Cyber Security, Bachelor of Science

Program Overview

Cyber Security is the study of science, technologies, processes, and practices designed to protect computers, networks, smart devices, software programs, and data from attack, damage, or unauthorized access. Our Cyber Security degree is a collaborative inter-disciplinary degree which follows a holistic approach that integrates technical, legal, business, and policy skills with support courses from Computer Science, Business, Information Systems and Criminal Justice. The degree leverages the social, risk analysis, and business aspects of other disciplines. Admitted students to the University are expected to complete mathematics courses up to Precalculus and a programming course (CSCI 1380 Computer Science I) to start taking cyber security related courses.

Admission requirements for this program beyond university admission requirements.

  • A minimum grade of C or better in MATH 2412 in no more than three attempts or a minimum composite score of 24 on the ACT or 1200 on the SAT.
  • Students must complete MATH 2412 and CSCI 1380 prior to beginning CYBI 2XXX , 3XXX or 4XXX level courses.

Progression requirements for this program.

Specific graduation requirements for this program beyond university bachelor's degree requirements.

Core Curriculum – 42 hours

The Core Curriculum serves as a broad foundation for the undergraduate degree. All candidates for a bachelor’s degree must achieve core student learning outcomes, including communication, critical thinking, empirical and quantitative skills, teamwork, personal responsibility and social responsibility, by completing courses within each category or component area of the Core Curriculum as outlined below.

The University has approved specific courses that satisfy Core Curriculum Requirements. Approved courses can be found on the Core Curriculum Page. Students seeking the most efficient way to complete the core curriculum and major or minor requirements are advised to take approved courses that can fulfill both requirements. Although core curriculum courses can also be used to fulfill major or minor requirements, earned credits hours are only applied once.

The courses listed below fulfill core curriculum and major requirements. Students who have completed a core curriculum category with courses other than those listed below will still be required to take the listed course(s) to meet major requirements.

020 Mathematics - 3 hours

MATH 2412Precalculus

4

Three credit hours from MATH 2412 are applied to category 020. Student must complete MATH 2412 with grade of "C" or better.

040 Language, Philosophy, and Culture - 3 hours

PHIL 2326Ethics, Technology and Society

3

080 Social and Behavioral Sciences - 3 hours

Any listed course under this category except PHIL 1362 courses can be taken to complete category 080.

090 Integrative and Experiential Learning - 6 hours

COMM 1315Public Speaking

3

CSCI 1380Introduction to Programming in Python

3

PHIL 2326 cannot be taken in category 090. Students must complete CSCI 1380 with a grade of "C" or better.

Major Requirements - 70 hours

Required - 42 hours

Cyber Security Core - 40 hours

CYBI 1101Introduction to Cyberspace & Informatics

1

CYBI 2322Foundations of Systems I

3

CYBI 2324Foundations of Systems II

3

CYBI 2326Programming of Cyber Systems & Reverse Engineering

3

CYBI 3318Cryptography

3

CYBI 3331Software Engineering and Project Management

3

CYBI 3335Data Communications and Networking

3

CYBI 3343Intrusion Detection, Incident Response and Information Assurance

3

CYBI 3345Operating Systems and Security

3

CYBI 3346Distributed and Cloud Computing Security

3

CYBI 4319Digital Forensics

3

CYBI 4340Capstone Project

3

CYBI 4347Wireless and Mobile Security

3

CYBI 4365Network Security

3

Students must complete CYBI 1101, CYBI 2322, CYBI 2324 and CYBI 2326 with a grade of "C" or better.

Cyber Security Certification - 2 hours

CYBI 3101Certification

1

CYBI 3101Certification

1

CYBI 3101 must be completed 2 times.

Prescribed Electives - 9 hours

Choose from:

CYBI 3300Cybersecurity Internship

3

CYBI 4300Topics in Cyberspace and Informatics

3

CYBI 4301Independent Certification

3

CYBI 4316Cross Platform Cyber Programming

3

CYBI 4320Heterogenous Data Storage & Retrieval Systems

3

CYBI 4322Data Science in Cyberspace - Python

3

CYBI 4324Reverse Engineering

3

CYBI 4326Secure Software Development

3

CYBI 4328Hardware Oriented Cyber Security

3

CYBI 4330Malware Hacking

3

CYBI 4332Blockchain

3

CYBI 4334IoT Principles and Hacking

3

CYBI 4336Cyber Security Engineering with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

3

INFS 4330Data Mining and Machine Learning

3

INFS 4391Information Security

3

INFS 4397Health Computer Information Systems

3

CSCI 3370Introduction to Game Development

3

CSCI 4301Digital Image Processing

3

CSCI 4303Computer Vision

3

CSCI 4343Data Mining

3

CSCI 4352Machine Learning

3

CYBI 4300 is eligible as a Prescribed (Technical) Elective only for certain topics; therefore, students must seek approval is required prior to enrolling in CYBI 4300. Consent of instructor or assistance from the IES department may be required to enrolling in some advanced level support courses.

Support Courses - 19 hours

BLAW 3337Business Law I

3

COMM 3313Business and Technical Communication

3

CRIJ 1301Introduction to the Criminal Justice System

3

CRIJ 3316Criminal Evidence and Proof

3

INFS 3308Business Information Infrastructure

3

MATH 2412Precalculus

4

STAT 2334Applied Statistics for Health

3

Consent of instructor or assistance from the IES department may be required to enroll in some advanced level support courses. One credit hour from MATH 2412 is applied to the Support Course section of the degree plan. Students must complete MATH 2412 with a grade of "C" or better.

Free Electives - 8 hours

Free electives credit hours required may vary to achieve the institutional minimum of 120 hours for a degree.

Total Credit Hours: 42

Total Credit Hours: 120

View this program’s recommended roadmap to graduation.

UTRGV Roadmaps are a suggested sequence of courses designed to assist students in completing their undergraduate degree requirements. This is a term-by-term sample roadmap of courses required to complete the degree. Students must satisfy all requirements in their catalog including, but not limited to course prerequisites, grade point average and course grade benchmarks, progression requirements, and graduation requirements.

Students should meet with their academic advisor every semester to discuss their individualized path toward completion. Degree progress within this roadmap depends upon such factors as course availability, individual student academic preparation and readiness, student time management, work and personal responsibilities, and financial considerations. Students may choose to take courses during summer terms to reduce course loads during long semesters.