Course Descriptions: Online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
The University of Saint Mary online B.S. in Cybersecurity takes an average of two years to complete for students who have already completed general education course requirements or who hold an Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degree. It includes 60 credits and 20 courses. Throughout the duration of the program, students prepare to meet the national demand for trained cybersecurity professionals by studying a wide range of technical topics and gaining hands-on experience in the field through an internship opportunity.
Coursework includes information systems, networking, database design, computer forensics, and cryptography. Students also build essential business knowledge through courses in accounting, management, and economics.
Core Courses
CYB 130 Operating Systems and Security (3 Credits)
The goal of this course is to provide a brief introduction to modern operating systems. Students learn the core principles of operating systems design and implementation, including basic operating system structure, process and thread synchronization and concurrency, file systems and storage servers, memory management techniques, process scheduling, resource management, and security.
CYB 150 Web Design (3 Credits)
An introduction to visual web design and development programming with HTML and CSS. Students use the latest version of HTML, CSS, a coding editor, multimedia, other web-building tools to analyze, plan, design, develop, publish, and maintain a website.
CYB 225 Information Systems and Applications (3 credits)
An introduction to MIS computing with an emphasis on personal and professional computing. Topics include hardware, software, data, and networking applied to various applications. Students are introduced to systems for communication, collaboration, commerce, database, and security. The course also covers fundamentals of the common application, such as word processing, spreadsheets, and computer problem-solving.
CYB 250 Networking I (3 Credits)
The course introduces basic networking technologies and concepts with emphasis on local area networks (LAN). Topics cover the OSI Model, topology, physical network cabling, and installation. TCP/IP, Ethernet, DNS, routing and routers, network security, and troubleshooting.
CYB 350 Networking II (3 Credits)
This course provides extensive coverage of technologies in wireless, WAN, virtualization, cloud computing, voice over IP, data privacy and confidentiality, network protection and security, and business continuity. The CompTIA Network + Certification Exam is strongly suggested after completing this course successfully.
Prerequisite: CYB 250 or instructor approval.
CYB 354 Data Structures & Algorithms (3 Credits)
The course introduces data structures and algorithms which provide a variety of solutions to searching and sorting tasks. Students are expected to apply Big O notation efficiency techniques to analyzing time and space complexity. In the course, students are introduced to some common data structures, such as array, liked list, heap, tree, stack, and queue. Sort algorithms include but are not limited to bubble sort, selection sort, insertion sort, merge sort, shell sort, quicksort, radix sort, and heap sort.
Prerequisite: CYB 254 or instructor approval.
CYB 360 Database Design and SQL Programming (3 Credits)
This course introduces relational database design and development. Topics include data models, relational databases, DMBS, business rules, and the procedure to design and develop a database based on business rules. Students also learn SQL programming and acquire familiarity with the relational databased language to create, delete, insert, update, query, join, constrain, trigger, and view in a programming way.
CYB 370 Computer Forensics (3 Credits)
This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and skills of computer forensics and digital investigations. The course covers the recovery and analysis of digital evidence, addressing legal and technical issues. The course aims to help students develop the skills needed to launch and conduct a successful digital investigation by acquiring, analyzing, and reporting digital evidence findings.
Prerequisites: CYB 130 and CYB 250.
CYB 400 Ethical Hacking and IT System Defense (3 Credits)
This course introduces ethical hacking methodologies and technologies. Students will explore common countermeasures that effectively reduce and/or mitigate attacks. The course covers common information-gathering tools and techniques, types of malware, port scanning, fingerprinting, forensics, network monitoring, traffic analysis, data protection, and business continuity strategies.
Prerequisites: CYB 250 and CYB 350.
CYB 410 Cryptography (3 Credits)
Cryptography provides important tools for ensuring the privacy, authenticity, and integrity of the increasingly sensitive information involved in modern digital systems. The course aims to help students develop a solid understanding of the foundational elements of modern cryptography. Topics include classical ciphers, symmetric ciphers, DES, AES, block cipher, stream cipher, asymmetric ciphers, RSA, hashing functions, digital signatures, key management, and key distribution. To understand modern cryptography, students are also introduced to number theory including prime numbers, modular arithmetic, the Euclidean algorithm, division algorithm, and discrete algorithms.
Prerequisite: CYB 250.
CYB 420 Advanced Cybersecurity Topics (3 Credits)
The course focuses on analysis of security risks to computer systems. Students learn a variety of cybersecurity techniques and strategies including security policies, procedures, and standards to protect information assets from potential intrusion, hacking, damage, and theft. CompTIA Security + Certification test is strongly suggested after successfully completing this course.
Prerequisites: CYB 250 and CYB 350.
CYB 595 Internship (3 Credits)
This course will provide students an opportunity to use their programming, networking, cybersecurity, and management skills in a real-world environment. Students work on a project in line with their internship companies/organizations. Students' performances are assessed based on the evaluations from supervisors at the internship site, reflection papers, documentation, and other methods. Students are required to work for at least 48 hours at internship locations.
Prerequisite: 48 credit hours of core courses (70%) completed or instructor approval.
MA 230 Introductory Statistics (3 Credits)
An introduction to basic statistics. Course topics include sampling techniques, classification of variables, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, measures of relative standing, probability distributions, binomial and normal distribution, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, correlation, regression, and Chi-Square test. Students must have access to the online textbook.
Area of Investigation Fulfilled: Mathematics
Prerequisite: A grade of “C” or higher in MA 114 or MA 115, OR a minimum score of 23 on the ACT math exam, OR a minimum score on the mathematics placement exam. The prerequisite must have been completed within the last 3 years otherwise, students must complete MA 114 or MA 115 with a grade of “C” or higher or take the mathematics placement exam to determine placement.
MGT 231 Principles of Management (3 credits)
This course provides an overview of the history and evolution of management and an introduction to the general terms and concepts in the field of management. Broad topics covered include the critical management skills of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. Multiple frameworks and systems will be covered. Open to non-business majors and high school seniors.
MGT 386 Data Analysis for Business Decision Making (3 Credits)
This course is designed to introduce students to business analytics. This course is designed to enable students to use and interpret descriptive statistics to understand business problems, understand basic mathematical models used in solving various business questions, and communicate the results of data analysis to various stakeholders.
Prerequisite: MA 230 or MA 330 with a grade of “C” or higher.
MKT 395 Website Design and Digital Marketing (3 Credits)
This course focuses on the fundamentals of website design and the design of digital marketing campaigns. Students will learn to create, organize, and design a website and corresponding blog. Students will explore and use all aspects of digital marketing – social media, mobile applications, email, search engine marketing, or any new digital channel.
Prerequisites: CYB 170 and MKT 231.
Elective Courses
CYB 170 Multimedia (3 Credits)
An introductory course teaching design, development, and creation of multimedia applications on the personal computer. Topics include hardware and software used in multimedia, use of presentation software to create interactive visual aids, and authoring tools. Hands-on projects focus on essential skills and provide experience in a broad range of media.
CYB 254 Java Programming (3 Credits)
This course introduces the Java programming language, one of the most powerful programming languages. Students are introduced to object-oriented programming principles and concepts as students use classes, objects, methods, polymorphism, inheritance, and interface. The course also covers basic programming concepts and syntax: variables, data types, iteration, conditioning, functions, overloading, array, operators, file handlings, error handling, and debugging.
CYB 361 Web Programming (3 Credits)
Modern web applications combine several backend languages to add functionality to HTML and CSS web pages. In this course, students are to learn PHP, one of the most powerful server-side languages. Students will be introduced to PHP variables, data types, functions, form validations, decision-making, loop, cookies, sessions, file handling, database handling, error-checking, and debugging.
Prerequisite: CYB 150 or instructor approval.
CYB 362 C# Programming (3 Credits)
This course introduces the basics of the C# programming language: variables, data types, decision making, looping, data structures. The course also introduces to students structured and object-oriented programming techniques: classes, objects, methods, inheritance, polymorphism, abstraction, libraries, and other advanced topics.
CYB 363 Python Programming (3 Credits)
Python is a powerful, versatile cross-platform programming language that has a strong presence in diverse software engineering disciplines including web development, information security, network scripting, data science, and embedded systems. This course provides a pragmatic and hands-on introduction to Python programming with a focus on practical applications and projects. Topics include variables, data types, arrays, functions, control flow, and graphical user interface-driven applications.
Prerequisite: CYB 150.
CYB 430 Wireless and Mobile Security (3 Credits)
The course focuses on wireless networks, vulnerabilities, and defense. Students are expected to learn different types of wireless technologies: Wi-Fi networks, cellular/mobile networks, satellite, WiMax, wireless PANs, vehicular networks, sensor networks, and RFID systems. The course aims to help students understand security risks and threats, identify, analyze, and solve potential problems in the wireless field.
Prerequisites: CYB 250 and CYB 350.
CYB 440 Privacy Enhancing Technologies (3 Credits)
The course is to explore potential techniques for building new platforms, services, and tools that protect users’ privacy. In particular, the course emphasizes the technical and economic viability and usability of these privacy technologies. Topics include but are not limited to: attacks against privacy, user data privacy, trusted computing, privacy-preserving software systems and applications, cryptographic techniques for privacy.
Prerequisites: CYB 250 and CYB 350.