Cybersecurity comprises the study and practice of protecting systems, networks, and software programs from malicious threats, primarily in the form of digital attacks. As we progressively head towards a more digitized world and benefit from technological progress in every walk of life, cybercriminals are relentlessly looking into various nefarious ways to exploit the same. The importance of protecting the hardware and software that runs our digital world is paramount. Cybersecurity has become society’s responsibility.
Colorado Mesa University (CMU) is doing its part by educating and training the next generation of cyber professionals. Our Computer Science program offers a Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity with a strong emphasis in secure coding best practices, and system, network, and application security fundamentals. Though most of the program graduates go into software engineering, some have taken full-time cybersecurity roles in national labs, with defense contractors, and in the tech industry in general.
Computer Science and Cybersecurity programs share an external industry advisory board that advises the programs' current and future efforts to provide our students with the best educational experiences. See the board information at https://www.coloradomesa.edu/computer-science/industry-advisory-board.html.
Colorado Mesa University has established an academic partnership with CompTIA, the world’s leading tech association, to help our students get various certifications in IT and cybersecurity such as Security+.
CMU's BSc in Computer Science with a Professional Certificate in Cybersecurity has been validated through the academic year 2026 by NSA and DHS. Furthermore, CMU has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) for the validated program of study through the academic year 2026. Visit the CAE Community Website here for more information.
