The Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science to Unveil New State-of-the-Art Facility

The new Science and Innovation Center, a shared facility for the DeMatteis School and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant Studies, will open its doors in the fall of 2023. This energy-efficient, four-story, 75,000-square-foot new construction has been designed with optimal team collaboration in mind.

The Center will boast a large makerspace to facilitate student prototyping and the first-year engineering lab experience. Labs focused on big data, robotics, computer architecture, UNIX systems and graphics, virtual reality, other computer science-related technologies, as well as a bioengineering lab, a tissue culture facility, and an industrial engineering manufacturing lab, will also move here.

A courtyard in front of the building will provide a gathering space to encourage the exchange of ideas and interdisciplinary learning.

The Center marks the largest structural addition to Hofstra in 20 years and will accelerate the University’s mission to promote cross-disciplinary collaborations and partnerships with the local community.

The Fred DeMatteis School of Engineering and Applied Science is answering the call for today’s in-demand professions with two recently launched graduate programs in cybersecurity and data science. As more industries fall victim to data breaches and ransomware attacks, it’s no surprise that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the job market for these careers will grow up to 36% by 2031.

MS Cybersecurity

The master’s in cybersecurity is designed to prepare students for technical and managerial careers in the information security field. The program, a joint offering of the DeMatteis School and the Frank G. Zarb School of Business, provides the theoretical foundation and practical experiences that address cybersecurity from many perspectives such as data, software systems, organizational and societal security, and privacy. Concentrations are available in technology, as well as management and policy.

“We teach defensive technologies, but it’s not all just defense,” said Professor Uzo Osuno, program director for the MS in Cybersecurity and MS in Data Science. “In our cybersecurity program, among other topics, we teach intrusion detection, incident response, and hacker techniques – particularly how to be an ‘ethical hacker.’ Instead of waiting to be attacked – you attack yourself. You find out where you are weak and where you are vulnerable, so you can protect yourself before the outside attacks come.”

Cybersecurity students can gain valuable hands-on experience through paid positions offered as part of the DeMatteis Co-op program and study in state-of-the-art, on-campus facilities, including the Cybersecurity Innovation and Research Center.

MS Data Science

The master’s in data science, the newest program at the DeMatteis School, prepares students for advanced careers in data engineering, quantitative research, machine learning, and data analytics.

The curriculum includes the knowledge and skills in the areas of data science, data mining and visualization, statistical analysis and inference, and machine learning. The program provides a strong foundation in statistical inference and optimization, and students will develop strong data analytics and computational skills. It is presented in partnership with the department of mathematics in the Hofstra School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

“Data science is about gathering and analyzing patterns and trends in data – which includes text, numbers, video, audio, and graphics – for business intelligence and decision-making,” Professor Osuno said. “We teach our students how to use both predictive and prescriptive analysis for applications in any industry. These are high in-demand skills.”