BS in Cybersecurity

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity (Purdue Degree)

We make Cybersecurity work.

The BS in Cybersecurity program will prepare you to enter the workforce in the rapidly advancing field of cybersecurity, to enable you to address the security challenges and risks that industries encounters daily. Cybersecurity is a multidisciplinary area: it is a combination of information technology, computing, and engineering. This program will provide a solid, comprehensive background in the related topics of cybersecurity engineering and their applications.

According to the 2019 Ponemon Data Breach Report, the cost of a data breach in the United States rose to $8.19 million, with the time to identify and contain the breach at 279 days. Additionally, Ponemon stated malicious breaches are the most common at over 50%. The need to educate and train the workforce in Indiana is reaching a critical mass. Companies must have the expertise to secure their data and infrastructure as well as educate employees on the importance of protecting data. Indianapolis area has seen the growth of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance related companies in recent years. In addition to the existing big health related companies such as Lilly and Anthem, there have been more technological oriented companies expanding in the central Indiana region (e.g., Genesys, Salesforce, etc.) and some major corporations such as Pondurance, Simon Property Group, LLC., and Infosys. All of these companies will need to hire workers with knowledge intensive skill sets. Moreover, concerns of security are no longer limited to IT related companies; the need to monitor and adhere to good cybersecurity principles is pervasive not just in IT, but engineering, health, automotive, manufacturing, etc.

Why Cybersecurity from Purdue and IUPUI?

Purdue Cybersecurity program from Indianapolis

You are learning from a recognized cybersecurity education provider. The BS in Cybersecurity program is part of the National Security Agency (NSA) National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and in Information Assurance Research (CAE/IAE and CAE/R). You will be part of a Purdue program, which consistently ranks in the top cybersecurity programs among universities. Students become a student member of the Purdue CERIAS center and will have the opportunity to work as research assistants in NSF-funded research and education projects.

The location of this BS in Cybersecurity program offers many opportunities. Indianapolis area has seen the growth of Cybersecurity and Information Assurance related companies in recent years.

Why Cybersecurity?

  1. A degree in Cybersecurity equals job security
  2. Cybersecurity professionals earn high salaries
  3. Cybersecurity career options growing faster than other sectors
  4. Cybersecurity skills: You'll learn Cybersecurity thinking plus leadership, management and more

Your career in Cybersecurity

Before you graduate, youll work with our Career Services Office to learn how to search for jobs, assemble a portfolio of your work, pursue internship opportunities, and connect with employers.

Learn more about Career Services

The BS in Cybersecurity degree prepares students for Cybersecurity careers. Students complete courses on a wide spectrum of skills, ranging from Malware analysis and reversing to Intrusion detection, from Risk analysis and mitigation to Thinking like a black hat, and from Security data analytics to Cloud and AI security. This Cybersecurity Engineering and Technology knowledge and experience will provide graduate many career opportunities. This Cybersecurity skillset is in demand and well remunerated in Central Indiana and elsewhere in the United States.

Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity Careers: Median Salaries by Experience, 2020

ENTRY LEVEL (0-12 MONTHS)EARLY CAREER (1-4 YEARS)MIDCAREER (5-9 YEARS)EXPERIENCED (10-19 YEARS)
Information Security Analyst$59,110$67,190$81,810$94,710
Forensic Science Technician$49,980$50,100$50,570$48,800
Security Software Developer$62,230$68,660$81,640$91,040
Security Administrator$50,850$61,040$73,290$79,930
Information Security Specialist$58,750$66,640$86,860$103,140

Cybersecurity Faculty

Faculty

Title

Expertise

Feng Li

Associate Professor & Chair of Computer Information & Graphics Technology

Cybersecurity in mobile computing, wireless security, social network and cloud security.

Connie Justice

Associate Professor of CIT

Risk assessment, vulnerability and penetration testing, digital forensics, network security

Brian King

Associate Professor & Chair of ECE

Computer and network security, wireless security, cryptography, algorithms, and applied mathmatics

Xiao Luo

Assistant Professor of CIT

Data mining and data-driven cybersecurity, security and privacy protection in health IT

Xukai Zou

Associate Professor of CIS

Communication networks and security, applied cryptography, security and reliability for grid computing

Xiaonan Guo

Assistant Professor of CIT

Cybersecurity and privacy, cyber-physical system, mobile computing and wireless networks

Renran Tian

Assistant Professor of CIT

Security and privacy in autonomous driving, cybersecurity in control systems.

April Savoy

Assistant Professor of CIT

Security and privacy protection in health IT

Zina Ben Miled

Associate Professor of ECE

Prevention, Detection and Response; Data Mining and Machine Learning

Scott Orr

Lead Security Engineer and Lecturer of CIS

Computer and network security

Sample Courses in the degree program

The following are the course descriptions of the Primary Cybersecurity courses:

CIT 35600 Network O/S Administration: Design and administration of network servers and workstations. Focus on basic network concepts such as user account administration, resource allocation, security issues, and Internet service management. Lecture and laboratory.


CIT 40600 Advanced Network Security: This course provides students with in-depth study and practice of advanced concepts in applied systems and networking security, including security policies, access controls, IP security, authentication mechanisms, and intrusion detection and protection.


CIT 41500 Advanced Network Administration: In this course students learn advanced concepts of installing, configuring, and securing various types of network servers including enterprise, Web, and mail servers. The course also covers the documentation of network systems infrastructure and the testing of hardware and software network components.


CIT 40400 Offensive Cybersecurity: This course teaches students the skills necessary to perform offensive security and understand vulnerabilities within systems. Students gain hands-on experience, combining the theory and practice of relevant tools, and techniques used in the day to day real world cybersecurity and networking profession.


CIT 42000 Digital Forensics: This course covers the fundamentals of computer forensics and cyber-crime scene analysis. The various laws and regulations dealing with computer forensic analysis will be discussed. Students will be introduced to the emerging international standards for computer forensic analysis, as well as a formal methodology for conducting computer forensic investigations.


CIT 43100 Applied Security Protocols: This course will emphasize the applied facets of cryptography for the information assurance and security professional. By the end of the course students will be able to apply important cryptographic principles and tools to allow networks to communicate securely.


CIT 45100 IT Risk Assessment: Students will learn the basic tools of security risk assessment and risk management. Students will be able to identify and assess security risk, conduct information asset valuation, and apply risk control strategies. Other topics discussed will be security policies, NIST Security Models, and training education and awareness. At the end of the course students will be able to assess vulnerabilities and document them according to a published assessment standard.


CIT 46000 Wireless Security: Focuses on the risks and benefits associated with wireless communications as well as how the networking industry defines a secure wireless network. In addition, students gain the skills needed to properly create, configure and maintain a secure wireless network.


The following are the course descriptions of some of the Elective Cybersecurity courses:


CIT 30400 Database Programming: This course explores the concepts and skills required for advanced database programming and their implementation using programmatic extensions to Structured Query language (SQL). Topics include advanced data manipulation, stored procedures, triggers, and query optimization. Concepts will apply to any modern distributed database management system.


CIT 34400 Database Security: This course will cover fundamentals of database security, data auditing, basic security models, and best practices. Topics may include security architecture, access control policies, auditing and monitoring. The course combines lectures with hands-on activities through lab sessions and an application oriented project using a database system such as Oracle or SQL Server.


CIT 38100 Unix Programming & Admin: This course will teach students to effectively administer and develop applications in Linux/Unix. Emphasis will be on the ability to read, write and debug shell script programs. An exploration of Windows scripting languages will also be covered.

 

CIT 40200 Design and Implementation of Local Area Networks: The design,
implementation, and configuration of local area networks. Students install the necessary hardware and software to set up a LAN server with several clients. Students will explore topics including "internetworking", network management, network performance, and security.


The following are the courses of the Foundation Cybersecurity courses:


CIT 14000 Prog Constructs Laboratory: This course is an introduction to problemsolving techniques, program design and development, programming logic, and objectoriented terminology and concepts.


CIT 15000 Introduction to Cybersecurity: In this experiential course, students will be immersed in a real-world cyber environment to solve cybersecurity problems using science and art. Contemporary issues and experience how the scientific process unfolds to make such contributions. In particular, students will study cybersecurity topics through capture the flag games, minimal lectures, and student collaborations. Students will learn to deal with cyber threats through a variety of collaborative, experiential activities including password hacking, malware, mobile, and networked devices. The course will introduce students to the variety of cybersecurity careers available in business, healthcare, non-profit, and government.

CIT 17600 Information Tech Architecture: A conceptual and technological survey of the structure of information technology architectures inclusive of operating systems, network operating systems, distributed systems architectures and distributed application architectures. Interoperability between these architectural components is explored. Current technology and trends in each architectural element are reviewed.


CIT 20700 Data Communications: This course provides the foundation for the
understanding of data communication systems and computer networks. Topics include information representation and transmission, medium types and configuration, telephony, error handling, TCP/IP and internetworking, and diagnostic techniques.


CIT 20200 Networking Fundamentals: Students will gain hands on experience installing and configuring local area networks, troubleshooting hardware and software issues, and creating network documentation. Students will explore topics including network performance, network management, and network security.


CIT 20300 Info Security Fundamentals: This course provides students with an overview of the field of Information Security and Assurance. Students will explore current encryption, hardware, software and managerial controls needed to operate networks and computer systems in a safe and secure manner. In addition, students will participate in a semester project to re-enforce key concepts such as policy development and business contingency planning.


CIT 21200 Web Site Design: This course is designed to give students an introduction to web site design and site creation. The course involves learning current standard XHTML fundamentals, CSS and design concepts. The proper design approach for constructing Web sites and related techniques will also be covered.


CIT 21400 Intro to Data Management: Introduction to basic database development concepts. Extensive eploration of data manipulation using a relational DBMS and SQL. Students develop database applications using the most current database technologies.


CIT 30900 Cybersecurity and Network Programming: This course teaches students the skills necessary to develop programs and scripts to solve cybersecurity and networking problems such as automating manual tasks, parsing data, and data analysis. Students gain hands-on experience, combining the theory and practice of relevant tools, techniques, and programming technologies used in the day to day real world cybersecurity and networking profession.


For more information about the program

Contact:
etinfo@iupui.edu
317-274-2533
799 W Michigan Street, ET 101
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Visit the School of Engineering and Technology:
https://et.iupui.edu/prospective/schedule-a-visit