Honours Bachelor of Information Technology – Cybersecurity (IFS)

Formerly known as Honours Bachelor of Technology – Informatics and Security

Starts in January, September

Campus

Newnham

Duration

8 Semesters (4 Years)

Credential Awarded

Honours Bachelor Degree

School

School of Information Technology Administration & Security

Program and course delivery

This program is offered in Seneca's hybrid delivery format. Some coursework is online and some must be completed in person. Students will need to come on campus to complete in-person learning requirements.

Learn more: Seneca’s program delivery options and how courses in this program will be delivered each term.

International students: review Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility before choosing program and course delivery.

About the Program

In this four-year honours bachelor degree, you will learn the critical knowledge and practical skills required for a successful career in information security. You will develop comprehensive knowledge of vulnerability and threat assessment, risk management, data analysis and network and operating system infrastructure. This program focuses on practical applications that solve a variety of technological threats including hackers, malware and data breaches.

Computer Requirements

16 GB RAM minimum
256 GB SSD Hard Drive (500+ GB would be better)
Quad-core i7 2.4GHz or better
Video card (2GB RAM minimum/4GB RAM recommended)
Webcam

Advanced Entry

Graduates of a diploma program may be eligible to complete this degree faster through one of our pathway options.

Skills

Throughout this program you will develop the following skills:

Internal and external security needs
Analysis and implementation of distributed computer systems
Understanding data communication principles and operation systems
Understanding security of infrastructure components
Design and implement secure information acquisition, transmission and storage practices
Analysis of project and system requirements
Deployment of security on a variety of platforms
Project planning and management
Research methodology
Technology planning and acquisition

Work Experience

Mandatory Degree Co-op

A work experience that includes at least one term in a formal work environment. In most cases the work term(s) is a paid position that is completed between two academic semesters and requires a minimum of 420 hours of work. Students must be in good standing and meet all identified requirements prior to participating in the work experience. The successful completion of two co-op work terms is required for graduation. Eligibility for participation does not guarantee that a work position will be secured. Additional fees are required for those participating in the mandatory co-op stream regardless of success in securing a work position.

Your Career

Graduates of the program can explore the following career options:

Cyber security analyst
Security operations centre analyst
Compliance and controls analyst
Network and systems administrator
Infrastructure and cyber defence operations
Information security co-ordinator
Network security administrator
Information security analyst
Cybersecurity intelligence and analytics analyst
Information technology security analyst
Information security consultant

Renewable Scholarship

Receive up to $1,000 per year when you study in any degree program.

Qualify for a renewable scholarship based on your grades.

What Our Graduates Say

Todd Brecher

"IFS laid a resilient and well-rounded technical foundation for me to pursue many different work opportunities during my co-op with a large consultancy. By covering a wide range of security-specific topic areas, and ensuring that our evaluations were practical, project-oriented and inclusive of soft-skills assessments, I was better prepared to work across teams within the security consulting group and position myself as an irreplaceable member of the organization."

Kevin Yuan

"After I started my co-op, I noticed that many cybersecurity professionals working in the industry need a solid foundation in their respective fields. I have seen a noticeable difference with IFS graduates in the workplace, as they are often more well-rounded and prepared for challenging tasks that require strong problem-solving skills. Seneca graduates are better prepared than other cybersecurity program graduates in Canada for real-world cyber operations, which is evident from the number of IFS graduates, including myself, who were promoted to senior roles within two years of starting co-op positions."