A five-year degree program is offered in Cybersecurity at Fairfield University's School of Engineering and Computing, leading to a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a Master of Science in Cybersecurity. This program embraces the educational objectives of the BS in Computer Science program, as well as those of the graduate program in Cybersecurity.

A degree in cybersecurity is more important than ever in today’s digital world. With cyber threats evolving rapidly, organizations across all industries require skilled professionals to protect sensitive information, secure their networks, and defend against cyberattacks. Graduates of the program master, the technical expertise, tools, and theoretical understanding needed to address modern cyber threats. As these risks become increasingly sophisticated, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a critical role in identifying patterns, detecting anomalies, and automating responses to potential security incidents. Integrating AI into cybersecurity practices enhances an organization’s ability to proactively defend against evolving threats. To prepare students for these advancements, the program offers elective courses focused on AI applications in cybersecurity, equipping graduates with essential skills to leverage cutting-edge technologies in protecting digital assets.

Students from the BS in Computer Science

The accelerated five‑year program provides a streamlined pathway for qualified students to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a Master of Science (MS) degree. In order to enroll in this program, students must apply and be formally admitted into it. Students typically apply at the end of the third year of undergraduate study. During the first three years, students follow the standard undergraduate curriculum. In the fourth year, students complete all remaining baccalaureate degree requirements and may enroll in up to two graduate‑level courses. Up to six graduate credits taken in the fourth year may be applied to both the bachelor’s and master’s degree requirements for this specifically designed program in the School of Engineering and Computing.

Upon conferral of the bachelor’s degree, students must enroll in the graduate program in the immediately subsequent academic semester (Fall or Spring). Students completing the undergraduate degree in May must enroll in the following Fall term; students completing the degree in January must enroll in the following Spring term. An approved official leave of absence is the only exception to this continuous enrollment requirement.

To complete the MS degree in this accelerated program, students must complete a total of ten graduate‑level courses, including the two courses taken during the undergraduate program, followed by eight additional graduate courses during the fifth year. Students who do not continue directly into the graduate program as articulated above and who do not receive an approved leave of absence will be removed from the accelerated program and enrolled into the regular MS degree. In these cases, students must complete ten unique graduate‑level courses (30 unique credits) to earn the MS degree; in such cases, graduate courses taken during the undergraduate program will remain on the undergraduate transcript only and may not be applied toward the master’s degree requirements. For this reason, students who cannot remain continuously enrolled in the accelerated program are encouraged to speak with their Dean’s Office to discuss the ramifications for doing so.

Students accepted in this program are expected to have an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher and receive approval of the faculty advisor.  Students will be awarded the BS in Computer Science when all requirements are met, usually at the end of the fourth year. The MS degree will be awarded when all graduate requirements of the combined degree curricula have been satisfied, usually at the end of the fifth year.