UE Criminology dept offers special degree on cybersecurity

Photo courtesy of James Patrick Trinidad

MANILA, Philippines — The University of the East (UE) on Tuesday announced the launch of its new undergraduate degree program for Criminology for the academic year 2024 to 2025.

According to the UE in a statement, the program Bachelor of Science in Criminology with specialization in Cybersecurity will be launched in its Caloocan campus starting August 2024.

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The new four-year criminology degree will carry specialization courses like cyberspace and cybersecurity information assurance and security, network and data communication protocols, digital forensics, machine learning in security, and security penetration testing and audit.

“We look forward to producing highly competent and upright graduates who can deliver efficient services in crime prevention, crime detection and investigation, law enforcement, public safety and criminological research,” UE College of Arts and Sciences Dean Michelle Concepcion said.

“In these times when digital and cyberthreats and attacks have become increasingly rampant, we hope to arm our aspiring criminology students with the knowledge and know-how to fend off and foil these technology-aided crimes whether perpetuated globally or locally,” she added.

The university then stressed its commitment to provide the country with equipped professionals capable of addressing “new and complex forms of criminality,” as well as meeting the “challenges of globalization in the field of criminology.

Apart from potentially entering the Philippine National Police (PNP) force, UE said graduates of the new degree may also join relevant government agencies, as well as business continuity management and security management in the private sector, research in specialized organizations, teaching in the academia, and security consultancies, among others.

READ: Acorda: PNP to tackle rise in cybercrimes

Under Republic Act 11549, the minimum height requirement for applicants to the PNP, Bureau of Fire Protection, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology and the Bureau of Corrections  has been lowered from 1.62 meters to 1.57 meters (5’2″) for males and from 1.57 meters to 1.52 meters (5′) for females.

The height requirement is also waived for applicants belonging to cultural communities or indigenous peoples.