• Toll free: 1800 258 5772

Illinois Institute of Technology

Chicago , Illinois ,United States

Economics and Cybersecurity (B.S.)

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing job sectors in the United States, with employment for information security analysts projected to increase by 35 percent from 2021–2031. Prepare for a career in this exciting field with Illinois Tech’s Bachelor of Science in Economics and Cybersecurity degree.

This cross-disciplinary program offers a technical and security-focused degree with a strong grounding in business and economics—a background that can position you for career advancement into management and leadership roles. The STEM-oriented curriculum is taught by world-class faculty from Illinois Tech’s Stuart School of Business and College of Computing, and combines core knowledge in economics, statistics, and management with an understanding of conceptual and practical computer science and cybersecurity skills.

You’ll learn how cybersecurity, technology, management, compliance, and legal issues intersect to ensure the reliability and security of cyberspace. Courses in economics and business provide analytical and quantitative skills and expertise for investigating financial aspects of cybersecurity for a business or organization, such as cost/benefit analysis of cybersecurity systems, potential economic exposure from data breaches or other attacks, and the optimal level of budgets and investments in cybersecurity.

Through Illinois Tech’s one-of-a-kind Elevate program, you are guaranteed access to hands-on experiences—such as internships, group projects, and research—where you connect your classroom learning with real-world practice. You also receive mentoring to guide your academic studies and to prepare you to land a great job when you graduate.

Chicago is an international business and financial center with a diverse metro area economy that includes a variety of data-intensive industries and a growing tech business hub. With Illinois Tech’s deep connections across the city’s private and public sectors, you’ll have access to remarkable resources for internships, networking, and employment opportunities.

STEM-Designated Program

This is a STEM-designated program, and international graduates of the program are eligible to apply for an extension for Optional Practical Training, which allows selected students to stay and work in the United States for up to three years after graduation.

Honored for Excellence
Illinois Tech has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency.

Intakes

  • Jan
  • May
  • Aug

Application Processing Time in Days: 30

Minimum English Language Requirements

English Level Description IELTS (1.0 -9.0) TOEFL IBT (0-120) TOEFL CBT (0-300) PTE (10-90)
Expert 9 120 297-300 86-90
Very Good 8.5 115-119 280-293 83-86
Very Good 8 110-114 270-280 79-83
Good 7.5 102-109 253-267 73-79
Good 7 94-101 240-253 65-73
Competent 6.5 79-93 213-233 58-65
Competent 6 60-78 170-210 50-58
Modest 5.5 46-59 133-210 43-50
Modest 5 35-45 107-133 36-43
Limited 4 32-34 97-103 30-36
Extremely Limited < 4 < 31 < 93 < 30

Job Opportunity Potential

Graduates of the B.S. in Economics and Cybersecurity program are well prepared for careers in business, consulting, government, and nonprofit organizations in a wide range of research, analyst, management, and leadership roles.

PSW Opportunity

Post-Study Work visa or permit, allowing international students on F-1 visas to work in the US after completing their studies, typically through Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Eligibility:
To be eligible for OPT, students must have been enrolled full-time in a US educational institution for at least one academic year and be seeking work related to their major.

Duration:
Students can apply for up to 12 months of OPT, either before they finish their studies (pre-completion) or after graduation (post-completion).

STEM OPT:
Students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields can apply for an extended OPT period of up to 24 months.

Contact our PSA counselor for more information

Admission Requirement / Eligibility Criteria

First-year applicants are currently enrolled in secondary school, or have completed secondary school and have not attended an institute of higher education outside of their secondary school experience.

This includes students who have taken A-levels or studied in an Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, as long as they have not completed university coursework. Sometimes these students are also referred to as freshmen, regardless of their class standing upon entering the university.

Official SAT I and ACT Test Scores (Optional): In response to the challenges created by COVID-19, Illinois Tech will not require standardized tests for undergraduate applicants in spring 2021 and fall 2021. This policy applies to all first-year, transfer, and international applicants and all merit scholarship considerations. Students who do not submit standardized scores will not be disadvantaged in the application process.

Students may be asked to take a math placement exam to determine course readiness if they are applying to a more rigorous academic program.

For students who have already taken the SAT I or ACT and want to submit standardized test scores, your test scores will be considered supplemental information in your application. Illinois Tech's SAT code is 1318; the ACT code is 1040. Illinois Tech will super score any official scores that are submitted.

Provide Illinois Tech an official copy of the English proficiency Duolingo English Test, TOEFL or IELTS score report. The TOEFL code to send your scores to Illinois Tech is 1318. Duolingo English Test can be submitted directly by indicating Illinois Institute of Technology.

TOEFL iBT: 80

IELTS: 6.5

Duolingo: 115

International applicants who are interested in attending Illinois Tech, and who meet academic and financial requirements but do not meet the minimum English proficiency requirements, may be offered conditional admission.

Admission with additional English language courses: Applicants are offered admission on the condition that they enroll concurrently in English language courses alongside their other university courses, as determined by our English Language Services department.
Admission after completion of the Intensive English program: Applicants are offered admission on the condition that they first complete the Intensive English program. Students who are offered this admission path are automatically admitted to Illinois Tech's Intensive English Program.