2019-2020 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
- Requirements for a Major in Cybersecurity
- University Degree Requirements
- Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Cybersecurity
Requirements for a Major in Cybersecurity
University Degree Requirements
As identified in the General Academic Regulations section of the catalog.
Admission to the Cybersecurity Major
Admission to major standing in cybersecurity is competitive and requires an application for admittance into the major. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Overall GPA of 2.5 or above in all Grand Valley State University coursework.
- Completion of each course in the cybersecurity foundation with a grade of C or above (C- is not sufficient).
- GPA of 2.5 or above in the cybersecurity foundation.
The cybersecurity foundation includes CIS 162, CIS 258, MTH 225, STA 215 (or STA 312), and COM 201. Completing the cybersecurity foundation courses requires programming, analytical reasoning, and communication skills. These skills are important to excel in the computing field.
The cybersecurity foundation GPA is calculated on no more than one repeat per course. Achievement of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the major. Transfer students must complete at least six hours of CIS coursework before applying, but should consult with a CIS advisor before scheduling their first semester.
Note: While admission to major standing in cybersecurity may be achieved with completion of the computer science, information systems, or information technology foundation instead of the cybersecurity foundation, it is still necessary to complete all the required courses of the cybersecurity major.
Cybersecurity Major
Required Courses
Cybersecurity majors must complete the following CIS courses with a minimum 2.0 GPA.
- CIS 162 - Computer Science I Credits: 4
- CIS 163 - Computer Science II Credits: 4
- CIS 241 - System-level Programming and Utilities Credits: 3
- CIS 258 - Introduction to Cybersecurity Credits: 3
- CIS 290 - Professional Responsibilities and Practices Credits: 3
- CIS 331 - Data Analysis Tools and Techniques Credits: 3
- CIS 337 - Network Systems Management Credits: 3
- CIS 350 - Introduction to Software Engineering Credits: 3
- CIS 351 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language Credits: 4
- CIS 353 - Database Credits: 3
- CIS 358 - Information Assurance Credits: 3
- CIS 375 - Wireless Networks and Security (3 credits)
- CIS 418 - Software Engineering (3 credits)
- CIS 430 - Computer and Cyber Forensics Credits: 3
- CIS 437 - Distributed Computing Credits: 4
CIS 455 - Applied Cryptography (3 credits)- CIS 456 - Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis Credits: 3
- CIS 458 - System Security Credits: 3
- CIS 468 - Cybersecurity Project Credits: 3 (Capstone course)
- CIS 490 - Internship Credits: 2 to 5
Elective Courses
Cybersecurity majors must select six or more credits of elective courses from the following:
- CIS 310 - Introduction to the Structure and Mechanics of Social Networks Credits: 3
- CIS 335 - Data Mining Credits: 3
- CIS 338 - Wide Area Network Engineering Credits: 3
- CIS 357 - Mobile Application Development Credits: 3
- CIS 365 - Artificial Intelligence Credits: 3
- CIS 368 - Usability Design and Evaluation Credits: 3
- CIS 371 - Web Application Programming Credits: 3
- CIS 373 - Pervasive Computing Credits: 3
- CIS 380 - Special Topics in Computer Information Systems Credits: 1 to 4
- CIS 451 - Computer Architecture Credits: 3
- CIS 452 - Operating Systems Concepts Credits: 4
- CIS 480 - Special Topics in Computer Information Systems Credits: 1 to 4
- CJ 408 - White-Collar and Corporate Crime Credits: 3
- MTH 312 - Cryptography and Privacy Credits: 3
Cognate Courses
Cybersecurity majors must complete the following cognate courses:
- CJ 315 - Principles of Security Credits: 3
- CJ 335 - Digital Crime, Media and Culture Credits: 3
- COM 201 - Speech Credits: 3
- MTH 122 - College Algebra Credits: 3 OR MTH 124 - Precalculus: Functions and Models (5 credits) OR MTH 201 - Calculus I (4 credits)
- MTH 225 - Discrete Structures: Computer Science Credits: 3
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics Credits: 3 OR STA 312 - Probability and Statistics (3 credits)
- WRT 350 - Business Communication Credits: 3
Suggested Order of Coursework for a Major in Cybersecurity
This suggested order of coursework assumes that students will complete the cybersecurity foundation and general education courses with the help of their advisor and apply for admission at the end of the winter semester of their first year.
First Year
- CIS 162 - Computer Science I Credits: 4
- CIS 163 - Computer Science II Credits: 4
- CIS 258 - Introduction to Cybersecurity Credits: 3
- COM 201 - Speech Credits: 3
- MTH 201 - Calculus I Credits: 4
- MTH 225 - Discrete Structures: Computer Science Credits: 3
- STA 215 - Introductory Applied Statistics Credits: 3
- WRT 150 - Strategies in Writing Credits: 4
- Appropriate general education coursework
Second Year
- CIS 241 - System-level Programming and Utilities Credits: 3
- CIS 290 - Professional Responsibilities and Practices Credits: 3
- CIS 337 - Network Systems Management Credits: 3
- CIS 350 - Introduction to Software Engineering Credits: 3
- CIS 351 - Computer Organization and Assembly Language Credits: 4
- CIS 375 - Wireless Networks and Security (3 credits)
- CJ 315 - Principles of Security Credits: 3
- Appropriate general education coursework
Third Year
- CIS 331 - Data Analysis Tools and Techniques Credits: 3
- CIS 353 - Database Credits: 3
- CIS 358 - Information Assurance Credits: 3
- CIS 437 - Distributed Computing Credits: 4
- CIS 456 - Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis Credits: 3
- CIS 458 - System Security Credits: 3
- CJ 335 - Digital Crime, Media and Culture Credits: 3
- Cybersecurity elective
- Appropriate general education coursework
- CIS 418 - Software Engineering (3 credits)
Fourth Year
- CIS 430 - Computer and Cyber Forensics Credits: 3
- CIS 468 - Cybersecurity Project Credits: 3
- CIS 455 - Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
- CIS 490 - Internship Credits: 2 to 5
- WRT 350 - Business Communication Credits: 3
- Cybersecurity elective
- Appropriate general education coursework