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
- 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:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours SCTC 2396 Writing for Science and Technology 3 CIS 4X9X 3 - 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.Course List Code Title Credit Hours Computer and Information Science CIS 1001 Introduction to Academics in Computer Science 1 Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python or CIS 1951Honors Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming in Python Computer Programming in C CIS 1068 Program Design and Abstraction 4 or CIS 1968 Honors Program Design and Abstraction CIS 1166 Mathematical Concepts in Computing I 4 or CIS 1966 Honors Mathematical Concepts in Computing I CIS 2107 Computer Systems and Low-Level Programming 4 or CIS 2229 Architecture, Operating Systems and Networking CIS 2109 Database Management Systems 4 or CIS 4331 Principles of Database Systems CIS 2168 Data Structures 4 CIS 3329 Network Architectures 4 or CIS 4319 Computer Networks and Communications CIS 3441 Software Security 3 CIS 3605 Introduction to Digital Forensics 3 or CJ 3506 Cyber-Investigations, Digital Forensics, and the Law CIS 4378 Computer and Network Security 4 CIS 4X9X 3 Cybersecurity Breadth Requirement Select one of the following: 1 3-4 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: 3 4 Differential and Integral Calculus Calculus I Honors Calculus I MATH 2031 Probability and Statistics 3 Laboratory Science courses Two (2) laboratory science courses 4 8 Writing Intensive Course SCTC 2396 Writing for Science and Technology 3 Total Credit Hours 75-76 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (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
Code | Title | Credit Hours |
---|---|---|
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
Year 1 | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credit 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 Hours | 16 | |
Spring | ||
CIS 1068 or CIS 1968 | Program Design and Abstraction or Honors Program Design and Abstraction | 4 |
CIS 1166 or CIS 1966 | 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 Hours | 15 | |
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 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
Credit Hours | 17 | |
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 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 1 | |
Credit Hours | 15 | |
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 Hours | 15 | |
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 Hours | 14 | |
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 Hours | 15 | |
Spring | ||
Cybersecurity Elective 4 | 3-4 | |
Cybersecurity Elective 4, 5 | 3-4 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 3 | |
Elective | 4-2 | |
Credit Hours | 16 | |
Total Credit Hours | 123 |
- 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.