELR) (WIC) 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
Kent Core Requirement 3
General Elective 2
 Credit Hours14
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:120

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Fully online
    • Mostly online
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • East Liverpool Campus
    • Geauga Campus
    • Kent Campus
    • Salem Campus
    • Stark Campus
    • Trumbull Campus
    • Tuscarawas Campus
    • Twinsburg Academic Center

What does delivery mean?

Job Opportunities

As our utilization of technology in our personal and professional lives increases, so do the threats to data, privacy, and security.  Graduates of Kent State University's Bachelor of Science degree in Cybercriminology are equipped for careers in cybersecurity, digital forensics, and law enforcement. They can pursue roles as information security analysts, computer network support specialists, and detectives, working to protect organizations from cyber threats, investigate digital crimes, and ensure data security across various sectors.

This is a small list of companies that hire for roles int cybersecurity and emerging technologiye fields:

  • Alphabet
  • Meta
  • Amazon
  • Microsoft
  • Pinterest
  • Tesla
  • Apple
  • Twitter
  • JPMorgan Chase & Co. 

BLS Labor Outlook for Cybersecurity-Related Careers through 2032.

 

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