Cybersecurity Major
Cybersecurity General Information
The cybersecurity program is designed to meet the growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. It is deeply rooted in computer science and offers core and depth courses in cybersecurity. The learning outcome at the program level is that students in this program should learn essential knowledge and up-to-date techniques in cybersecurity, including those in the main areas of fundamental security concepts and principles, applied cryptography, program security, and system and network security. It embraces a focus on hands-on skills and includes computer and network security lab courses and field studies. The program follows a vertical architecture, as the fundamental principles introduced in the lower division will be applied to increasingly complex problems in the upper-division.
Declaring the Major
Students interested in a Cybersecurity major must meet with a Tykeson Hall Academic Advisor prior to declaring the major.
During the advising appointment, you will present an academic plan for completing the major, receive the feedback, and then incorporate the feedback to finalize the plan. You are also encouraged to meet with a cyber faculty advisor as you progress through the major to be sure that you are satisfying your major and UO degree requirements.
Degree Overview
To obtain a Cybersecurity degree, students must satisfy the specific major requirements as stated in the UO Catalog at the time you are admitted to the major.
The current requirements are:
- Complete six stage-1 courses, including five CS lower-division core courses and one Cybersecurity core course: CS 102, 210, 211, 212, Math 231, Math 232
- Complete six stage 2 courses, including four CS upper-division core courses at 300 level, and two core Cybersecurity courses: CS 313, 314, 315, 330, 332, 333
- Complete eight stage-3 courses, including three CS upper-division core courses at 400 level (CS 415,422,425), one CS upper-division elective course (CS 432), two Cybersecurity core courses, and two Cybersecurity depth courses (CS 433,437).
- Complete 16-credit breadth courses from stage-3 depth courses and CS upper-division elective courses.
- Complete one writing course (WR320, WR321 or HC 301).
- Complete a 4-credit field study.
Satisfactory Progress in Cybersecurity Program
Computer Science Department supports student preparedness for upper-division courses, as indicated by grades earned in lower-division prerequisite courses. Strong preparation in lower-division courses provides the foundation for success in major upper-division courses and continuous progress toward major and UO degree requirements. Students must earn grades of B- or higher in CS 210, 211, and 212 to automatically advance to most upper-division CS courses. In addition, B- or better grades in Discrete Math (Math 231 and 232) are needed to advance to CS 313.
When a student receives a grade lower than a B- in one of the prerequisite courses, students should repeat the course to earn the required B- or higher grade prior to attempting subsequent courses. Students repeating a course should plan to take advantage of supplemental instruction opportunities such as Class Encore small group meetings.
Students with at most one C-level grade and no repeated courses in lower-division required prerequisite courses may petition for a prerequisite override to register for an upper-division course. Cybersecurity faculty advisors will review the petition; students should be aware that such petitions may not be approved.
Students are required to meet with a Tykeson Hall Academic Advisor before submitting a petition for a prerequisite override to register for an upper-division course. Your advisor will assist you in determining next steps and submitting a petition, if this is determined to be appropriate.
Students may schedule an appointment with a Tykeson Hall Academic Advisor on the Scientific Discovery and Sustainability (SDS) team to explore options including other majors, possibly with a Cybersecurity minor, or submitting a petition to remain in the major.
General University Requirements
To earn a UO bachelor's degree, you must satisfy general university requirements as stated in the UO Catalog for the term you declared the major. In addition, you must satisfy the specific major requirements that are in effect at the time you are admitted to that major (as the major requirements may change over time).
Students may earn either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Cybersecurity. In general, if you fulfill the major requirements, you will automatically qualify for a BS degree. To qualify for the BA degree, you must also fulfill the University of Oregon’s language requirement.
Major Progress Review
Students should schedule an appointment with a Cybersecurity advisor and complete a CS Major Progress Review Form after beginning stage-3 courses.
Petitions
Exceptions or modifications to departmental requirements may be requested via a CS Petition form to Cybersecurity faculty advisors. It is expected that you will have discussed the matter with an advisor before filing the petition.
Prerequisites
Admission to a given course requires completion of all the prerequisites listed in the UO Catalog.
Students with appropriate background who have consulted with an advisor may submit a CS Prerequisite Override Request form to Cybersecurity faculty advisors to register for a particular course. Prerequisite Override Requests should be submitted 10 days before the registration time for which the student needs that exception.
Students should be aware that requests are not automatically approved; approval depends on individual circumstances and will be conditional.
Cybersecurity Course Requirements
Total credits: 104.
Stage-1 courses (6 courses, 24 credits)
Complete the following sequences. All courses must be taken graded.
- CS 102 Fundamentals of Computer and Information Security (1 course, 4 credits)
- CS lower-division core courses (5 courses, 20 credits)
- CS 210, 211, 212 Computer Science I-II-III
- MATH 231, 232 Elements of Discrete Mathematics I, II
Stage-2 courses (6 courses, 24 credits)
Complete the following courses. All courses must be taken graded except for 332.
- CS upper-division core courses at 300 level (4 courses, 16 credits)
- CS 313 Intermediate Data Structures
- CS 314 Computer Organization
- CS 315 Intermediate Algorithms
- CS 330 C/C++ and Unix
- CS 332* System and Security Administration Lab (*: the course still needs to be approved)
- CS 333 Applied Cryptography
Stage-3 courses (8 courses, 32 credits)
Complete the following courses. All courses must be taken graded except for 437.
- CS upper-division core courses at 400 level (3 courses, 12 credits)
- CS 415 Operating Systems
- CS 422 Software Methodology I
- CS 425 Principles of Programming Languages
- CS 432 Introduction to Computer Networks
- CS 433 Computer and Network Security
- CS 437* Computer and Network Security Lab (*: the course still needs to be approved)
- Stage-3 depth courses (2 courses, 8 credits):
- CS 434 Computer and Network Security II
- CS 436 Secure Software Development
Breadth courses (16 credits)
Choose courses from the stage-3 depth courses and CS upper-division elective courses. A maximum of 8 credits may be taken Pass/No Pass.
- A maximum number of 8 credits from any CS 400-level, CS322, and CS399 courses may be counted toward the degree (taken graded)
- A maximum number of 8 credits from 403 (thesis) may be counted toward the degree (taken graded or P/NP)
- A maximum number of 4 credits from courses 405 (reading) and 407 (seminar) may be counted toward the degree (taken graded or P/NP)
- CS 405, 407, 399, 410 repeatable only with different titles
Writing requirement (1 course, 4 credits)
Choose one from the following. The course may be taken Pass/No Pass or Graded.
- WR 320 Scientific and Technical Writing
- WR 321 Business Communications
- HC 301
Field study (4 credits)
Conduct a field study. Students can choose one experience study over one or multiple terms with totally four (4) credits from the following. The course may be taken Pass/No Pass or Graded.
- CS 401 Research
- CS 404 Internship
- CS 406 Field study