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Mathematics, Computer Science & Physics

Cybersecurity Degree

03/06/2023 8:34 pm

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Program Overview

More than ever, businesses and other organizations depend on effectively managing and maintaining information and protecting digital infrastructures. When you major in Computer Science with a concentration in cybersecurity at Rockford University, you’ll learn the skills necessary to keep vital information secure.

With 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings projected worldwide by 2025, cybersecurity professionals are in high demand. Graduating with a degree in computer science with an emphasis in cybersecurity will create significant job opportunities in a variety of industries such as healthcare, technology, financial services, government, manufacturing and more.

At Rockford University, the cybersecurity track offers you the opportunity to learn to build and maintain secure networks while benefiting from a thoughtfully crafted curriculum. With required courses in statistics, criminal justice, and business law and ethics, in addition to core courses in computer science and information technology, you will receive a well-rounded education that will set you up for success in the cybersecurity industry.

Skills You’ll Build

  • Software design techniques
  • Development, testing, and implementation of web-based systems and technologies
  • Procedural and object-oriented programming
  • Designing and implementing solutions to business systems problems
  • Fourth generation programming techniques
  • Information assurance/cryptography
  • Ethical hacking/penetration testing
  • Statistics
  • Nature, dynamics, and etiological theories of crime and criminal behavior
  • Ethical and legal business decision making

Quick Facts:

  • On-campus, undergraduate degree program
  • B.A and B.S. tracks available
  • 49-50 credit hours required for degree completion
  • Minor in another field is recommended but not required

Cybersecurity at a Glance

Median Annual Salary:

(Information Security Analyst)
$102,600

Job Titles:

  • Cybersecurity Specialist
  • Information Security Analyst
  • Cybercrime Analyst
  • Digital Forensic Examiner
  • Penetration and Vulnerability Tester
  • Security Systems Engineer
  • Cybersecurity Architect

Career Opportunities:

  • Deloitte
  • JPMorgan
  • Homeland Security
  • CIA
  • IRS
  • Apple
  • And more!

Nursing Degree

08/05/2016 4:19 pm

Nursing Student

Rockford University Nursing: BSN Degree

Empowering Tomorrow’s Healthcare Leaders

Welcome to the Rockford University Nursing Department, where we are dedicated to preparing professional nurses who make a meaningful impact on individuals, families, groups, and communities with diverse health needs. Rooted in the values of Nobel Peace Prize winner and university alumna Jane Addams, our nursing students are therefore encouraged to think critically, act compassionately, and engage with their wider community through community-based learning projects.

Why Choose A Nursing Degree At Rockford University?

Rockford University’s nursing program may be the perfect fit for you if you possess strong abilities in the sciences and also aspire to create innovative solutions to patients’ and communities’ unique health challenges. With us, you become more than a care provider – you become a patient advocate, an educator, and a change-maker within your community.

Learn More about Rockford University’s Nursing Program

Find out more about Rockford University’s nursing program during one of our upcoming virtual nursing information sessions!

Spring 2024 sessions will be held on the following dates:

  • 2/20 (Tuesday): 4-5 PM
  • 2/26 (Monday): 12-1 PM
  • 3/11 (Monday): 12-1 PM
  • 4/12 (Friday): 3-4 PM

Ready to Make a Difference? Apply Today!

Are you ready to take control of your career and make a real impact in your community? Apply to Rockford University today and embark on your journey towards becoming a nurse. Our Admissions Team is here to assist you:

Deciding to pursue a nursing degree empowers every student to choose their own career path. With a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you are more than a care provider. You are also a patient advocate, an educator, and a difference-maker in your community.

Students who graduate from Rockford University with nursing degrees have the knowledge, preparation, and experience necessary to contribute to their field immediately. We go beyond the basics, providing a broad base of skills that can be practiced at every step of your nursing career.

If you have been admitted to Rockford University and are interested in the nursing program, apply to the nursing program today! * Please confirm you have been admitted to Rockford University before applying to the nursing program. Also, specify the semester of your intended start date for the nursing program. See the Nursing Degree Paths options below for nursing program prerequisite requirements.

Nursing Degree Admission Paths

  • Early Action (EA) for High School Seniors:
    • Ideal for high-achieving seniors with a GPA of 3.25+ in specified courses and satisfactory TEAS, SAT, or ACT scores.
    • Competitive selection with notifications by April 1st.
    • Conditional acceptance pending fulfillment of admission criteria and submission of final transcripts by July 1st.
  • First-Year/Traditional Entry RU Students:
    • For students already admitted to Rockford University aspiring to join the nursing program.
    • Minimum overall GPA of 2.75 and Science GPA of 2.5 required for admission.
    • TEAS exam proficiency within 6 months of the start date.
    • Deadline for priority application consideration: October 1 (for spring program start) or March 1 (for fall program start), usually in the sophomore year.
    • Notification of status by November 1 (for spring program start) or April 1 (for fall program start).
  • Transfer Students:
    • Tailored for students transferring from other institutions.
    • Admission and Minimum GPA: 2.75, Science GPA: 2.5.
    • TEAS exam proficiency within 6 months of the start date.
    • Transferred science courses must be no older than 5 years old as of the planned start date.
    • Deadline for priority application consideration: October 1 (for spring program start) or March 1 (for fall program start).
    • Notification of status by November 1 (for spring program start) or April 1 (for fall program start)

To view the complete prerequisite course list and details on admission requirements such as the TEAS exam, please see the Admission and Prerequisite Requirements page.

Additional Information:
  • Regardless of the entry path, all nursing program applicants must meet specific grade and conduct stipulations, including background checks and drug testing.
  • Maintaining requisite GPAs and ethical standards throughout the program is essential.

Student Involvement

At Rockford University, we believe in providing students a community in which they can learn, grow, and develop.

First and foremost, we encourage all nursing students to join the Nursing Student Organization or NSO during their time at RU. This organization brings together nursing students and others interested in a healthcare-based career to offer support and fellowship. They organize activities, community events, and educational opportunities that bring together a diverse student population.

Beyond the NSO, Rockford University also offers student organizations that encourage campus involvement. These groups turn the campus into a community while allowing for the exchange of ideas and cultures across demographics.

Exploring Nursing Careers and Internships

 

Expanding Career Horizons in Nursing

In today’s dynamic healthcare landscape, nursing careers offer many exciting opportunities. The aging U.S. population coupled with a shortage of nurses has created a surging demand for skilled professionals in the field. Nursing has evolved beyond traditional roles, propelling nurses to the forefront of healthcare delivery thus opening up expansive career prospects.

With a 4-year nursing degree, you embark on a rewarding career and position yourself for one of the highest starting salaries in any field. Furthermore, as you continue your education, your earning potential can soar, potentially exceeding $100,000 annually.

Diverse Career Paths

A nursing career is both challenging and diverse. Nurses have the flexibility to choose from a wide range of settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and extended-care facilities. Alternatively, you might collaborate with private practice physicians, contribute to community health agencies, work in federal nursing agencies, enter the corporate world, join educational institutions, or even serve in the military. Over the course of your career, you can explore various client populations and settings as your interests evolve.

Nursing specialties include medical-surgical nursing, cardiac nursing, pediatrics, neonatal nursing, critical care nursing, nursing education, community health nursing, psychiatric nursing, and many others. Nurses may also go on for graduate degrees to become nurse practitioners, midwives, and anesthetists. Employment opportunities abound in the Rockford area’s local hospital systems, skilled nursing facilities, clinics, and community settings!

Entrepreneurial Nursing

Innovative nurses are exploring entrepreneurial avenues by combining their nursing expertise with other specialty skills to establish new businesses. Possibilities range from nursing informatics (melding nursing with technology) and legal nurse consulting (merging nursing with law) to various home healthcare ventures. With creativity and determination, the possibilities in nursing are virtually limitless.

Explore the diverse world of nursing, where opportunities abound and your journey to making a significant impact begins!

About Our Nursing Faculty

The nursing faculty at Rockford University are experienced nurses who possess the skills and dedication to educate future members of the nursing community. These faculty members, though, are not just nurses. They are also authors, researchers, and leaders in their areas of specialty. Their depth of knowledge includes over a century of real-world nursing experiences, and their willingness to impart their learned lessons allows students to begin their career with a head start.

ACEN Accreditation Seal

3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, Georgia  30326
P. (404) 975-5000

All Inquiries: 1-888-473-4858
Professional Licensing: 1-800-560-6420
TTY: 1-866-325-4949

Faculty

08/05/2016 4:16 pm

FACULTY

Mathematics, Computer Science and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4198
Fax:815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu

Resources

08/05/2016 4:14 pm

SECONDARY TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Students (math majors) interested in becoming certified to teach mathematics at the secondary level must complete all the mathematics general track requirements (MATH 314 and MATH 350 strongly recommended), a minor in secondary education, and additional general education requirements for Illinois State Certification.

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu

Math Lab

08/05/2016 4:13 pm

MATH LAB

Got a Math Problem? There is free help at the Math Lab, Starr 302A!

Math Lab is open (closed during breaks such as holidays, Fall and Spring breaks etc.) from the second week of classes through the last day of classes.

Math Lab Assistantships

Students who have successfully completed the calculus sequence are eligible to work in the Math Lab. Eligible students can apply for a math lab assistant position on the first or second day of classes at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters. There are only 12 paid hours each week available. Please contact Dr. Mehmet Dik, MDik@rockford.edu, for an application.

Even though there are only 12 paid hours each week, some students work voluntarily as part of their community service projects.

“The Math Lab exists as refuge and haven for those who ‘get it’ and salvation for those who don’t.” –Bern Sundstedt ’77

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu

Faculty

08/05/2016 4:13 pm

FACULTY

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu

Scholarships and Awards

08/05/2016 4:11 pm

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

Mathematics

Calculus Achievement Award
The Calculus Achievement Award is given to the student achieving the highest GPA in the three-semester university calculus sequence taken at RU.

Aline Bartholomew Conklin Award in Mathematics
This award is given in memory of Aline who was a 1920 alumnae of Rockford University, who went on to become president of the Alumni Association and a member of our Board of Trustees. It is given to the sophomore/junior declared math major showing the greatest promise of success in career in the mathematical sciences.

Senior Prize in Mathematics
The Senior Prize in Mathematics is given to the most outstanding Senior Mathematics Major in Math 495 Senior Seminar.  It is based on academic performance and GPA.

For more information on scholarships relevant to this department, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Physics

Sigma Xi Award
As an international scientific research society, Sigma Xi promotes advancement in science and honors scientific achievement.

This award goes to a junior student majoring in science or mathematics who has achieved excellence in course work, research and citizenship.

For more information on scholarships relevant to this department, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu

Programs of Study

08/05/2016 4:10 pm

PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Mathematics

The mathematics program offers Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees that reveal mathematics as one of the humanities – a creation of the human mind. A minor in mathematics is also offered. We emphasize the value of the broad studies to acquire the B.A. degree, and we urge all mathematics majors to develop foreign language skills.

While some courses fulfill a service role for all-university requirements (notably, statistics and other applied areas) and for majors in the sciences and social sciences, a resurgence of majors in mathematics is underway nationally and at Rockford University.

Major and Track/Concentration:

  • Data Science, B.A. or B.S.
  • Mathematics Major, General Track, B.A. or B.S.
  • Mathematics Major, Computational Track, B.A or B.S.
  • Mathematics Minor

Sample Math Major(BS)- 4 yr study plan

Additional information for this program can be found in the Academic Catalog.‌

Search Course Offerings and Descriptions

Computer Science

Rockford University’s Computer Science Program offers students the opportunity to either major or minor in Management Information Systems (MIS) or Web Development. The program offers a major with a bachelor of arts and bachelor of science degrees with concentrations in Cybersecurity, Management Information Systems (MIS) or Web Development. Degree requirements for these programs are below.

Major and Tracks/Concentrations:

  • Computer Science Major, Cybersecurity Track, B.A. or B.S.
  • Computer Science Major, Management Information Systems Track, B.A. or B.S.
  • Computer Science Major, Web Development Track, B.A. or B.S.
  • Management Information Systems Minor
  • Web Development Minor

Additional information for this program can be found in the Academic Catalog.‌
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Physics

The Physics program offers a minor in physics. One advanced course is offered every fall and spring for those students minoring in physics. The concentration of mathematics and physics can prepare students for graduate school in physics. Additional advanced courses in physics are offered as required.

Course Descriptions and Requirements

  • Physics Minor

The Physics program offers the following courses every year:

Physics 105 Lecture
Physics 105 Lab
4 Credit Hours Every Fall
Physics 106 Lecture
Physics 106 Lab
4 Credit Hours Every Spring
Physics 201 Lecture
Physics 201 Lab
5 Credit Hours Every Fall
Physics 202 Lecture
Physics 202 Lab
5 Credit Hours Every Spring
Physics 101 Lecture
Physics 101 Lab
4 Credit Hours Every Fall & Spring

300-level courses are offered upon request if enough students are enrolled.
More information can be found in the Academic Catalog‌.

Search course offerings and descriptions

Mathematics, Computer Science, and Physics
Starr Science Building
5050 E. State St.
Rockford, IL 61108
815-226-4135
Fax: 815-394-5166
Dept. Chair - Mehmet Dik, Ph.D.
MDik@rockford.edu

Faculty

08/05/2016 4:09 pm