Cyber Security Track, Computer Science, BS

  • CYBER SAFETY Maria Shah talks about the criminology component in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Sciences. Students are taught about securing data and networking.

    Zach Seymour

    “I transferred to IUP in my sophomore year, and I was immediately pleased with my decision. Both my department and the university as a whole were much more interactive and involved in their students' day-to-day experiences, which made achieving my specific goals for my education much easier.”

    Zachary Seymour, BS in Computer Science and Mathematics, pursuing a PhD in Computer Science from Binghamton University

    Jayde Ferney

    “I attended a Women in Cybersecurity Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. It was inspiring to see all of these women who worked their way into top-level positions in the cyber security world and made me inspired to do the same.”

    Jayde Ferney, double major in Computer Science (Cyber Security and Applied/Software Engineering Tracks) and Political Science, minors in Mathematics and Criminology

    Benefit from Our Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense

    This track prepares students for jobs such as network administrator, information security specialist, or network security manager.

    Students are required to take a course in which they must put to practical use what they have learned. This may be done using team projects in a single three-credit course. However, we encourage students to consider taking a six- to eight-month paid internship to get the true flavor of applying their computing knowledge to industry.

    We try to set up internships with the defense industry or the government to provide an opportunity for students to use their cyber security skills. Students are also required to take a minor in Criminology. We foresee our graduates working with law enforcement personnel or in security areas, and they need a knowledge of law enforcement to be effective.

    Enrollment and Graduation Statistics  

    The Cyber Security track currently has 71 students enrolled in the program.  In 2015, fifteen (15) students completed the program received their BS degree in Computer Science/Cyber Security track.

    Logos for Homeland Security and the National Security Agency

  • Course Requirements

    120 credits

    • Computer Science: 43 credits
    • Liberal Studies: 48 credits
    • Additional Requirements: 6-12 credits
    • Minor in Criminology: 15 credits
    • Free Electives: 2-8 credits

    Computer Science

    Required Courses

    • COSC 105 - Fundamentals of Computer Science,
      3 credits
    • COSC 110 - Problem Solving and Structured Programming, 3 credits
    • COSC 210 - Object-Oriented and GUI Programming,
      3 credits
    • COSC 220 - Applied Computer Programming,
      4 credits
    • COSC 300 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language, 3 credits
    • COSC 310 - Data Structures and Algorithms,
      3 credits
    • COSC 319 - Software Engineering Concepts,
      3 credits
    • COSC 341 - Database Management, 3 credits
    • COSC 380 - Seminar in Computing Profession and Ethics, 2 credits
    • COSC 480 - Seminar on Technical Topics, 1 credit

    Cyber Security Required Courses 

    • COSC 316 - Host Computer Security, 3 credits
    • COSC 356 - Network Security, 3 credits

    Select one of the following:

    • COSC 320 - Software Engineering Practice,
      3 credits 
    • COSC 493W - Internship (in Cyber Security), 12 credits [3]

    Controlled Electives

    (Select three credits from the following courses)

    • COSC - 345 Computer Networks, 3 credits
    • COSC/IFMG 354 - Testing and Controlling LANs,
      3 credits
    • COSC 362 - Unix Systems, 3 credits
    • COSC 365 - Web Architecture Application Development, 3 credits
    • COSC 481 - Special Topics in Computer Science,
      3 credits
      -(As approved for majors in this track)
    • IFMG 382 - Auditing for EDP Systems, 3 credits

    Upper-Level Electives

    (Select three credits from the following courses.)

    • COSC 427 - Introduction to Cryptography, 3 credits
    • COSC 432 - Operating Systems, 3 credits
    • COSC 482 - Independent Study, 3 credits
    • COSC 400-level course with department approval, 3 credits

    Liberal Studies

    Note: As outlined in Liberal Studies section with the following specifications:

    • Social Science: CRIM 101 [1]
    • Mathematics (3 credits): MATH 125 [2]
    • Liberal Studies Electives (3 credits): MATH 216

    Additional Requirements

    • Minor in Criminology: 15 credits [1]
    • Mathematics: MATH 309 Discrete Mathematics, 3 credits

    Notes:

    • CRIM 101 (taken as part of the social science requirement) is counted as part of the 18cr Criminology minor. Fifteen (15) additional credits of CRIM are required.
    • MATH 125 can be substituted by MATH 121. 
    • COSC 493 may be selected in either the second semester of the junior year or the first semester of the senior year. If COSC 493 is selected and approved, COSC 380 may be taken in the immediately preceding semester. Only 4cr of COSC 493 may be counted towards the major.

    The IUP Undergraduate Catalog is the final determiner of all requirements for all degrees. This document is a simplification of catalog information and is meant only for basic advising of Computer Science majors. For more details, see your advisor.

    Program Educational Objectives

    Our graduates are expected to attain these objectives within a few years of graduation:

    1. Possess analytical skills to assess, develop, and implement information security policies and to research and analyze alternatives.
    2. Possess verbal skills to interact with customers, colleagues, managers, and law enforcement personnel, and written communication skills to describe ideas and document processes. Have the ability to explain complexity. Have the ability to convey a clear understanding of what others find to be ambiguous.
    3. Possess the ability to think logically and the capacity to understand cyber security issues, identify system vulnerabilities, and design solution alternatives.
    4. Possess an attention to detail the ability to thoroughly think through ideas and problems, then implement and test total solutions.
    5. Possess an ability to understand and vision beyond the immediate problem.
    6. Possess an ability to understand how others have analyzed and developed cyber security policies and procedures, and then to identify technical alternatives and their use to meet information security requirements.
    7. Possess an ability to anticipate effect and outcomes.
    8. Maintain professional work ethic, appearance, and demonstration of personal responsibility.
    9. Possess an ability to collaborate as a team member and team leader to affect technical solutions and solve information security problems, providing strengthened security outcomes.

    Student Outcomes

    Upon graduation, all computer science students are expected to possess the following knowledge, skills, and behaviors:

    1. Apply computer science knowledge to application areas from science and industry.
    2. Apply appropriate data structures and algorithms to analyze and solve new problems.
    3. Apply software engineering techniques to designing, implementing, documenting, testing, and maintaining software systems.
    4. Contribute to improving the design and implementation of databases.
    5. Use more than one programming language and choose an appropriate ones for a project.
    6. Work with and communicate effectively with professionals in various fields.
    7. Continue a lifelong professional development in computing.
    8. Act ethically and professionally.

    In addition a graduate of the Cyber Security track will be prepared to:

    1. Work with business personnel to implement cyber security policy.
    2. Work with law enforcement personnel at all levels to prevent cyber security violations and prosecute those who attack computer systems.
    3. Manage security in network systems.
    4. Increase the public’s knowledge of cyber security issues.
    5. Establish procedures that provide information assurance in computer systems for which he/she is responsible.
    6. Contribute to improving secure data communications.
    7. Strengthen the security of application programs.
  • Mathematical and Computer Sciences Department
  • Stright Hall, Room 233
    210 South Tenth Street
    Indiana, PA 15705
  • Phone: 724-357-2608
  • Fax: 724-357-7908
  • Office Hours
  • Monday through Friday
  • 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.