The Dual Degree program in Cybersecurity provides an opportunity for talented students to earn a bachelor's and master's degrees in five years. Graduates of this program will take leadership positions in business as professionals in the application of sound security policies, providing protection and disaster recovery to critical control systems.

Information systems are under constant threats from hackers, viruses, and worms. The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook (2010-11 edition, http://www.bls.gov/ooh/) describes "Computer security specialists plan, coordinate, and maintain an organization's information security. These workers educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor networks for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and, in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists have increased in recent years as cyber attacks have become more sophisticated". It projects employment under the IT category to "grow much faster than the average for all occupations and add 286,600 new jobs over the 2008-18 decade".

The literature and announced job openings indicate a huge shortage of qualified workers in this field. The Department of Homeland Security (http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/careers/cyberjobfair/) "is using special hiring authorities to fill up to 1,000 skilled cyber specialist positions over three years across many Department components”. Securing cyberspace and the national information infrastructure is critical and can be achieved only when qualified workers are available. Mercy College is responding to this shortage in cyber specialists by offering this undergraduate and graduate program in Cybersecurity at two campuses and online.