Undergraduate Courses

All undergraduate courses are only taught on campus unless noted.

Undergraduate security courses

Undergraduate courses under development

  • Wireless security

Course Descriptions


CPR E 131: Introduction to Computer Security Literacy

Credits: 1
Prereq: None

Syllabus: 131-syllabus

Basic concepts of practical computer and Internet security: passwords, firewalls, antivirus software, malware, social networking, surfing the Internet, phishing, and wireless networks. This class is intended for students with little or no background in information technology or security. Basic knowledge of word processing required. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
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CPR E 230: Cyber Security Fundamentals

Credits: 3
Prereq: COM S 227, E E 285, or MIS 207

Syllabus: CprE_230

Introduction to computer and network infrastructures used to support cyber security. Basic concepts of computer and network configuration used to secure environments. Computer virtualization, network routing and address translation, computer installation and configuration, network monitoring, in a virtual environment. Laboratory experiments and exercises including secure computer and network configuration and management.
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CPR E 231: Cyber Security Concepts and Tools

Credits: 3
Prereq: CPR E 230

Syllabus: CprE_231

Basic concepts of practical computer and Internet security and the tools used to protect and attack systems and networks. Computer and network security methods including: user authentication, access control, firewalls, intrusion detection, use of vulnerability assessment tools and methods, and penetration testing. Ethics and legal issues in cyber security will also be covered. Laboratory experiments and exercises including evaluating systems for vulnerabilities, understanding potential exploits of the systems, and defenses for the systems.
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CPR E 234: Legal, Professional, and Ethical Issues in Cyber Systems

Credits: 3
Prereq: COM S 227, or EE 285, or MIS 207

The course emphasizes legal, ethical, and professional issues in cyber systems. Other topics include privacy, government regulation, and compliance as applied to professional practice. The course is delivered in a lecture plus a 2 hour recitation in a seminar format with guest lecturer from government and industry, as well as discussions including current legal and ethical issues found in the main stream.
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CPR E: 331 Application of Cryptographic Concepts to Cyber Security

Credits: 3
Prereq: CPR E 231

Syllabus: CprE_331

This course provides students with the basic cryptographic underpinnings used in modern cyber security encryption suites. The focus of the class is on how encryption benefits cyber security and is used in protocols. Additional topics include cryptographically secure hash functions and pseudorandom numbers, as well as key distribution techniques, secure authentication including single sign on. Detection and prevention of security threats such as covert communication, malicious code, and other security threats in protocols are included. In addition to laboratory experiments and exercises, students complete a project focused on cyber security problem and solution. (2-2) Cr. 3
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INFAS 332: Cyber Defense Competition

Credits: 1
Prereqs: None

Syllabus: 332-syllabus

(Cross-listed with Cpr E) Participation in cyber defense competition. Scenario based computer system setup, risk assessment and design of security systems. Defense of computer and network systems against trained attackers. Team based.   Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
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CPR E 430: Advanced Protocols and Network Security

Credits: 3
Prereq: CPR E 381 or CPR E 331

Syllabus:  530-syllabus

(Cross-listed with Cpr E) Detailed examination of networking standards, protocols, and their implementation. TCP/IP protocol suite, network application protocols, IP routing, network security issues, attacks, and mitigation techniques.  Emphasis on laboratory experiments.
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CPR E 431: Basics of Information System Security

Credits: 3
Prereqs: Credit or enrollment in CPR E 308 or COM S 352

Syllabus: 431-syllabus

Introduction to and application of basic mechanisms for protecting information systems from accidental and intentional threats. Basic cryptography use and practice. Computer security issues including authentication, access control, and malicious code. Network security mechanisms such as intrusion detection, firewalls, IPSEC, and related protocols. Ethics and legal issues in information security.  Wireless security. Programming and system configuration assignments.
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CPR E 432: Cyber Security Practicum

Credits 3
Prereqs: Cpr E 331

This course focuses on the design and implementation of a secure networked environment that will be penetration tested by other peers in the course.  Evaluations will be made of each environment and whether it withstood testing and what vulnerabilities were able to be exploited.  After this attack phase, students will complete an evaluation of their security plans and take the necessary remediation steps to further harder their networked environment.  The lecture will target the tactics needed to be taken by the students in their weekly lab practicum.  In addition to using technical skills, students will use their technical writing skills in their design documents, implementation plans, and post-mortem security evaluations.
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CPR E 440X: Operating System Security

Credits: 3
Prereq: CPR E 308 or COM S 352

Syllabus: 440 syllabus

Focus on fundamentals and advanced topics in operating system (OS) security. Design issues, principles, mechanisms, and good practice for design and implementation of secure computer/OS systems. Threat models, vulnerabilities, attacks compromise security, and advanced OS-level techniques for achieving security. Topics include OS security concepts and principles, seminal security in Multics, vulnerabilities in ordinary systems, secure capability systems, information flow control, mandatory access control, security kernels, memory protection, file system, virtual machine systems, hardware/architecture support (e.g., Intel SGX) for OS security, secure microkernel OSes (e.g., seL4, QNX), modern mobile operating systems (e.g., Android and iOS), and security from end-user perspective. Assignments include labs exploring and implementing the technologies in the context of the Linux, Android, and seL4 systems (some involving kernel programming).
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COM S 453X: Privacy Preserving Algorithms and Data Security

Credits: 3
Prereq: COM S 311

Fundamentals of privacy preserving algorithms, data security, anonymization, and techniques and mechanisms to minimize disclosure of sensitive information while maintaining availability. Theory and fundamentals underpinning measures to evaluate the privacy and availability of data; implementation and deployment of privacy-preserving data operations including pre- and post-randomization techniques, homomorphisms, and secure function evaluation protocols. Theory and practice of the algorithmic limits on data privacy, including the cost in terms of time and space complexity.
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