The University of Texas at Dallas added a new degree program this fall.
The university began offering courses for the new interdisciplinary degree, a Bachelor of Science in cybersecurity technology and policy, according to a news release.
The degree is offered through the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences, or EPPS.
“Cybersecurity is a public policy problem as much as a technical one,” Memduh Tura, associate professor of practice in cybersecurity and public policy, said in the news release. “When ransomware hits a hospital or a city government, the questions that follow are about governance.”
The overview
An increased need for cybersecurity is driven by the number of organizations using artificial intelligence, per the news release. The degree is expected to equip students with the technical knowledge to develop secure systems and the knowledge to address legal and ethical considerations around cybersecurity efforts.
“From phishing attacks to unintentional hacking of businesses by AI agents to data breaches affecting millions, the threats facing public and private sectors are quickly growing in scale and sophistication,” Ovidiu Daescu, professor of computer science and a Jonsson School Chair, said in the release. “As technology evolves, so too must the professionals tasked with defending it.”
The job market for information security analysts is projected to grow by 21% between 2025 and 2035, adding around 40,000 jobs, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
