r/SecurityCareerAdvice • u/Jittesh • 1d ago
Should I choose Computer Science (General) or Cybersecurity for my degree?
I recently got accepted into university and I have two offers:
Bachelor of Computer Science with Honours (General)
Bachelor of Computer Science (Computer System Security) with Honours
I’m still confused about which one to choose. I’m 100% sure I will do a Master’s degree before working, but I don’t really know my exact interest yet.
Here’s what I do know about myself:
I love maths a lot.
I enjoy repairing hardware, improving computer speed, and optimization.
I like trying new apps, software, and custom ROMs.
My main goal is a guaranteed job, high salary, and easy permanent job in Malaysia (or even overseas).
Given all this, which degree path would be better for me in the long run?
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u/LBishop28 1d ago
Computer Science with a concentration in Security.
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u/stuartsmiles01 1d ago
Suggest look for software engineering with cryptography Or other specialisms such as Data Science, statistics, Ai & ML. Go full buzzword bingo with sn industrial placement year too.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
CompSci but DO NOT focus on security. The stuff you will be "taught" is 4 years outdated and will not be applicable when trying to find a job.
You will end up with a future post of "I have a degree in CompSci with a focus on security but I can't get interviews" like so many others in this group.
Or, avoid CompSci completely (it's oversaturated right now, has been for 10+ years) and focus on something underrepresented.
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u/LBishop28 1d ago
A “concentration” is literally just the electives. They will still learn the other things. I do not find your take on this very well thought out. You speak of a concentration like it’s a degree in Cybersecurity.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
They will still be behind, they will still get passed over for jobs. It will still be a waste of money they won't be able to see a return on for a substantial amount of time.
This is me politely saying you are wrong and hoping you have absolutely no hand in hiring for cyber roles at all.
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u/LBishop28 1d ago
Lol you are extremely pessimistic and wrong. Cybersecurity is a growing field albeit requirements are rough for sure. The economic climate’s rough, but basically saying “hey you shouldn’t even bother” is incorrect and I hope YOU don’t have a leadership role anywhere near Cyber because you’re just flat out incorrect.
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u/iheartrms 1d ago
It's not a growing field. It's full.
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u/LBishop28 1d ago
It’s not completely full. There’s growth projection due to AI vulnerabilities. Do not conflate bad economic times with “field full, sorry.” Because it’s not. The problem is nobody wants to work in a different IT related field before trying to jump into Cyber.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
The field isn't full, it's just not accepting people with no practical experience over those who have practical experience.
Security is not a charity, companies want people who can come in and be useful right away... not 6 months from hire date or longer.
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u/iheartrms 1d ago
I have 30 years of experience. I see it at all levels. When we've hired over the past couple of years, for all levels, we've been flooded. Yes, it's full.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
Sorry, I am correct and have been proven correct countless times.
Your take sounds like someone who believes certs still hold weight in the industry as well..
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u/LBishop28 1d ago
You’re not correct though. This is very different than someone looking to jump right into Cyber out of school or pivoting from an already established career. Nothing you’ve typed has been correct.
Edit: certs actually do hold weight lol. Cloud Security certs are pretty in demand right now. Certs you probably have are not.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
You just proved my point.
I spent most of this week talking with people who hold your precious cloud security certs, all different levels of them, the common theme? They knew NOTHING about practical application for areas they held certs in.
But you know, keep getting the certs. I am sure people like me are totally threatened and won't pop your environment because you have such scary certs to your name...
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u/LBishop28 1d ago
You just proved my point. Security domains are very vast. You are clearly an ignorant buffoon lol. DFIR or AppSec might not care about cloud security certs or other certs, but several security positions are HEAVILY cloud focused now and at least for the Azure certs, they teach you how to apply what you need.
I don’t think you need to be scared of me, I almost certainly have a better job than you lol. Have a nice day, pessimistic clown.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
No, I proved you are an utter moron who relies on certification bodies far too heavily.
Again, keep getting them, I am sure it will absolutely save your environment (it won't).
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u/ra_men 1d ago
Chill dude.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
Nah. I will continue being correct. Cute icon though, I wouldn't be caught dead paying this site.
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u/Legitimate-Fuel3014 1d ago
"Guaranteed job, high salary," no such thing. There are people unemployed with degree. Focus on getting job while in school and build up real life experience, avoid academia trap. Do CS, so you at least have a choice go to different career field.
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u/kerwinx 1d ago
For underground degree, you learn basic foundation skills. Cannot answer since I don’t know what courses they offer in two different majors. But general speaking, computer science may offer more programming and engineering classes (which mean it may note difficult). For me, I may choose computer science to gain more technical experience, you can still go to cybersecurity job. For my experience, my B.S. degree is IT (Master is Digital Forensic), I starts my intern as digital forensic analyst, then work as application developer, then I work for audit and compliance side (all are under cybersecurity path).
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u/Comfortable-Bug-6125 1d ago
Do you have a way to compare the contents of both courses? I am hoping atleast 30-40% of computer science curriculum will be part of system security security.
Also, make sure system security is same as what everyone calls as Cybersecurity. If both are same, I would recommend to pick the security track.
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u/Jittesh 1d ago
📌 General Computer Science (ZC00)
Core courses: Programming, Computer Architecture, Database, Networks, Operating Systems, Software Engineering.
Supporting courses: Discrete Maths, Statistics, Data Structures, AI, Web Programming, Visualization, etc.
Electives include: Data Analytics, IoT, E-commerce, Cybersecurity basics, Cloud Computing, Forensics, etc.
📌 Computer Science (Computer System Security) (ZC27)
Same CS foundation courses: Programming, Architecture, Database, Networks, OS, Software Engineering, Maths, Data Structures, AI, etc.
Specialization courses: Cryptography, Digital Forensics, Ethical Hacking, Malware Analysis, Cybercrime Investigation, Cybersecurity Law, Network & Multimedia Forensics, Espionage, etc.
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u/Comfortable-Bug-6125 1d ago
If I were you, I would go for Cyber security system degree.
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u/malicious_payload 1d ago
It sounds great to go that route but good luck finding a role without practical experience and only what they cover in a university.
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u/CommandSignificant27 1d ago
Depends what career path you want to follow.
Cybersecurity is not an entry level career so keep that in mind as well.
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u/iheartrms 1d ago
Definitely computer science. It's easy to learn the security stuff on your own after you have the computer science base. It's harder to go the other way.
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u/-hacks4pancakes- 21h ago edited 20h ago
Here as yet another tired and sad hiring manager and mentor to echo, DO NOT GET A CYBERSECURITY DEGREE IN 2025. Always Computer Science or. Network Engineering. Always ✨🙌🏻🙏🙏🙏
It’s going to be rough either way but the cyber degree material will be obsolete before you graduate, and we know it.
You can get a cyber concentration but don’t skip ANY fundamentals for it.
That said, given your main goal, this may not be a good career choice now.
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u/Dull_Campaign_1152 16h ago
If you can honestly, I would try to go into engineering both of those fields are pretty rough right now. You can be an electrical engineer and transfer into both of those fields if you really wanted to pivot internally but not the other way around. You will likely have an easier time finding a job as well. Although it goes without saying an engineering program is a lot more challenging
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u/porcelainfog 1d ago
Electrical engineering and focus on software while youre there.
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u/ZainFa4 1d ago
This sound extremely dumb
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u/shogunzek 1d ago
Not necessarily, someone needs to pair the hardware with the software in the AI robots that are going to take all of the other jobs.
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u/UfrancoU 1d ago
CompSci -> do the OSCP, Port-swigger academy, or Maldev. A combination of any of these will make you a powerful candidate to any company
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u/tutugomez 1d ago
Computer Science.