Computer and Network Security, Bachelor of Science
Philosophy
Today, businesses of all sizes depend upon a networked computer system connected to the Internet. Computer and network technologies have greatly increased employee productivity, elevated the status of “information” to that of a corporate asset, and reduced the cost of doing business. Unfortunately, the same technology that makes life easier for the employee also makes life easier for cyber criminals and more difficult for the IT professionals whose responsibility it is to secure the organization’s vital data. To protect themselves, companies seek professionals with the strongest security credentials available. In order to address such workplace demands, a program of study has been crafted that provides not only a foundation for the core of the degree, but also support from related disciplines to provide a well-rounded education. The General Education core and support courses interact with the security core to deliver a “complete package.”
Purpose
Information Security is listed among the fastest growing occupations by the US Department of Labor Statistics (BLS). According to the BLS, the number of people employed as information security analysts is projected to increase by 18% between 2014 and 2024. To put it in perspective, that is fifty percent more than the projected growth for computer occupations and more than double the projected growth rate for all occupations.
See www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm#tab-6 for more details.
The workforce need was further highlighted in a widely cited article published by Peninsula Press, a Project of Stanford Journalism. The authors estimated the number of unfilled cybersecurity positions in 2015 at 209,000 in the U.S. alone.
http://peninsulapress.com/2015/03/31/cybersecurity-jobs-growth/
Center of Academic Excellence (CAE)
Wilmington University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity through academic year 2021 by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
This is a nationally recognized designation that Wilmington University’s Computer and Network Security curricula, faculty, outreach and academic activities meet the rigorous standards established by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. The goal of the National Centers of Academic Excellence designation program is to promote higher education in Information Assurance (IA) and Cyber Defense (CD) and prepare a growing number of IA/CD professionals to meet the need to reduce vulnerabilities in the Nation’s networks.
Highly Ranked Program
Whereas the CNS program is offered both face-to-face and online, WilmU was pleased to learn that the online offering was ranked #1 in the country in 2017 by BestColleges.com:
http://www.bestcolleges.com/features/top-online-bachelors-in-cybersecurity/#best-school-rankings
Program Competencies
Students in the Computer and Network Security Program (B.S.) will be able to:
- Apply the ethical principles required of computer professionals;
- Demonstrate technical knowledge in Information Assurance necessary to prepare for an entry level position in the Computer and Network Security field;
- Analyze requirements for Information Security projects using best practices and current methodologies;
- Employ the process used to analyze, design, implement, test and deliver Information Assurance projects;
- Demonstrate knowledge of best practices used to manage Computer and Network Security projects; and
- Practice the use and employ the benefit of library resources, including subscription services and other sources generally accepted as legitimate and valid.
What You Will Learn
In addition to becoming well-prepared for a technical career, students will also enhance their writing, verbal communications and analytical thinking skills. Graduates of the program will have a better understanding of the following topics:
- Legal Aspects of Data
How content of e-mail and other documentation may be used in a court of law to satisfy the “rules of evidence”
The core of the degree combines courses offered by the Legal Studies and Criminal Justice programs to supplement the technology-oriented courses
- Ethics
Understanding ethical practices associated with the role of a computer professional, including issues relating to copyright protection, intellectual property, and user privacy.
- History
Students will learn the history of network and computer security, and how issues have changed with the rapid advances in technology.
The Computer and Network Security (CNS) Bachelor of Science degree will provide students with credentials specializing in digital information security and will also help prepare students to “sit” for the following industry recognized certifications:
- CISA - Certified Information System Auditor
- CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional
- Security+
- Network+
- ACE - computer forensics certification
- A+
- Linux+
What You Can Do With this Degree
The term Cybersecurity is still fairly new and the category of jobs involving cybersecurity are very broad. The federal government initiated an effort called the National Cybersecurity Framework a few years ago to help provide some clarity and structure. The following sample job titles are taken from this framework (http://csrc.nist.gov/nice/framework/national_cybersecurity_workforce_framework_03_2013_version1_0_interactive.pdf) and are among the roles for which the CNS program helps prepare students:
- Computer Crime Investigator
- Computer Network Defense Forensic Analyst
- Computer Support Specialist
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Cybersecurity Intelligence Analyst
- Digital Forensic Examiner
- Ethical Hacker
- Incident Analyst
- Information Security Analyst
- Intrusion Analyst
- Intrusion Detection System Administrator
- Network Administrator
- Network Analyst
- Network Defense Technician
- Network Forensic Examiner
- Network Security Specialist
- Penetration Tester
- Risk/Vulnerability Analyst
- Security Administrator
- Security Engineer
- Security Specialist
- Systems Analyst
- Systems Engineer
- Systems Security Analyst
- Technical Support Specialist
Minimum Grade Policy
The Computer and Network Security program has set a minimum passing grade of “C-” for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than “C-” in any required core course must retake that course.
Computer and Network Security B. S. Curriculum
General Education Requirements (39 credits)
Humanities Elective (3 credits)
Choose one course from:
ART, COM 245, CUL, DRA, DSN 110, ENG 310, ENG 360, ETN, HIS 230, HUM, LIT, MUS, PHI, REL, SPA, TEC 215, VMG 313
Social Science Elective (3 credits)
Choose one course from:
HIS, POL, PSY, SOC
Support Core (21 credits)
Security Core (45 credits)
| SEC 100 | Introduction to Computer Hardware and Operation | 3 |
| SEC 210 | Principles and Practice of Information Security | 3 |
| SEC 230 | Introduction to Linux | 3 |
| SEC 235 | Networks and Telecommunications | 3 |
| SEC 250 | Operating System and Computer Systems Security | 3 |
| SEC 290 | Introduction to Programming with Python | 3 |
| SEC 310 | Cryptography: Algorithms and Applications | 3 |
| SEC 335 | Linux for Systems Administrators | 3 |
| SEC 340 | Windows Operating Systems and Systems Administration | 3 |
| SEC 350 | Introduction Computer Forensics | 3 |
| SEC 410 | Web and Data Security | 3 |
| SEC 420 | Data Integrity and Disaster Recovery | 3 |
| OR | |
| ISM 410 | Physical Design and Implementation with DBMS | 3 |
| SEC 435 | Advanced Network Management | 3 |
| SEC 450 | Protecting Your Network: Firewall and Perimeter Security | 3 |
The Computer & Network Security program has set a minimum passing grade of "C-" for program core courses. Students receiving a grade lower than "C-" in any required core course must retake that course.
College of Technology Elective (3 credits)
Choose one course from the following:
CTA, GMD, ISM, MIS, SDD, SEC, TEC
Free Electives (15 credits)
Students interested in the Digital Evidence Investigation Certificate should consider SEC355 Mobile Device Forensics and SEC440 Network Forensics for the electives. Students with less than 16 transfer credits are required to take FYE 101 as one of their electives.
CAP (Community & Academic Partnerships)/Co-op Program
In order to provide relevant work experience, students in the Computer & Network Security (CNS) degree program have the option of completing six credit hours via a co-op assignment. The co-op option for CNS is the equivalent of two semester courses, for a total of six credit hours. Students can complete their CNS degree with 120 credit hours, whether they choose the co-op option or not. Because each co-op experience is individually designed, students must inform the Director of the CAP/Co-op program and the CNS Program Chair one semester before they would like to begin a co-op assignment.
In order to be eligible, students must first have completed two core courses in residence and at least 60 credits, plus a GPA of 2.5 or higher. For additional information on the CAP/Co-op program option, please see the website: www.wilmu.edu/coop/.
Suggested Program Sequence
Freshman
Semester 1
| CTA 206 | Computer Applications | 3 |
| ENG 121 | English Composition I | 3 |
| MAT 205 | Introductory Survey of Mathematics | 3 |
| SEC 100 | Introduction to Computer Hardware and Operation | 3 |
| Elective | 3 |
Semester 2
| CRJ 101 | Survey of Criminal Justice | 3 |
| ENG 122 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MAT 200 | Pre-Calculus | 3 |
| PHI 100 | Introduction to Critical Thinking | 3 |
| SEC 210 | Principles and Practice of Information Security | 3 |
Sophomore
Semester 1
| ECO 105 | Fundamentals of Economics | 3 |
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| SEC 230 | Introduction to Linux | 3 |
| SEC 235 | Networks and Telecommunications | 3 |
| Natural Science Elective | 3 or 4 credits |
Semester 2
Junior
Semester 1
| PHI 314 | Ethics for Computer Professionals | 3 |
| SEC 310 | Cryptography: Algorithms and Applications | 3 |
| SEC 335 | Linux for Systems Administrators | 3 |
| SEC 340 | Windows Operating Systems and Systems Administration | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Semester 2
Senior
Semester 1
| LES 331 | Electronic Discovery | 3 |
| SEC 410 | Web and Data Security | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
| HUM Elective | 3 |
| Program Elective | 3 |
Semester 2
| CRJ 411 | Criminal Evidence and Procedures | 3 |
| ISM 410 | Physical Design and Implementation with DBMS | 3 |
| OR | |
| SEC 420 | Data Integrity and Disaster Recovery | 3 |
| SEC 450 | Protecting Your Network: Firewall and Perimeter Security | 3 |
| Social Science Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 |
Completion Degree Requirements
What is a Completion Degree
A completion degree is a personalized version of a bachelor's degree created exclusively for students who have completed an associate degree at an accredited institution. Completion degrees are available for most Wilmington University Bachelor of Science degrees. A student who expects to transfer a completed associate's degree should communicate with a Wilmington University academic advisor before registering for courses. A transcript with documentation of the conferred degree must be received by Wilmington University to confirm eligibility.
Computer and Network Security Completion Degree
| CRJ 411 | Criminal Evidence and Procedures | 3 |
| LES 330 | Cyberlaw | 3 |
| LES 331 | Electronic Discovery | 3 |
| MAT 308 | Inferential Statistics | 3 |
| PHI 314 | Ethics for Computer Professionals | 3 |
| SEC 310 | Cryptography: Algorithms and Applications | 3 |
| SEC 335 | Linux for Systems Administrators | 3 |
| SEC 340 | Windows Operating Systems and Systems Administration | 3 |
| SEC 350 | Introduction Computer Forensics | 3 |
| SEC 410 | Web and Data Security | 3 |
| SEC 420 | Data Integrity and Disaster Recovery | 3 |
| OR | |
| ISM 410 | Physical Design and Implementation with DBMS | 3 |
| SEC 435 | Advanced Network Management | 3 |
| SEC 450 | Protecting Your Network: Firewall and Perimeter Security | 3 |
| Technology Elective | 3 |
| Technology Elective | 3 |
Students interested in the Digital Evidence Investigation Certificate should consider SEC355 Mobile Device Forensics and SEC440 Network Forensics for the electives.
The Computer & Network Security degree completion program has set a minimum passing grade of "C-" for required courses and prerequisites. Students receiving a grade lower than "C-" in any SEC course must retake that course.
The following courses or their equivalents are prerequisites for a degree in Computer and Network Security:
CRJ 101 Survey of Criminal Justice
CTA 206 Computer Applications
ENG 122 English Composition II
MAT 205 Introductory Survey of Mathematics
SEC 100 Introduction to Computer Hardware and Operation
SEC 210 Principles and Practices of Information Security
SEC 230 Introduction to Linux
SEC 235 Networks and Telecommunication
SEC 250 Operating System and Computer Systems Security
SEC 290 Introduction to Programming with Python