The cybersecurity program offered by Old Dominion University (ODU) educated students with the knowledge of how to protect computer systems, networks, and online data from attacks. This undergraduate program presents coursework with a primary focus on computer science, computer engineering, engineering management, information technology and decision science, information assurance, wireless networking, criminal justice, philosophy, and psychology. Cybersecurity is a broad field with different areas that can branch out. Information technology, computer science, computer engineering, and criminal justice are the most closely related majors to cybersecurity offered by ODU.
Starting with Information Systems and Technology, this undergraduate program offers a combination of business and technical skills that can highlight changes in information technology. Although information technology focuses more on creating computer systems, networks, and applications, it relates closely to cybersecurity because the foundation of cybersecurity starts with information technology.
Computer science focuses on the study of computational systems. In this program, students learn emerging software development skills while also studying coding procedures and demonstrating programming skills. This program is similar to cybersecurity because they both have foundational elements such as courses educating about operating systems, Unix, and Python.
Computer engineering program provides more technical principles underlying the computer area. Hence the word engineering, the core coursework addresses more of the hardware and electrical aspects of computers while taking coursework from computer science to represent the software aspects. Computer engineering implements more of the design, creation, and maintenance of software and hardware components. This course relates to cybersecurity because it presents more of the developing side of computers while cybersecurity focuses more on providing support and security for those computers.
Ending with Criminal Justice, this course provides a strong foundation in law enforcement and crime prevention. This program focuses on the procedures and investigates crime and incidents. This major relates to cybersecurity because the goal of cybersecurity is to protect computer systems from attacks while criminal justice investigates the issue.