Computer Security B.S.
Is computer security a career path for me?
Career Potential
- Network Administrator
- Security Administrator
- Information Assurance Specialist
- Security Application Developer
- Information Security Officer
Career Settings
- Major corporations
- Defense industry
- Law Enforcement
- Software houses
- IT and E-commerce industries
- Homeland Security industry
- Research/Technology Centers
More detailed career information is available from the department.
Program Features
60 credits
Required courses:
| CPSC 130 | GN: Introduction to Computer Programming I | 3 credits |
| CPSC 131 | Introduction to Computer Programming II | 3 credits |
| CPSC 141 | Introduction to Computer Organization | 3 credits |
| CPSC 230 | Programming Principles and Practice | 3 credits |
| CPSC 232 | Introduction to Assembler Programming | 3 credits |
| CPSC 250 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 credits |
| CPSC 270 | Computer Security I: Computer and Application Security | 4 credits |
| CPSC 340 | Operating System Concept and Design | 4 credits |
| CPSC 370 | Introduction to Computer Cryptology | 4 credits |
| CPSC 445/CPSC 545 | Networking and Data Communications | 3 credits |
| CPSC 453/CPSC 553 | Database Systems | 3 credits |
| CPSC 470 | Computer Security II: Operating System and Network Security | 4 credits |
| CPSC 475 | Computer Security: Administration and Policy | 4 credits |
| CPSC 487 | Security Engineering Internship | Semester Hours Arranged |
three credits of Computer Science electives numbered 220 and above.
Co-requisite courses:
and one year of science courses that include laboratories:
Additional requirements:
- All CPSC and MATH courses must be completed with a “C” grade or better.
- At least 50% of the courses required for the major must be taken at ESU.
- In a programming intensive course, each student will be given a variety of assignments where he or she must create extensive, original and executable computer programs. The instructor will rigorously review each student’s source code to determine its correctness, efficiency, originality, and adherence to documentation and style guidelines.
- Students who have an interest in one of the following areas are strongly advised to include the listed courses in their program of studies:
Scientific Computing –
| CHEM 121 | GN: General Chemistry I | 3 credits |
| CHEM 123 | GN: General Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 credit |
| CHEM 124 | GE: General Chemistry II | 3 credits |
| CHEM 126 | GE: General Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 credit |
| PHYS 161 | GN: Physics I | 4 credits |
| PHYS 162 | Physics II | 4 credits |
Business and Economics –
| ECON 111 | GN: Principles of Macroeconomics | 3 credits |
| ECON 112 | GN: Principles of Microeconomics | 3 credits |
Graduate Studies –
Entrance requirements:
New Students
- For entrance into the Computer Security major, a new student is required to have a Math SAT score of 550 or higher.
- A new student who has a Math SAT score lower than 550 may enter as a Pre-Computer Security major. This student must then complete CPSC 130, CPSC 131, CPSC 141 and MATH 140 with a “C” grade or higher to enter the Computer Security major.
Transfer Students
- If a transfer student has completed the equivalent of CPSC 130, CPSC 131, CPSC 141 and MATH 140 with a “C” grade or better, or if a transfer student has a Math SAT score of 550 or higher, then the student may enter the Computer Security major.
- A transfer student who does not meet either of these requirements may enter as a Pre-Computer Security major. This student must then complete CPSC 130, CPSC 131, CPSC 141 and MATH 140 with a “C” grade or higher to enter the Computer Security major.
4 Year Curriculum Program Plan
(Subject to change by the university without notice)
Freshman Year
Fall
| CPSC 130 | GN: Introduction to Computer Programming I | 3 credits |
| ENGL 103 | English Composition | 3 credits |
| MATH 140 | GN: Calculus I | 4 credits |
| FYE 100 | University Studies | 3 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| CPSC 131 | Introduction to Computer Programming II | 3 credits |
| CPSC 141 | Introduction to Computer Organization | 3 credits |
| MATH 141 | GN: Calculus II | 4 credits |
| CMST 111 | GN: Introduction to Communication | 3 credits |
| HPLW 105 | Health Promotion and Lifetime Wellness | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Sophomore Year
Fall
| CPSC 230 | Programming Principles and Practice | 3 credits |
| CPSC 232 | Introduction to Assembler Programming | 3 credits |
| MATH 220 | Discrete Mathematical Structures | 3 credits |
| XXXX ____ | Science Sequence | 4 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16 |
Spring
| CPSC 250 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 credits |
| CPSC 270 | Computer Security I: Computer and Application Security | 4 credits |
| MATH 311 | Statistics I | 3 credits |
| ENGL 203 | GN: Advanced Composition | 3 credits |
| XXXX ____ | Science Sequence | 4 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 17 |
Junior Year
Fall
| CPSC 340 | Operating System Concept and Design | 4 credits |
| CPSC 370 | Introduction to Computer Cryptology | 4 credits |
| CPSC XXX | Computer Science Elective | 3 credits |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| GenEd ___ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Spring
Senior Year
Fall
| CPSC 470 | Computer Security II: Operating System and Network Security | 4 credits |
| GenEd ___ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Elective | 3 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 13 |
Spring
| CPSC 487 | Security Engineering Internship | Semester Hours Arranged |
| GenEd ____ | General Education Elective | 3 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Elective | 3 credits |
| XXXX ___ | Elective | 3 credits |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |