Cybersecurity Major

Protect People. Defend Systems. Lead with Integrity.

Cybersecurity is no longer only a technology issue. It is a human, organizational, and ethical challenge. Every day, individuals, businesses, schools, churches, hospitals, financial institutions, and government agencies depend on secure digital systems to protect information, privacy, operations, and trust. As artificial intelligence makes cyberattacks more convincing, scalable, and difficult to detect, organizations need professionals who can think critically, act ethically, and defend systems in a rapidly changing threat environment.

At Wisconsin Lutheran College, our Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity prepares students to meet that need with technical skill, ethical discernment, and Christian purpose. You will build a strong foundation in computer science while learning how to anticipate cyber threats, secure networks and systems, investigate incidents, understand cybercrime and governance, and use ethical hacking techniques to identify vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.

Cybersecurity is a field for students who are curious, analytical, persistent, and motivated to solve hard problems. It is also a field for students who want their work to matter. At WLC, you’ll prepare for more than a career. You’ll learn to use your gifts to protect others, serve organizations, and uphold ethical standards in an increasingly vulnerable digital world.

Why Study Cybersecurity at WLC?

A Cybersecurity Degree Built on Computer Science

Cybersecurity professionals need more than a checklist of tools. To protect systems well, they must understand how software, networks, databases, systems, and users interact. Students will complete core work in computer science while adding specialized cybersecurity courses in network security, governance, operations, ethical hacking, emerging threats, and applied capstone or internship experience.

Our computer science program emphasizes both theory and practice, helping students learn how to test, retest, iterate, and solve complex problems. Students gain experience with multiple programming languages and have access to a networked computer lab with Windows and Linux operating systems, along with WLC’s Makerspace for hands-on, project-based learning.

A Major That Strengthens Other Fields of Study

Cybersecurity connects naturally with many areas of study because nearly every field now depends on secure digital systems, responsible data use, and trustworthy technology. Our cybersecurity major is designed to pair well with other academic interests, giving students the flexibility to connect technical preparation with broader career goals.

Students interested in computer science can deepen their understanding of secure software, systems, and networks. Students drawn to business or business analytics can prepare for work in cyber risk, compliance, operations, and technology-enabled decision-making. Those interested in criminal justice can explore the investigative and legal dimensions of cybercrime. Students in communication, politics and law, English, or sociology can connect cybersecurity with digital privacy, policy, public trust, ethics, and organizational communication.

Whether you pursue cybersecurity as your primary major, add a minor, or consider a double major, our curriculum allows you to build a path that fits your interests and career goals.

Ethical Leadership for a High-Stakes Field

Cybersecurity is about protecting more than data. It is about protecting people, organizations, communities, and critical systems. WLC’s mission is rooted in quality teaching, scholarship, and service, with the goal of preparing students for lives of Christian leadership. In the cybersecurity major, that mission comes to life through a program that emphasizes technical excellence and ethical responsibility. You'll graduate prepared to safeguard information, defend digital systems, and serve others with integrity in a field where trust matters.

Personal Support and mentorship

At WLC, you will not be lost in a lecture hall. You will study in a close-knit Christian academic community where faculty and staff know you, challenge you, and support your growth.

Why Cybersecurity Matters

Digital systems power nearly every part of modern life. They store medical records, process financial transactions, manage supply chains, support national defense, connect classrooms, and keep organizations running. When those systems are attacked, the consequences can be personal, financial, operational, and even societal.

Artificial intelligence is adding new urgency to the field. AI can help organizations detect threats, analyze patterns, and strengthen defenses, but it can also help attackers create more convincing phishing messages, impersonate trusted people, generate fake images or videos, and scale scams more quickly. The result is a cybersecurity landscape where technical skill must be paired with human judgment, ethical decision-making, and the ability to keep learning.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment for information security analysts to grow 29% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. BLS also reports about 16,000 projected openings each year, on average, over that decade. CyberSeek reported 514,359 employer job listings for cybersecurity positions in the U.S. market during its May 2024–April 2025 reporting period, with 10% of cybersecurity listings specifically referencing artificial intelligence skills.

For students, this means cybersecurity offers more than job demand. It offers a chance to enter a field where learning never stops, ethical judgment matters, and skilled professionals are needed across industries.

What You'll Study

CYB 101 – Introduction to Cybersecurity

In today’s world, no one is safe from cyber-attacks, but everyone can be prepared. This course will teach you how malicious actors use social manipulation and technology to launch devastating attacks – and provide you with the tools you'll need to defend against them. Whether you pursue one of the many available jobs in cybersecurity or just want to secure your own privacy, you'll learn how to make the Internet safer.

CYB 201 – Network and System Security

Modern organizations know that even the strongest systems can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. As a result, jobs in cybersecurity are rapidly expanding as companies look to secure their digital assets. This course will teach you how to secure those assets by identifying and fixing potential security vulnerabilities. By the end of the course, you will be able to identify and remedy common network and systems vulnerabilities.

CYB202 – Cybercrime and Governance

This course explores the critical role of governance in mitigating cybercrime and ensuring the integrity of digital environments. You will learn how governments detect and stop cybercrimes and become familiar with the laws and policies in place to deter cybercriminals. Develop and implement robust security policies procedures that align with legal and ethical standards and help create a resilient, compliant digital ecosystem.

CYB 301 – Security Operations

The moments after a breach can make or break an organization. When the unthinkable happens and a cybercrime is discovered, the actions taken by the security operations team can either contain the damage and restore order or lead to catastrophic consequences. This course examines the tools and techniques used to conduct investigations into cybercrimes and teaches the defensive skills necessary to ensure a breach doesn’t occur in the first place.

CYB 302 – Ethical Hacking

To stop a hacker, you need to be able to think like a hacker. In this course, you will learn hands-on techniques for attacking and penetrating networks and systems. You’ll learn the tools to launch these offensive tactics, and then complete a hands-on project where you will be asked to ethically hack a real system.

CYB 401 – The Future of Cybersecurity

Technology is racing forward, and cybersecurity must stay ahead to meet new challenges and threats. In this class, you will learn about the changing landscape of cybersecurity, emerging mobile technologies that are likely to be targeted, and new forms of cyber-attacks being launched. By the end of the course, you will be able to implement the most cutting-edge practices in cybersecurity in order to protect against attacks.

CYB 485 – Cybersecurity Capstone

The Capstone course is the culmination of the Cybersecurity program, allowing students to apply their knowledge to real-world challenges. Students will undertake a comprehensive project integrating various aspects of cybersecurity, including log analysis, vulnerability assessment, incident response, ethical hacking, and cloud security. This project will develop critical thinking skills and prepare students for major cybersecurity certifications.

What You’ll Be Able to Do

As a cybersecurity major at WLC, you'll graduate prepared to:

Develop and implement security plans that safeguard data against attacks.
Construct and deploy security controls in network and system environments.
Create security policies, procedures, and emergency measures that align with legal and governmental requirements.
Conduct incident investigations using modern forensic tools.
Execute response and recovery plans that reduce the impact of security events.
Use ethical hacking strategies to identify vulnerabilities in networks and systems.
Monitor for emerging cyber threats, including mobile and cloud vulnerabilities.
Analyze complex cybersecurity problems and implement effective strategies to reduce risk.

Career Paths in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity graduates can pursue a range of technical, analytical, investigative, and leadership-oriented roles. Depending on experience, certifications, and additional education, career paths may include:

Cybersecurity analyst
Information security analyst
Security operations center analyst
Penetration tester
Ethical hacker
Security architect
Incident responder
Digital forensics investigator
Security compliance analyst
Cybersecurity consultant
Security software developer

Because cybersecurity roles vary widely, students are encouraged to build career readiness through coursework, projects, internships, certifications, professional networking, and continued learning.

Certifications and Graduate Study

The cybersecurity major is designed to prepare students to pursue industry-recognized certifications and continued professional growth. Depending on career goals, graduates may pursue certifications such as CompTIA Security+, Certified Ethical Hacker, or GIAC Security Essentials Certification.
Some cybersecurity roles may also benefit from graduate education, especially for students who want to specialize in areas such as digital forensics, security architecture, governance, risk management, cryptography, or advanced technical security.

Partnership with rize education

WLC’s cybersecurity major includes specialized cybersecurity courses offered through Rize Education, an online course-sharing partner. This partnership allows students to access focused cybersecurity coursework in a fast-changing field while still benefiting from WLC’s computer science foundation, faculty advising, Christian academic community, and on-campus support.

Is Cybersecurity Right for You?

Cybersecurity may be a strong fit if you:

Enjoy solving puzzles and complex problems.
Are curious about how technology works.
Want to protect people, organizations, and communities.
Care about privacy, ethics, and responsible technology use.
Like learning new tools and adapting to new challenges.
Are interested in computer science, coding, systems, networks, business, criminal justice, or digital policy.
Want a career path with strong demand and room for continued growth.

You do not need to have your entire career mapped out before you begin. Cybersecurity includes many pathways, from technical defense and ethical hacking to governance, compliance, consulting, forensics, and leadership.

Ready to Become a Digital Defender?

Prepare for a career where technical skill, ethical judgment, and service come together. At Wisconsin Lutheran College, you can study cybersecurity in a Christian academic community that will challenge you to think deeply, solve problems, and lead with purpose.