SUNY Potsdam Launches New Career-Ready Computer Science Degree Concentrations

SUNY Potsdam Announces New Computer Science Concentrations in Cybersecurity and Data Analytics; Program Boasts 100% Job Placement

Potsdam, NY (11/02/2023) — The State University of New York at Potsdam is proud to announce new career-ready concentrations for its longstanding program in computer science.

Students in SUNY Potsdam's Bachelor of Science degree program in computer science can now choose from concentrations in cybersecurity or data analytics, preparing them for dynamic careers in these high-demand and growing fields. There is also a general track, allowing students to take advanced computer science courses in any topic area to personalize their studies.

"I'm thrilled to announce two new computer science concentrations at SUNY Potsdam, which will empower our students with the skills needed to excel in the dynamic, high-demand fields of cybersecurity and data analytics. Our commitment to hands-on, industry-relevant education, exemplified by the program's perfect job placement rate, will continue to open doors to exciting career opportunities," said President Dr. Suzanne Smith.

The updated curriculum will help position the department to maintain its 100 percent placement rate of graduates into some of the most desirable and high-paying jobs in the modern workplace, bolstered by the internship experiences and real-world research projects that undergraduates complete as part of their studies.

"SUNY Potsdam's Department of Computer Science is pleased to be able to roll out our newly revised curriculum in the Bachelor of Science degree. The new curriculum was developed in response to student interest and future job growth in the computing field," said Associate Professor and Department Chair Dr. Laura Grabowski.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for information security analysts is $112,000, and the field is expected to grow by 32 percent over the next decade, much faster than average. The bureau also reports that data scientists earn a median salary of $103,500 annually, and that field is anticipated to grow by 35 percent from 2022 to 2032. For both information security and data science, a bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education to join the fields.

"SUNY Potsdam's computer science program has been preparing computing professionals since 1969. The program is well-known and respected throughout the region and has graduates working in many areas of the computing field. Potsdam graduates are successful in many types of companies, from IBM and Lockheed Martin to small regional companies," Grabowski said. "Our courses stress applied knowledge and skills, and industry-standard tools and practices. All CS majors at SUNY Potsdam must complete a capstone experience with either an internship in industry or a student-designed senior project. This emphasis on real-world application, tools and methods prepares our graduates for the fast-paced and ever-changing world of technology."

Applications are now being accepted for the new tracks. To learn more, visit potsdam.edu/apply.

The SUNY Potsdam Department of Computer Science immerses its students in the nature of and limits to computation; the architecture of computer systems, networks, devices and languages, and their abstractions; the design of hardware and software systems as they apply to human endeavors such as scientific inquiry, information acquisition, visualization, language and leisure, and the engineering of complex software systems. A computer science degree prepares students for a rewarding career as a computer professional or for further study in graduate school. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/CS.

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