Select four other majors offered by ODU and explain how those majors relate to cybersecurity.
As I have learned, cybersecurity is interdisciplinary; meaning it is too complex to stick to just one discipline. Cybersecurity encompasses many different academic disciplines ranging from criminology to information systems and technology. I will discuss 4 different majors offered at ODU that relate to cybersecurity.
The first major that I will discuss that ODU offers is a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for Information Systems & Technology. This major relates to cybersecurity because it teaches students how to protect an organization’s ability to function. This is helpful because if there were to be a cybersecurity event, after the event has been detected and responded to, the last step in the five framework core functions is to recover. To recover after an event is to maintain resilience and to restore any capabilities or services that were impacted by the cybersecurity incident. This major also teaches students how to protect data that the organization collects and uses, and with data being a target for cyber-attacks, it works hand in hand with cybersecurity and its goal to “detect and thwart would-be intruders.” (Kemmerer, 2003).
The second major that relates to cybersecurity that is offered at ODU is a Bachelor of Science for Criminal Justice. Criminal Justice focuses on the judicial system and prosecution of those who are convicted of committing a crime. With technology rapidly advancing and cyber-threats becoming more and more sophisticated, a degree in Criminal Justice will teach students how to detect offenses, how they should respond, and what punishments should be given to those who commit crimes in the cyber space. As new threats emerge, new laws may need to be passed to properly and fairly charge those who commit illegal activities. For example, according to the FBI website, white collar crime wasn’t coined until 1939 because these types of crimes were not common before. Using this example, as technology continues to rapidly grow, so will cyber-crimes, therefore, new prosecution methods may be needed to keep up with the ongoing threat to cybersecurity.
The third major that ODU offers that relates to cybersecurity is the major that I am currently taking, a Bachelor of Science in Cybercrime. Cybercrime is an interdisciplinary study that melds the different academic disciplines that make up cybersecurity. It is a blend of cybersecurity, information systems and technology, and criminology. These three disciplines are all relevant to cybersecurity because it not only allows the student to learn about the mindset of criminals, the laws that are in place to prosecute these criminals, but also how to be defend against cybersecurity incidents. I find this major to be the most “all around” in comparison to the other majors mentioned because it takes the same ideology of cybersecurity being interdisciplinary and applies it to its teachings. Cybersecurity is more than just understanding how to program, or deter cyber events, and this degree teaches students the different aspects/disciplines of cybercrime. Taking this major will give students a more interdisciplinary approach to combating cybersecurity by being able to understand the purpose of the attack, how the attacker should be punished, and how the organization that was attacked should recover and defend against future incidents.
The last major I will discuss is a Bachelor of Science for Cyber operations. Cyber operations is another interdisciplinary major that according to the ODU website “encompasses the entire scope of cyberspace and related operations that are both technical and non-technical”. This means that students who take this major will have the ability to analyze attacks and defend an organization. One potential job that a student could obtain from this major is a career in Information Security Analysis, who’s primary focus is on planning, implementing, and monitoring the protection of computer networks and information. With defense in mind, students should also be able to specialize in areas such as physical security, information security, and personnel security. After all, cybersecurity involves reducing the risks of malicious intruders.
In summary, ODU offers many different majors that could also relate to cybersecurity. However, these were the ones that stuck out the most to me. The beauty of an interdisciplinary approach is that people of all different disciplines could contribute to the complexity of cybersecurity. ODU offers many different programs that can aid in the advancement of cybersecurity, to help deter cybercrime, and create a safe digital environment for everyone.
Sources:
https://online.odu.edu/academics/programs
https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqs/what-is-white-collar-crime-and-how-is-the-fbi-combating-it
Craigen, Diakun-Thibault, and Purse (2014)- Defining Cybersecurity: Technology Innovation Management Review