FACULTY of ARTS and SCIENCE
CYBERSECURITY STUDIES MINOR
Identity theft, data breaches, compromised elections, advances in artificial intelligence—the digital world is changing, and cybersecurity needs to keep up. That’s where you come in.
As a cybersecurity specialist, you understand these challenges and want to help protect information in a world that relies on digital technology. In this interdisciplinary minor, you learn how cybercrime impacts every government, industry, cultural and health sectors and more.
Why take this minor?
Statistics Canada reports that cybercrime more than doubled in Canada between 2018 and 2022. In response, businesses, governments and industry are hiring cybersecurity experts to assess and mitigate cyber threats. If you are interested in protecting individuals and organizations from cybercrime, a minor in cybersecurity studies prepares you to safeguard sensitive information and defend against digital threats.
What to expect
In this minor, introductory courses in accounting and business sustainability give you a foundational understanding of business concepts. These prepare you for courses that focus more specifically on information security, cyber threats and risk assessment. You learn to keep personal and professional data safe and to gauge the likelihood of cyber attacks.
In senior level courses, you dive more deeply into the investigative side of cybersecurity, learning about emerging trends, such as the effect of artificial intelligence on detection and encryption. You graduate with an understanding of the ways cyber crime can impact any industry or sector—and with the know-how to protect digital assets.
Your future
As a cybersecurity professional, you contribute to your organization’s growth and prosperity. Because cybersecurity is integral to any organization’s day-to-day operations, you provide skills and knowledge that all employers value.
When you choose a minor in cybersecurity studies, you learn to:
- Understand cybercrime laws, regulations and legal procedures
- Identify ethical dilemmas
- Prioritize justice, privacy and digital security
- Conduct cyber risk assessments
- Integrate technical, investigative, legal and communication skills
- Gather and preserve evidence
- Understand online safety best practices
- Understand general business practices
When you graduate with a cybersecurity studies minor, you can find a job in private business, public institutions, government, not-for-profit organizations, hospitals, industry and consulting firms. Career options include:
- Cybersecurity specialist
- Security architect
- Embedded systems engineer
- Security management specialist
- Cloud security architect
- Cybercrime investigator
- Information security analyst
- Cyber project manager
- Network and computer systems administrator
- Artificial intelligence security specialist
- Software engineer
We recommend these resources to learn more about working in the cybersecurity field:
- Careers and Experience: Career counselling and support from MacEwan career development specialists
- Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS): Source of expert advice, guidance, services and support on cyber security for Canadians
- Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange (CCTX): Cyber threat collaboration forum and source of cyber threat intelligence
- Canadian Cybersecurity Network: Cybersecurity professionals, focused on growing cybersecurity in a Canada wide collaboration of existing resources
- National Cybersecurity Consortium: Member-based organization with funding, networking and training support
The Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) has detailed occupational profiles, salary survey data, trend reports and assessment tools to help you choose and plan a career that matches your skills and interests.
Program of study
This minor is open to students in the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science. Courses for your minor are only one component of the degree requirements you need to graduate. To see all courses required for the minor, check the program of study in the academic calendar.
Requirements can change from year to year. You will follow the program of study outlined in MacEwan University’s Academic Calendar for the year you declare your major/minor or the year you are accepted into an Honours program.
Academic advisors in the Faculty of Arts and Science have prepared resources to help you understand how your major/minor fits within overall degree coursework. Consult the academic planning information to choose and enrol in courses and complete the major/minor declaration process.