Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations Mission
The mission of B.S. in Cyber Operations program is to develop the next generation of cyber leaders who can analyze the security of cyber systems, protect and defend cyber systems, investigate different types of attacks and incidents in cyber systems in the industry, government or military environment. The Citadel has been designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) since 2016. The B.S. in Cyber Operations meets the academic standards of Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations program set by National Security Agency. This major is a deeply technical and interdisciplinary program grounded in computer science, computer engineering, cyber offense and defense, cyber forensics, and cyber law, policy and ethics. There are extensive opportunities for hands-on applications via labs and exercises. The major is housed in the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences.
Program Objectives
Graduates of Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations will be able to:
- Apply security principles and practices to the design and implementation of the physical, software and human component of the cyber systems,
- Analyze and evaluate cyber systems with respect to security,
- Identify, analyze and mitigate threats in the cyber systems.
Plan of Study
The course of study leading to the B.S. with a major in Cyber Operations includes the following components:
Electives: 12 hours of electives
Core Mathematics and Statistics: 17 hours, including:
- MATH 131: Analytical Geometry and Calculus I
- MATH 132: Analytical Geometry and Calculus II
- MATH 206: Discrete Structures
- MATH 302: Applied Cryptography
- STAT 261: Probability and Statistics
Required Courses in Computer Science and Cyber Operations: 52 hours, including:
- CSCI 201: Introduction to Computer Science I
- CSCI 202: Introduction to Computer Science II
- CSCI 211: Intro to Computer Science I Lab
- CSCI 223: Data Structures and Algorithms
- CSCI 227: Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity
- CSCI 305: Computer Organization and Programming
- CSCI 317: Computer Networks and Internets
- CSCI 320: Database Design
- CSCI 327: Computer Security
- CSCI 405: Operating Systems
- CSCI 408: Software Security
- CSCI 409: Malware Analysis
- CSCI 410: Offensive Cyber Operations
- CSCI 411: Cyber Forensics
- CSCI 427: Advanced Cybersecurity
- ELEC 311: Digital Logic and Circuits
- ELEC 330: Digital Systems Engineering
- One of CSCI 421 or CSCI 499: Capstone
Approved Cyber Elective: 3 hours selected from:
- CRMJ 331: Cyber Crime
- CRMJ 392: Cyber Security and Risk Management
- CSCI 490: Independent Study
In addition, General Education requirements for a selected strand, physical education, modern language, and laboratory sciences must be completed. The complete course of study is provided in the Courses of Study section of this catalog.
Sample Course Schedule
Freshman Year
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CSCI 201 | Introduction to Computer Science I (3 credit hours) | CSCI 202 | Introduction to Computer Science II (3 credit hours) |
| CSCI 211 | Intro to Computer Science I Lab (1 credit hour) | M. Lang. | (3 credit hours) |
| M. Lang. | (3 credit hours) | MATH 132 | Analytical Geometry and Calculus II (4 credit hours) |
| MATH 131 | Analytical Geometry and Calculus I (4 credit hours) | Freshman Seminar | (3 credit hours) |
| Health & Fitness | (3 credit hours) | Linked Comp. | (3 credit hours) |
| LDRS 101 | First Year Seminar (1 credit hour) | ROTC | |
| ROTC | |||
| CSCI 227 | Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity (3 credit hours) | ||
| Total | 18 | Total | 16 |
Sophomore Year
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Strand English | (3 credit hours) | RPED | |
| CSCI 305 | Intro to Computer Science I Lab (1 credit hour) | CSCI 223 | Data Structures and Algorithms (3 credit hours) |
| Science | (4 credit hours) | CSCI 317 | Computer Networks and Internets (3 credit hours) |
| MATH 206 | Discrete Structures (3 credit hours) | Strand Science | (4 credit hours) |
| Strand Elective | (3 credit hours) | STAT 261 | Probability and Statistics (3 credit hours) |
| LDRS 101 | First Year Seminar (1 credit hour) | CSCI 320 | Database Design (3 credit hours) |
| ROTC | LDRS 211 | Sophomore Seminar Service Learning Lab | |
| ROTC | |||
| Total | 187 | Total | 16 |
Junior Year
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Strand Social Science | (3 credit hours) | CSCI 409 | Malware Analysis (3 credit hours) |
| CSCI 405 | Operating Systems (3 credit hours) | CSCI 427 | Advanced Cybersecurity (3 credit hours) |
| Elective | (4 credit hours) | COMM 260 | Technical Writing and Communication (3 credit hours) |
| CSCI 327 | Computer Security (3 credit hours) | Strand History | (3 credit hours) |
| CSCI 408 | Software Security (3 credit hours) | MATH 302 | Applied Cryptography (3 credit hours) |
| LDRS 311 | Junior Ethics Enrichment Experience | LDRS 371 | (3 credit hours) |
| ROTC | ROTC | ||
| Total | 16 | Total | 18 |
Senior Year
| Fall | Spring | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| CRMJ 401 | Cyber Ethics and Policy (3 credit hours) | CSCI 411 | Cyber Forensics (3 credit hours) |
| Elective | (3 credit hours) | CSCI 499 | Capstone (3 credit hours) |
| ELEC 311 | Digital Logic and Circuits (3 credit hours) | ELEC 330 | Digital Systems Engineering (3 credit hours) |
| CSCI 410 | Offensive Cyber Operations (3 credit hours) | *Approved Cyber Elective | (3 credit hours) |
| Elective | (3 credit hours) | ROTC | |
| ROTC | LDRS 371 | ||
| LDRS 411 | Senior Leadership Integration Seminar | ||
| Total | 15 | Total | 15 |