Cyber attacks impact companies large and small, local and international, leaving disgruntled customers, damaged reputations and weakened infrastructures in their wake. Fontbonne University is addressing that vulnerability with a new undergraduate degree in cyber security — the only bachelor’s program of its kind in St. Louis and one of only two in Missouri. Heading this program is a new professor to the Fontbonne staff, Yi Yang, who holds a doctorate in computer science and engineering from Penn State. “Because of the critical importance of cyber security in today's world, Fontbonne had to develop a program that helps students understand the computer science behind cyber threats,” said Yang. “Our program will teach students to examine the weaknesses associated with database systems, web applications and operating systems, how to find them, and how to recover data corrupted when systems are compromised. Our graduates will be qualified to analyze, plan and implement security strategies to safeguard organizations and data.” Within this full-time degree program, developed by Fontbonne faculty members in consultation with local industry experts, students will take a foundation of mathematics and computer science courses, as well as a series of courses developed specifically for the cyber security program, including Network and Security Management, Wireless Communications and Mobile Forensics, and Computer Forensics. Fontbonne University is now accepting applications for this specialized program, which begins this fall. Fontbonne University is a Catholic coeducational institution of higher education offering liberal arts and professional programs, as well as evening and online programs to enhance degree completion opportunities. Fontbonne was founded in 1923 and is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.