Education
Computer-Science Based Cyber Defense & Information Assurance Curriculum
Starting Fall 2020, the Computer Science Department offers a Bachelor of Science Degree in Cybersecurity. Students in other degree programs can focus on a cyber defense based curriculum by completing the undergraduate or graduate academic certificates in cybersecurity.
- Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cybersecurity Undergraduate Academic Certificate
- Secure and Dependable Computing Systems Graduate Academic
The following is the list of courses suggested for the computer science-based cyber defense curriculum at the University of Idaho, for students who are not interested in a cybersecurity certificate or degree:
(The following courses map to the B.S. in computer science free electives category)
Cyber Defense Electives (six credits) selected from:
- CS 447 Computer Forensics
- CS 448 Fault Tolerance
- CS 449 Survivability
- or any CS 404 approved as an information assurance elective
(The following courses map to the B.S. in Computer Science Technical Electives Category)
- CS 336 Introduction to Information Assurance (three credits)
- CS 438 Network Security (three credits)
- CS 439 Applied Security Concepts
- CS 420 Data Communications (three credits)
- CS 441 Advanced Operating Systems (three credits)
Total credit hours for thesis master's degree must total to at least 30.
Our M.S. degrees assume that the student has already completed courses equivalent to the following. Completion of these courses is required prior to graduation, but do not count toward the 30 credit degree total.
- CS 240 Operating Systems
- CS 210 Programming Languages
- CS 336 Introduction to Information Assurance
- CS 383 Software Engineering
- CS 385 Theory of Computation
- CS 395 Analysis of Algorithms
Degree Credits
Required Courses (21 credits):
- CS 520 Data Communications (three credits)
- CS 536 Advanced Information Assurance Concepts (three credits)
- CS 541 Advanced Operating Systems (three credits)
- CS 501 CS Seminar + one other seminar (two credits)
- CS 500 Thesis (10 credits)
Choose three credits from the following list:
- CS 551 Advanced Computer Architecture (three credits)
- CS 581 Software Engineering (three credits)
- CS 510 Theory of Programming Languages (three credits)
- CS 590 Theory of Computation (three credits)
And choose six credits from the following list:
- CS 439 Applied Security Concepts (three credits)
- CS 538 Network Security (three credits)
- CS 547 Computer Forensics (three credits)
- CS 548 Fault Tolerance (three credits)
- CS 549 Survivability (three credits)
- CS 504 “approved information assurance special topics course”
Total credit hours for non-thesis master's of science degree must total to at least 30.
Our master's degrees assume that the student has already completed courses equivalent to the following. Completion of these courses is required prior to graduation, but do not count toward the 30 credit degree total.
- CS 240 Operating Systems
- CS 210 Programming Languages
- CS 336 Introduction to Information Assurance
- CS 383 Software Engineering
- CS 385 Theory of Computation
- CS 395 Analysis of Algorithms
Degree Credits. Required Courses (15 credits):
- CS 520 Data Communications (three credits)
- CS 536 Advanced Information Assurance Concepts (three credits)
- CS 549 Survivability (three credits)
- CS 541 Advanced Operating Systems (three credits)
- CS 501 CS Seminar + two other seminars (three credits)
Choose six credits from the following list:
- CS 551 Advanced Computer Architecture (three credits)
- CS 581 Software Engineering (three credits)
- CS 510 Theory of Programming Languages (three credits)
- CS 590 Theory of Computation (three credits)
and choose nine credits from the following list:
- CS 439 Applied Security Concepts (three credits)
- CS 538 Network Security (three credits)
- CS 547 Computer Forensics (three credits)
- CS 548 Fault Tolerance (three credits)
- CS 504 “approved information assurance special topics course” (three or more credits)
- CS 580 MS Non-thesis Project option (approved IA topic)
Total credit hours for doctorate must total to 78 or more.
Our doctorate degrees assume that the student has already completed courses equivalent to the following. Completion of these courses is required prior to graduation, but do not count toward the 30-credit degree total.
- CS 240 Operating Systems
- CS 210 Programming Languages
- CS 336 Introduction to Information Assurance
- CS 383 Software Engineering
- CS 385 Theory of Computation
- CS 395 Analysis of Algorithms
Degree Credits. Required Courses (41 credits)
- CS 520 Data Communications (three credits)
- CS 536 Advanced Information Assurance Concepts (three credits)
- CS 538 Network Security (three credits)
- CS 549 Survivability (three credits)
- CS 541 Advanced Operating Systems (three credits)
- CS 501 Two CS Seminars + two other seminars (four credits)
- CS 600 Dissertation (32 or more credits)
Choose nine credits from the following list:
- CS 551 Advanced Computer Architecture (three credits)
- CS 581 Software Engineering (three credits)
- CS 510 Theory of Programming Languages (three credits)
- CS 590 Theory of Computation (three credits)
Choose six credits from the following list
- CS 439 Applied Security Concepts (three credits)
- CS 547 Computer Forensics (three credits)
- CS 548 Fault Tolerance (three credits)
- CS 504 “approved information assurance special topics course” (three or more credits)
And choose 12 more credit hours in conjunction with committee
Note: A grade of ‘B’ or higher is required in all coursework for this academic certificate.
- CS 536 Advanced Information Assurance Concepts (3 credits)
One of the following (3 credits):
- CS 438 Network Security (3 credits)
- CS 538 Network Security (3 credits)
Electives (6 credits):
- CS 448 Survivable Systems and Networks (3 credits)
- CS 449/ECE 449 Fault-Tolerant Systems 3 credits)
- CS 504 Special Topics 1-16 credits)
- CS 548 Survivable Systems and Networks 3 credits)
- CS 549 Fault/Tolerant Systems 3 credits)
Courses to total 12 credits for this certificate.
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense
The National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) jointly sponsor the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) program. The goal of the program is to reduce vulnerability in our national information infrastructure by promoting higher education and research in cyber defense and producing professionals with cyber defense expertise.
A list of all institutions with Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.