The first major that I found that relates to cybersecurity is computer engineering. It’s such a broad field that has many different specializations of which cybersecurity is one. Computer engineering is very important to cybersecurity as it is the start of the life cycle for the creation of the technologies, environments and information systems that as Cybersecurity professionals we are tasked with securing. The computer hardware systems that they are developing will need to not only accomplish their mission but need security built in to mitigate against threats. The computer networks they are developing need to ensure they are using protocols that have security built in like ipv6 instead of networks and protocols where security was an afterthought like ipv4. As well becoming more and more prevalent is the field of data analytics engineering that computer engineers work with. We need to be able to better understand the fabric of data analytics systems in order to better utilize and create the next generation of anti virus and security monitoring as well as protect against attacks on our data and AI systems.

The second major I found that I chose related to cybersecurity was Communications. There in the program highlight ODU identifies that among other things the major provides students research and insight into group and strategic communication. This is the part of cybersecurity that I feel is the most overlooked. You can have the best and brightest software, computer, and security engineers on the front lines of your organization or federal agency, but if they are unable to articulate their work, research and findings to their leadership properly who in turn needs to be able to articulate the same to senior leadership then all the brainpower is for not. Written and verbal communication is something that every technical job I’ve ever had, no matter how small or grand, has always required. The ability to speak tech to any audience, sometimes non technical at all, and get buy in and understanding of what you are doing is crucial to the success of any cybersecurity professional.

The third major I found that I believe relates to cybersecurity is that of Applied Mathematics. Old Dominion explains that this major offers computational math classes to teach mathematical computer modeling. There is no more appropriate class for the discipline of cryptography. The essence of cryptography is science of complex mathematical algorithms, prime numbers, pattern identification, and finding the most efficient way to make these computations. Not only that but at the root of how we communicate with systems on a network and then subdivide those networks for the purposes of ease in management and security is based on mathematical calculations. I’m referring to subnets and VLSM (variable length subnet masks).

The last major that I wanted to discuss was that of international studies. While not a technical field like one would expect, it goes hand and hand with communications as far as level of importance especially since we live in a such a global community. If you look at some of the careers that this major prepares you for you see both intelligence analyst and political scientist are listed. Sun Tzu very famously said in Art of War, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” For anyone who wants to work in national security a degree in international studies would be paramount to that. You can’t protect yourself from every possible threat imaginable from every person in the world that would want to do you harm. In order to best direct your efforts and utilize your resources an understanding of the international community, their mindset, culture and objectives would go a long way in helping you do just that.