B.S. in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence

About the B.S. in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (CyberAI) at National Louis University prepares students to work at the intersection of two of the fastest-growing fields in technology. As cyber threats increasingly involve automated, AI-driven attacks, organizations need professionals who can build and defend systems capable of detecting and responding to risk in real time. This program builds on NLU's existing strengths in Computer Science and Information Systems, combining technical depth in networking and security with coursework in machine learning, data protection, and AI governance. Students graduate equipped to secure both traditional infrastructure and the AI systems increasingly embedded within it.

Program Highlights

The B.S. in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence gives students a strong technical foundation alongside hands-on experience addressing the kinds of challenges they'll encounter in the field. Coursework spans network security, threat intelligence, adversarial machine learning, and digital forensics, with an emphasis on applying AI tools to detection, response, and risk analysis.

The program offers:

• Stackable Credentials: Students coming from AU's Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate can apply that coursework toward this degree, creating a direct pathway from certificate to bachelor's degree.
• Flexible Modalities: Offered on-ground at the Chicago and Wheeling campuses, as well as online, so students can choose the format that fits their schedule.
• Concentration Options: Students can deepen their expertise through concentrations in Cloud Computing, Networking and Information Security, Artificial Intelligence, IT Support Specialist, Analytics, Software and App Development, or Web Development, or pursue a minor in Computer Science and Information Systems.
• Applied Learning: An internship practicum and a capstone project give students the opportunity to apply their skills to real security and AI challenges before graduation.

Graduates are positioned for roles defending organizations across corporate, government, healthcare, finance, and education sectors, where the demand for professionals who understand both cybersecurity and AI continues to grow.

What You'll Learn

Throughout the Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence program, you'll build the technical and analytical skills needed to secure modern systems and the AI technologies running within them.

At the completion of the B.S. in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence program, students will be able to:

• Design and implement computing solutions that use machine learning to automate threat detection and incident response.

• Analyze organizational security vulnerabilities and translate real-world challenges into technical AI requirements and data-driven analysis.

• Identify and mitigate risks specific to AI infrastructure, including data poisoning, model evasion, and prompt injection attacks.

• Evaluate the legal, ethical, and social implications of autonomous security systems, ensuring compliance with global data privacy standards.

  Develop architectures for collecting, cleaning, and protecting the large-scale datasets required to train security-focused AI models.

• Communicate complex technical AI and cybersecurity risks to non-technical stakeholders in ways that inform organizational strategy.

Career Outlook

With a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence, you'll be prepared for a field experiencing significant growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow approximately 29% between 2024 and 2034 — much faster than the average for all occupations.

Career Paths:

• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Network Security Engineer
• Security Operations Specialist
• Cloud Security Architect