Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) has launched a new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program to prepare students to design, analyze, and secure modern computing systems across industries. The new degree builds upon WPI’s nationally recognized strengths in computer science (CS), electrical and computer engineering (ECE), and cybersecurity research. Its unique integration of CS and ECE prepares students to understand and secure systems from the hardware circuits to the software that runs on them.
Designated by the National Security Agency as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research, WPI has been contributing to this vital field for nearly three decades, conducting cutting-edge research and training professionals who have shaped secure computing. Today, WPI continues to advance cybersecurity research and education in hardware and software security, cryptography, analysis of security policies and protocols, network and embedded systems security, and online privacy.
“With cyber threats evolving faster than most organizations can respond and targeting both software and hardware vulnerabilities, preparing a workforce of creative, ethical, and highly skilled cybersecurity professionals is essential,” said Grace Wang, President of WPI. “Through this new degree, WPI continues to strengthen its leadership in cybersecurity education and research—advancing our mission to use science, engineering, and technology for the greater good.”
According to a report cited by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, there were more than 514,000 open cybersecurity positions in the U.S. in 2023, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 35% job growth in the field—much faster than the national average. Globally today’s cybersecurity talent shortage is estimated at more than four million professionals.
“The shortage of security experts is not merely an issue of headcount; it’s a critical mismatch in skills,” said Craig Shue, professor and head of the Department of Computer Science. “Organizations report significant gaps in the expertise needed to manage increasingly sophisticated threats, leaving businesses, governments, and institutions more vulnerable to data breaches, financial fraud, and other cyberattacks. This is detail-oriented work where security experts have to get everything right to successfully protect people.”
