Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, offered by he Department of Computer and Information Sciences (CIS), is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills required to protect computer systems and networks from cyber threats. This program addresses the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals by providing students with both strong technical foundations and hands-on experience.

The curriculum consists of a set of foundation courses that provide a broad base in computing, required security courses that focus on particular cybersecurity skills, security breadth courses, and a wide variety of electives so that students can develop further specialization and tailor their education to match their interests.

Campus Location: Main

Program Code: ST-CYBR-BS

Distinction in Major

To graduate with distinction in this major, as student must satisfy the following criteria:

  • have a minimum 3.50 major GPA and
  • have a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA.

Undergraduate Contact Information

Jamie Payton, Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 304
215-204-8450

Gene Kwatny, Vice Chair
Science Education and Research Center, Room 304
215-204-8450

Dominic Letarte, Faculty Advisor
Science Education and Research Center, Room 372
215-204-6439
istadvsr@temple.edu

These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2024-2025. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2024 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.

Bachelor of Science Requirements

Summary of Requirements for the Degree

  1. University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
    • Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
    • All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
      SCTC 2396Writing for Science and Technology3
      CIS 4X9X3
    • Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
      • See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
      • Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
    • Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
  2. College Requirements
    • A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
      • A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
    • Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
      • SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar for every entering first-year CST student.
      • SCTC 2001 CST Transfer Seminar for every entering transfer CST student.
  3. Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (75-76 s.h.)
    At least 9 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 8 CIS courses must be completed at Temple.
    Computer and Information Science
    CIS 1001Introduction to Academics in Computer Science1
    Select one of the following:4
    Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
    Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python
    Computer Programming in C
    CIS 1068Program Design and Abstraction4
    or CIS 1968 Honors Program Design and Abstraction
    CIS 1166Mathematical Concepts in Computing I4
    or CIS 1966 Honors Mathematical Concepts in Computing I
    CIS 2107Computer Systems and Low-Level Programming4
    or CIS 2229 Architecture, Operating Systems and Networking
    CIS 2109Database Management Systems4
    or CIS 4331 Principles of Database Systems
    CIS 2168Data Structures4
    CIS 3329Network Architectures4
    or CIS 4319 Computer Networks and Communications
    CIS 3441Software Security3
    CIS 3605Introduction to Digital Forensics3
    or CJ 3506 Cyber-Investigations, Digital Forensics, and the Law
    CIS 4378Computer and Network Security4
    CIS 4X9X3
    Cybersecurity Breadth Requirement
    Select one of the following: 13-4
    Wireless Networks and Security
    Quality Assurance & Testing (F)
    Securing the Internet of Things
    Audit and Compliance for Security and Digital Forensics
    Cybercrime
    Cybersecurity Electives
    Select a minimum of 12 credits from the following elective courses:12
    Special Topics in CIS
    Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
    Introduction to Systems Programming and Operating Systems
    Automata, Computability, and Languages
    Computer Architecture
    Data Structures and Algorithms
    Cooperative Education Experience in Information Science & Technology 2
    Software Design
    Web Application Programming
    Component-Based Software Design
    Wireless Networks and Security
    Server-Side Web Application Development
    Client-Side Scripting for the Web
    Quality Assurance & Testing
    Cooperative Education Experience in Computer Science 2
    Introduction to iOS Application Development
    Introduction to Mobile Application Development
    User Experience Design
    Principles of Data Science
    Introduction to Information Visualization
    Independent Study 2
    Introduction to Distributed Systems and Networks
    Compiler Design
    Current Topics in Information Science & Technology
    Seminar in Information Science & Technology (S)
    Advanced Web Application Design & Scripting
    Introduction to Cloud Computing
    Seminar on Topics in Computer Science (F)
    Seminar on Topics in Computer Science
    Independent Study 2
    Securing the Internet of Things
    Advanced Mobile Application Development
    Data-Intensive and Cloud Computing
    Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining
    Analysis and Modeling of Social and Information Networks
    Foundations of Machine Learning
    Audit and Compliance for Security and Digital Forensics
    Cybercrime
    White Collar Crime
    Organized Crime
    Urban Crime Patterns
    Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Global Security
    Cyberpolitics
    Other courses communicated to the students by the Cybersecurity faculty advisor.
    Mathematics
    Select one of the following: 34
    Differential and Integral Calculus
    Calculus I
    Honors Calculus I
    MATH 2031Probability and Statistics3
    Laboratory Science courses
    Two (2) laboratory science courses 48
    Writing Intensive Course
    SCTC 2396Writing for Science and Technology3
    Total Credit Hours75-76
    (F) - Fall only course
    (S) - Spring only course
    1

    The courses not selected may be taken as a Cybersecurity elective. 

    2

    A maximum of eight (8) credits from CIS 3281, CIS 3381, CIS 4282, and/or CIS 4382 may be used to fulfill Cybersecurity elective requirements. In addition, a maximum of four (4) credits may be taken from CIS 3281 and/or CIS 3381 to fulfill Cybersecurity elective requirements. 

    3

    Cybersecurity majors are required to have completed MATH 1022. They can then choose either MATH 1031, MATH 1041 or MATH 1941.

    4

    Must select within a Sequence for Laboratory Science A and Laboratory Science B. See the Sequenced Laboratory Science list below for the science options.

Sequenced Cybersecurity Laboratory Science Requirements

Biology Sequence
Select one Biology Lab Science A:
General Biology I
Introduction to Organismal Biology
Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology (S)
Select one Biology Lab Science B:
General Biology II
Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes
Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology
Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (F)
Chemistry Sequence 1
Select one Chemistry Lab Science A:
Introduction to Chemistry I
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory I
General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory I
Honors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I
Select one Chemistry Lab Science B:
Introduction to Chemistry II
and Introduction to Chemistry Laboratory II
General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory II
Honors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II
Earth & Environmental Science Sequence 2
Select this Lab Science A:
Physical Geology
Select one Lab Science B:
Mineralogy I (with CHEM 1031 prerequisite)
Sedimentary Environments (no CHEM 1031 prerequisite)
Introduction to Geochemistry (with CHEM 1031 prerequisite)
Physics Sequence 3
Select one Physics Lab Science A:
Introduction to General Physics I
Elementary Classical Physics I
Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F)
General Physics I
Honors General Physics I (F)
Select one Physics Lab Science B:
Introduction to General Physics II
Elementary Classical Physics II
Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S)
General Physics II
Honors General Physics II (S)
1

Students can choose to mix-and-match the Chemistry Sequence A and B courses. However, they must take at least 1 course from Chemistry Sequence A and 1 from Chemistry Sequence B. Note: Chemistry courses consist of a three-credit lecture plus a one-credit lab.

2

For the EES Sequence, two of the three Lab Science B options require students to take CHEM 1031 as a prerequisite, but EES 2021 does not.

3

Students can choose to mix-and-match the Physics Sequence A and B courses. However, they must take at least 1 course from Physics Sequence A and 1 from Physics Sequence B.

Suggested Academic Plan

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
FallCredit Hours
CIS 1001 Introduction to Academics in Computer Science 1
Select one of the following: 4
Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python  
Computer Programming in C  
Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python  
Select one of the following: 1 4
Differential and Integral Calculus  
Calculus I  
Honors Calculus I  
SCTC 1001 CST First Year Seminar 1
GenEd Breadth Course 3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours16
Spring
CIS 1068
Program Design and Abstraction
or Honors Program Design and Abstraction
4
CIS 1166
Mathematical Concepts in Computing I
or Honors Mathematical Concepts in Computing I
4
ENG 0802
Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW]
or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW]
4
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours15
Year 2
Fall
CIS 2168 Data Structures 4
Select one of the following: 4
Computer Systems and Low-Level Programming  
Architecture, Operating Systems and Networking  
MATH 2031 Probability and Statistics 3
IH 0851
Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY]
3
GenEd Breadth Course 3
 Credit Hours17
Spring
Select one of the following: 4
Database Management Systems  
Principles of Database Systems 2  
Select one of the following: 4
Network Architectures  
Computer Networks and Communications 3  
IH 0852
Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ]
3
Elective 3
Elective 1
 Credit Hours15
Year 3
Fall
CIS 3441 Software Security 3
Cybersecurity Elective 4 3-4
Lab Science A 4
GenEd Breadth Course 3-4
Elective 2-0
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Select one of the following: 3
Introduction to Digital Forensics  
Cyber-Investigations, Digital Forensics, and the Law  
CIS 4378 Computer and Network Security 4
SCTC 2396 Writing for Science and Technology [WI] 3
Lab Science B 4
 Credit Hours14
Year 4
Fall
CIS 4X9X 3
Cybersecurity Breadth Requirement - Select one of the following 3-4
Wireless Networks and Security  
Quality Assurance & Testing  
Securing the Internet of Things  
Audit and Compliance for Security and Digital Forensics  
Cybercrime  
Cybersecurity Elective 4 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 3-1
 Credit Hours15
Spring
Cybersecurity Elective 4 3-4
Cybersecurity Elective 4, 5 3-4
Elective 3
Elective 3
Elective 4-2
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours123
1

Cybersecurity majors are required to have completed MATH 1022. They can then choose either MATH 1031, MATH 1041, or MATH 1941

2

CIS 4331 will require additional prerequisites. 

3

CIS 4319 will require additional prerequisites. 

4

Select from the Cybersecurity Electives list under Requirements. Some of these courses require additional prerequisites. 

5

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits of Cybersecurity Electives. If the student has completed all 12 credits of the Cybersecurity Electives, this course can be additional free elective credits.