A new four-year degree program at Conestoga will prepare graduates for a career in the emerging field of communications infrastructure engineering (CIE).
The Bachelor of Engineering - Cyber Systems Engineering program will focus on systems-level architecture, design and management of trusted networks for mission-critical and safety-critical applications, including those that support other critical infrastructures.
“Critical infrastructures are those that support society’s safety, prosperity and well-being, including health care, transportation, government and water,” said Rafik Guindi, chair, School of Engineering & Technology. “These systems have an underlying layer of digital infrastructure to manage day-to-day operations. It relies on a layer of communication working with interconnected computers and security.”
The program combines curriculum aligned with a body of knowledge identified by the Professional Engineers of Ontario as core to CIE scope of practice, including real-time systems, communication, networks, cyber security, risk management, and governance.
Project-based learning with the latest software and equipment will provide students with the skills to address overall network design through availability, reliability, confidentiality, integrity, privacy, and a secure set of operating and monitoring procedures. The program is offered through the college’s School of Engineering & Technology at the Cambridge - Fountain Street campus and will include two paid eight-month co-op work terms to further provide students with relevant hands-on learning and the opportunity to apply skills and knowledge to industry projects.
“The program is designed to prepare graduates for a career as a CIE professional,” Guindi continued, “as an architect of future smart cities, smart buildings, financial services, power distribution networks, and other domains where secure communications are embedded in the foundational infrastructure.”
The Bachelor of Engineering - Cyber Systems Engineering program is currently accepting applications for its first cohort, beginning August 2022. Pathway options for learners with diplomas in electronics engineering technology and computer engineering technology are available.
The School of Engineering & Technology offers a comprehensive suite of programs with a wide range of credentials. Conestoga is the only college in Ontario to offer fully accredited engineering degrees. Programs feature project-based learning, co-op work experience and applied research opportunities to prepare graduates for success in their chosen fields.