In today’s increasingly digital world, cybersecurity has become a cornerstone of national security, economic stability and personal privacy. From ransomware attacks on hospitals to data breaches affecting millions, the threats facing public and private sectors are growing in scale and sophistication. As technology evolves, so too must the professionals tasked with defending it. The University of Texas at Dallas is responding to this urgent need with a new Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Technology and Policy. This interdisciplinary program blends technical expertise with policy acumen, preparing students to develop secure systems and navigate the complex legal and ethical landscape of cybersecurity. 

Cybersecurity Technology and Policy at UT Dallas

The 120-credit-hour degree includes 42 hours of core curriculum, 69 hours of major requirements and 9 hours of free electives. Students will complete foundational coursework in computer science, mathematics and government, followed by advanced classes in digital forensics, information security, trustworthy AI, and cybersecurity law and ethics. The curriculum also includes policy-focused courses such as cybersecurity governance and auditing. Eleven new courses will be introduced for this interdisciplinary degree. The program will be delivered in person and is designed to produce graduates who are both technically proficient and policy-savvy. The program is accepting applications for Fall 2026.

The Erik Jonsson School operates one of the largest internship and cooperative education programs of its kind, averaging more than 2,800 undergraduate and graduate student placements a year at Dallas-area high-tech companies as well as nationwide, including State Farm, Lockheed Martin, AT&T, Meta, Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Fujitsu Laboratories of America, Samsung Electronics, Cisco, Texas Instruments, Intel, Raytheon and IBM.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the program are expected to enter a high-demand job market, with roles in both public and private sectors. Career paths include cybersecurity analyst, policy advisor, systems architect and digital forensics specialist. According to labor market data, cybersecurity-related employment is projected to grow significantly—by 26.8% in Texas, 23.5% in the Southwest region, and 12.8% nationally over the next decade. The program addresses a critical workforce gap by combining technical training with policy education, preparing students to manage and secure systems while navigating regulatory and ethical considerations.

About the Jonsson School

The Jonsson School is strategically located in the Technology Corridor, home of the second-largest high-tech economy in the U.S. The Jonsson School recently completed a major public-private initiative that greatly expanded its capabilities, including construction of a new state-of-the art 220,000-square-foot interdisciplinary research building, and recently opened a 200,000-square-foot engineering building. The school is home to six academic departments: 

• Bioengineering 
• Computer Science 
• Electrical and Computer Engineering 
• Materials Science and Engineering 
• Mechanical Engineering 
• Systems Engineering 

Degrees Offered

Bachelor of Science: Biomedical engineering, computational geospatial science**, computer engineering, computer science, data science*, cybersecurity technology and policy, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering 

Bachelor of Arts: Engineering

Master of Science: Biomedical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, cyber security, technology and policy**, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, systems engineering and management***, telecommunications engineering 

Doctor of Philosophy: Biomedical engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, software engineering, telecommunications engineering 

*Joint program between School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

** Joint program between the School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

*** Joint program between the Naveen Jindal School of Management and Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science. 

Research

An enterprising spirit is the driving force in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at The University of Texas at Dallas. Leveraging the Jonsson School’s strengths in teaching and research, state-of-the-art facilities and current collaborative 

relationships in education, medicine and industry, the Jonsson School has developed five thrusts of state and national significance. 

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Energy Science and Technology
• Health Innovations 
• Semiconductor Science and Technology 
• Transportation Science and Engineering 

Six cross-cutting technologies include:

• Artificial intelligence
• Cybersecurity
• High-precision mechatronics
• Human interaction
• Imaging sciences
• Robotics engineering

Additional Facts

The Jonsson School’s rapid growth has helped propel its undergraduate programs into U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings of the nation’s top schools of engineering. 

The Jonsson School has significantly increased the size of its faculty in recent years, hiring top recent graduates of Stanford University, Cornell University, Purdue University, Georgia Tech and UCLA, as well as seasoned professionals from Rutgers University, University of Southern California, University of California, Davis, Sandia National Laboratories, Freescale Semiconductor and Texas Instruments. 

The Jonsson School features a variety of student organizations that are actively involved in both academic and social activities. Completely student-run, these include the Association for Computing Machinery, the Game Development Group, the National Society of Black Engineers, a chapter of the scientific research society Sigma Xi, the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers and the Society of Women Engineers. 

The Fast-Track Program enables exceptionally gifted undergraduate students to include up to 15 hours of master’s level courses in their undergraduate degree plans. When Fast-Track students graduate with a bachelor’s degree, they are automatically admitted to graduate school at UT Dallas. The hours required to complete the master’s degree are reduced by up to 15 hours by the number of Fast-Track graduate hours completed.