Nov 08, 2024  
2023-2024 University Catalog 
    
2023-2024 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.

Globalization Requirement - Credit Hours: 0.00


All students must complete the Polytechnic Growth Plan for Global Awareness and Intercultural Competency.

Step 1: Complete the Pre-test Intercultural Development Inventory Assessments (1st year) 

Step 2: Complete CNIT 32000 or CNIT 37100

Step 3: Complete the Post-test Intercultural Development Inventory Assessments (4th year) 

NOTE FOR TRANSFER/CODO STUDENTS: Transfer and CODO students with less than 75 credit hours remaining to completed their Polytechnic Plan of Study are exempt from Step 1 (taking the IDI Pretest). 

Other Departmental /Program Course Requirements (12 credits)


Supplemental List


Click here for Cybersecurity Supplemental Information .

Grade Requirements


  • Students must earn a C- or better in all CNIT courses that are a prerequisite to another CNIT course
  • Any course taken at Purdue can be attempted no more than three times (inclusive of W, WF, WN, I, and IF)

GPA Requirements


  • 2.0 Cummulative GPA required for Bachelor of Science degree
  • 2.0 Cummulative GPA in all CNIT courses required for Bachelor of Science degree

Course Requirements and Notes


  • Students must select courses from Cybersecurity Supplemental Information
  • 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​

Non-course / Non-credit Requirements


  • Co-Curricular Requirements include the following:
    • Professional IT Experience
    • Globalization requirement

Pass/No Pass Policy


College, department, major P/NP policy. Any exceptions to the rule should also be included.

Transfer Credit Policy


College, department, major transfer credit (including any/all undistributed credit, TR graded course, AP/IB credit, etc.) should be clearly stated. Can transfer credit be applied to the major? If yes, how and where?

University Requirements


University Core Requirements


For a complete listing of University Core Course Selectives, visit the University Senate 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. For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

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).

Upper Level Requirement


  • Resident study at Purdue University for at least two semesters and the enrollment in and completion of at least 32 semester hours of coursework required and approved for the completion of the degree. These courses are expected to be at least junior-level (30000+) courses.
  • Students should be able to fulfill most, if not all, of these credits within their major requirements; there should be a clear pathway for students to complete any credits not completed within their major.

Additional Information


Any additional information that does not fit into any of the categories above.

Sample 4-Year Plan


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


Fall 3rd Year


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


15 Credits


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.

Consultation with an advisor may result in an altered plan customized for an individual student.

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