Cybersecurity
With attacks happening on a daily basis, cybersecurity skills are desperately needed. This interdisciplinary minor draws on courses across the liberal arts to help you understand the vulnerabilities that arise when humans and computer systems interact.
Why Choose a Minor in Cybersecurity?
Our cybersecurity minor connects technology, people, and information, giving you the knowledge and skills to advance your career, promote justice, and address urgent societal challenges facing our communities and the world. Learn to identify and analyze threats and to examine the ethical, legal, and regulatory impact of computer systems. Our program welcomes all students and encourages them to develop the skills, passion, and wisdom needed to build a safer digital future.
What You’ll Study
Our interdisciplinary curriculum provides students with a solid grounding in the foundational principles of cybersecurity, such as the CIA Triad (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), security controls, and cryptography. Electives explore the human context in which computer systems are used.
Outside the classroom, social events include an annual pumpkin carving contest and the legendary Chinese Food and German Board Games parties. The Computer Science department hosts a regular colloquium series featuring presentations by students, faculty, and guest speakers. Our faculty mentor students in research experiences during the academic year and through the paid Rogers Summer Science Program.
Complement Your Education With One of These Majors
The most popular majors for our cybersecurity minors are computer science, data science, and mathematics.
What Students Are Saying About Lewis & Clark
Julian Diaz BA ’24More about JulianDigital Media has been my favorite class! It simultaneously introduced me to the world of coding and expanded my views on what art can be; I have yet to take a class as fun and impactful as that one has been. It was a major factor in my choosing computer science as my major.
Carlos García Morán BA ’24More about CarlosL&C’s computer science major provides the opportunity for me to put theory into practice by working on fundamental programming problems.
Kenan Imamovic BA ’25More about KenanI appreciate the range of academic possibilities available at L&C, no matter your declared path and major.
What Can You Do With a Degree in Cybersecurity?
The cybersecurity minor is a new program, but we can say that L&C alumni use their bachelor’s degree in a variety of careers in research, academia, and at companies such as Nike, Suplari, Downstream, and Mentor Graphics. Many start their own companies, or go on to pursue advanced degrees.
Dedicated Faculty
Our professors are your expert mentors. You will learn directly from faculty (no graduate assistants here!) that are nationally recognized in their fields of study and who love to work with and learn from their students. Your professors will inspire you to be a thoughtful and passionate participant in a diverse world. Your small classes will support you as you explore new ideas, find your voice, and speak your truth.
Peter Drake More about PeterIt is challenging to learn to use sophisticated tools and wrestle with difficult problems in game design and software development. I enjoy exploring these things in conversation with our students, who bring diverse perspectives and positive energy.
Invest in Yourself
A private liberal arts education is often more affordable than you think. Last year, Lewis & Clark distributed over $74 million in assistance from institutional, federal, state, and private sources. Additionally, we’re so confident that our first-year students will graduate in four years with their bachelor of arts degree that if you don’t, we’ll cover the extra semester of tuition.
Find Your People
The student-run Math Club and the student chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery organize social and academic events, including hackathons, workshops, and game jams.
Ross Miyabuchi BA ’22More about RossComputer science is the future! Well, more or less. Technology will always be evolving and I want to be there with it.
Terin Trachtenberg BA ’21More about TerinLewis & Clark really helped me to learn how to be a team player, and I think that experience will be invaluable in my career. Beyond just learning about how to write code, I also learned how to talk about it to others and how to accept guidance and criticism from peers.
Sam Peers Nitzberg BA ’19More about SamI was hired by two awesome Lewis & Clark alumni for a role where I had experience from two awesome on-campus jobs.
Featured News
Four New Minors Expand Academic Paths
Lewis & Clark is expanding its curriculum with four new minors in law and policy, education, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Together, they give students fresh ways to connect a liberal arts education to rapidly changing fields and meaningful careers.
