SUNY Canton Cybersecurity Program Expands Online

The popular four-year degree is now available virtually, face-to-face or through flexible learning options.

Students can enroll in SUNY Canton’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity program completely online.

It is the 23rd academic offering obtainable through SUNY Canton Online, and one of 16 four-year degrees offered virtually. The program is offered through the college’s Center for Criminal Justice, Intelligence, and Cybersecurity, which is housed in the newly renovated Dana Hall building.

“We’ve adapted to the needs of our students,” said Associate Professor Kambiz Ghazinour, Ph.D., the lead faculty member in the program. “The nature of the cyberworld, cybersecurity itself and the careers associated with it are all online, so it makes sense if the program is online too.”

He said careers in the field often allow for remote work, with specialists living in a different state, or country, than their employer. “We already have established a strong in-person program,” he noted. “We have expanded the same high-quality teaching and research to be available in an online format.”

The program’s faculty members will continue offering in-person and flexible learning options for students who prefer a classroom setting. Flex classes offer both online and in-person options, allowing students to choose which way they’d like to participate.

Ghazinour also oversees the college’s Advanced Information Security and Privacy lab with several scholars joining the effort remotely. “We work on cutting-edge research topics, publications and prepare students for graduate school remotely,” he said. “The online setting works for students who are self-motivated and want to get their degree alongside their careers or family responsibilities.”

In addition to Ghazinour, the program is primarily taught by Lecturer Minhua Wang, who has served as an expert consultant on cybersecurity threats. The two faculty members hosted a series of remote seminars last semester as part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month specifically dealing with regional cyber concerns, including ransomware takeovers affecting healthcare organizations and children’s privacy online.

SUNY Canton’s degree was recently identified as one of the 100 Best Affordable Cybersecurity Programs in the nation, according to University Headquarters, an independent educational ranking organization. The college was also named as a 2021 Champion Organization by the National Cybersecurity Alliance for its Cybersecurity Awareness Month programming.