Mar 29, 2024  
2022-2023 University Catalog 
    
2022-2023 University Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Cybersecurity, BS


About the Program

The Cybersecurity major is part of the Computer and Information Technology program. The Computer and Information Technology program is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, www.abet.org.

Keeping data secure is an important goal of any good IT system. Once a system has been breached, personal, financial or classified data becomes vulnerable to exploitation. When you major in cybersecurity at Purdue University, you will learn the skills to create and maintain secure networks as well as ways to track down hackers who aim to breach that security.

The demand for professionals with cybersecurity skills is high, and it will continue to grow as more companies and industries work to safeguard their records and their reputations. The cybersecurity plan of study at Purdue will be able to help meet this need by providing a comprehensive IT education that also emphasizes key security concepts. The major’s holistic approach combines skills such as secure coding, cryptography, digital forensics and UNIX fundamentals with analytical thinking and criminology.

You will have plenty of opportunity for hands-on projects. Whether you are testing vulnerabilities or creating a new security protocol, you will put theories into practice daily. Because of industry partnerships, you will have access to internships that will put your cybersecurity knowledge to use quickly.

Cybersecurity Website

Computer and Information Technology Department Major Change (CODO) Requirements  

Degree Requirements


120 Credits Required

Departmental/Program Major Courses (66 credits)


A C- GPA is required across all CNIT courses

CIT Common Core (42 credits)


Introductory Oral Communication Selective (satisfies Oral Communication for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Calculus I (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Calculus II (satisfies Quantitative Reasoning for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Design Thinking (satisfies Information Literacy and Science, Technology & Society Selective for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Behavioral/Social Science Foundational Selective (satisfies Human Culture Behavioral/Social Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Sciences (BSS)

Three credits required from the Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Sciences (BSS) list in the following link:  http://www.purdue.edu/provost/initiatives/curriculum/course.html

Humanities Selective (satisfies Human Cultures: Humanities for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)

Three credits required from the Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM) list in the following link:  http://www.purdue.edu/provost/initiatives/curriculum/course.html

Science Selective (satisfies Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Science(SCI)

Three credits required from the Science(SCI) list in the following link:  http://www.purdue.edu/provost/initiatives/curriculum/course.html

Lab Science Selective (satisfies Science for core) - Credit Hours: 3.00


Science (SCI) - with Lab Component

Three credits required from the Science(SCI) list in the following link: http://www.purdue.edu/provost/initiatives/curriculum/course.html 

Verify the course has a lab component when scheduling.

The following courses are typically offered with a lab component:

Economics Selective - Credit Hours: 3.00


 AGEC 21700 or ECON 21000: credit can only be used for one of these courses to fulfill a degree requirement.

Professional IT Experience Requirement


  • Professional IT internship (six week minimum duration) or
  • 240 hours of IT employment or
  • 240 hours of documented volunteer IT work or
  • 3 credit hours of approved Service Learning Course from CNIT, EPCS or TDM (or Equivalent) with responsibility for an IT component (3 credit hours minimum)

Globalization Requirement - Credit Hours: 0.00


The globalization requirement will be met by successful completion of CNIT 32000 or CNIT 37100. 

Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements (12 credits)


Additional Degree Requirements


Click here for Cybersecurity Supplemental Information .

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the Provost’s Website.
  • Human Cultures: Behavioral/Social Science (BSS)
  • Human Cultures: Humanities (HUM)
  • Information Literacy (IL)
  • Oral Communication (OC)
  • Quantitative Reasoning (QR)
  • Science #1 (SCI)
  • Science #2 (SCI)
  • Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
  • Written Communication (WC)

Civics Literacy Proficiency Requirement:


The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

  • Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
  • Earning a passing grade for one of these approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.



Prerequisite Information:


For current pre-requisites for courses, click here.


Program Requirements


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


Notes


  • Students must select courses from Cybersecurity Supplemental Information 
  • Students must earn a C- or better in all CNIT courses that are a prerequisite to another CNIT course
  • 120 semester credits listed above are required for the Bachelor of Science degree
  • 2.0 Cummulative GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree
  • 2.0 Cummulative GPA in all CNIT courses required for Bachelor of Science degree
  • Any course taken at Purdue can be attempted no more than three times (inclusive of W, WF, WN, I, and IF)
  • Courses with the ♦ are essential for the CIT degree critical path to graduation
  • Credit cannot be earned for both AGEC 21700 and ECON 21000 to fulfill degree requirements
  • Credit cannot be earned for both COM 31400 and COM 31500 to fulfill degree requirements
  • A single course may not fulfill multiple requirements within the CIT BS degree​
  • Co-Curricular Requirements include the following:
    • Professional IT Experience
    • Globalization requirement

Critical Course


The ♦ course is considered critical.

In alignment with the Degree Map Guidance for Indiana’s Public Colleges and Universities, published by the Commission for Higher Education (pursuant to HEA 1348-2013), a Critical Course is identified as “one that a student must be able to pass to persist and succeed in a particular major.  Students who want to be nurses, for example, should know that they are expected to be proficient in courses like biology in order to be successful.  These would be identified by the institutions for each degree program”. 

Disclaimer


The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements.

The myPurduePlan powered by DegreeWorks is the knowledge source for specific requirements and completion.