Undergraduate program trains engineers for modern cybersecurity challenges
The University of Delaware’s undergraduate cybersecurity engineering program graduated its first cohort this spring, marking a notable achievement for a program launched in fall 2022 to meet rising demand for security talent across industry and government.
“This milestone signifies our department’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technical education by producing engineers who understand security at the physical, network and system levels,” said Hui Fang, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, in which the program is housed. “What makes our program truly distinctive is this holistic engineering approach, preparing our graduates to lead in an era where cybersecurity is a fundamental requirement.”
The program prepares engineers who can both identify security threats and design systems resilient to them. Unlike programs focused primarily on software or information security, the curriculum combines cybersecurity fundamentals with hands-on engineering design and problem-solving skills, equipping students to analyze, design and build secure technologies.
For graduate Anas Al Darwashi, the program’s strength came from faculty who brought real-world experience directly into the classroom. He especially valued a cryptography course taught by researchers involved in developing foundational protocols still in use today.
“It’s not just theory. They showed us what they did, how they came up with it, and why we are doing things the way we are now,” he said.
Outside the classroom, students expanded their skills through cybersecurity competitions, conferences and scholarship programs. Graduate Tyler Urie participated in the federal CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program, which supports students preparing for cybersecurity careers in government. Through Capture the Flag competitions and industry conferences hosted on campus, he gained exposure to a broad range of cybersecurity topics and professional pathways.
Urie, who plans to attend law school with an eye toward the intersection of the cybersecurity and legal fields, encourages future students to take full advantage of those opportunities.
“You learn so many cool things,” he said. “I wouldn’t change my major for the world. It really was a special experience.”