Cyber Operations Major

The mission of B.S. program in cyber operations is to develop the next generation of cyber leaders who can analyze the security of cyber systems, protect and defend cyber systems, investigate different types of attacks and incidents in cyber systems in the industry, government or military environment. The Citadel has been designated as National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) since 2016. The B.S. in Cyber Operations meets the academic standards of Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations program set by National Security Agency. This major is a deeply technical and interdisciplinary program grounded in computer science, computer engineering, cyber offense and defense, cyber forensics, and cyber law, policy, and ethics. , There are extensive opportunities for hands-on applications via labs and exercises. The major is housed in the Department of Cyber and Computer Sciences.

The course of study leading to the B.S. with a major in Cyber Operations includes six hours of electives; 17 hours of core mathematics and statistics: MATH 131 , MATH 132 , MATH 206 , MATH 302 , STAT 261 ; and 52 hours of required courses in computer science and cyber operations: CSCI 201 , CSCI 202 , CSCI 211 , CSCI 223 , CSCI 227 , CSCI 305 , CSCI 317 , CSCI 320 , CSCI 327 , CSCI 405 , CSCI 408 , CSCI 409 , CSCI 410 , CSCI 411 , CSCI 427 , ELEC 311 , ELEC 330 , and CSCI 499 ; and 3 hours of an Approved Cyber Elective selected from CRMJ 331 , CRMJ 392 , CSCI 490 . In addition, General Education requirements for a selected strand, physical education, modern language, and laboratory sciences must be completed. The complete course of study is provided in the Courses of Study section of this catalog.

Student Outcomes (SOs) for B.S. in Cyber Operations

Graduates of the program will have an ability to:

Apply security principles and practices to the design and implementation of the physical, software, and human component of the cyber systems,
Analyze and evaluate cyber systems with respect to security,
Identify, analyze, and mitigate threats in cyber systems.

Major Academic Map

Click here to view the Academic Map for this major, which shows the courses and sequence.

Freshman Year

Freshman Fall

LDRS 101 - The First-Year Experience Credit Hours: 1
CSCI 201 - Introduction to Computer Science I Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 211 - Introduction to Computer Science I Lab Credit Hours: 1
CSCI 227 - Principles and Practices of Cybersecurity Credit Hours: 3
MATH 131 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credit Hours: 4
Language Credit Hours: 3
RPED 260 - Physical Fitness, Resiliency, & Wellness Credit Hours: 3
1st Year Basic ROTC

Freshman Spring

FSEM 101 - Freshman Seminar Credit Hours: 3
FSWI 101 - Freshman Seminar (Writing Intensive) Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 202 - Introduction to Computer Science II Credit Hours: 3
MATH 132 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus II Credit Hours: 4
Language Credit Hours: 3
1st Year Basic ROTC

Sophomore Year

Sophomore Fall

LDRS 202 - Principled Leadership in American Government and Society Credit Hours: 3
LDRS 211 - Sophomore Seminar Service Learning Lab Credit Hours: 0 (May be taken either semester)
CSCI 305 - Computer Organization and Programming Credit Hours: 3
MATH 206 - Introduction to Discrete Structures Credit Hours: 3
Strand Course 1 Credit Hours: 3
Science Credit Hours: 4 *
RPED - Required Physical Education Credit Hours: 0
2nd Year Basic ROTC

Sophomore Spring

STAT 261 - Introduction to Probability and Statistics Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 223 - Data Structures and Algorithms Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 317 - Computer Networks and Internets Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 320 - Database Design Credit Hours: 3
Science (satisfies Strand science requirements) Credit Hours: 4 *
RPED - Required Physical Education Credit Hours: 0
2nd Year Basic ROTC

Junior Year

Junior Fall

LDRS 311 - Junior Ethics Enrichment Experience Credit Hours: 0
Strand Course 2 Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 327 - Computer Security Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 405 - Operating Systems Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 408 - Software Security Credit Hours: 3
LDRS 371 - Leadership in Organizations Credit Hours: 3
1st Year Advanced ROTC

Junior Spring

CSCI 409 - Malware Analysis Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 427 - Advanced Cybersecurity Credit Hours: 3
MATH 302 - Applied Cryptography Credit Hours: 3
COMM 260 - Technical Writing and Communication Credit Hours: 3
Strand Course 3 Credit Hours: 3
1st Year Advanced ROTC

Senior Year

Senior Fall

LDRS 411 - Senior Leadership Integration Seminar Credit Hours: 0
CSCI 410 - Offensive Cyber Operations Credit Hours: 3
CRMJ 401 - Cyber, Ethics, & Policy Credit Hours: 3
ELEC 311 - Digital Logic and Circuits Credit Hours: 3
General Elective Credit Hours: 3
General Elective Credit Hours: 3
2nd Year Advanced ROTC

Senior Spring

CSCI 411 - Cyber Forensics Credit Hours: 3
CSCI 499 - Senior Research Project Credit Hours: 3 ****
ELEC 330 - Digital Systems Engineering Credit Hours: 3
Approved Cyber Elective Credit Hours: 3 **
2nd Year Advanced ROTC

Note:

4-hour Science course options: BIOL 105 /BIOL 115 , CHEM 151 /CHEM 161 , CHEM 152 /CHEM 162 , PHYS 221 /PHYS 271 , PHYS 222 /PHYS 272
Students must complete three strand courses, which may be completed in any order: English (ENGS 30X ), History (HISS 30X ), and Social Science (SCSS 30X ).

ROTC Course Requirements:

ROTC course requirements apply to members of the SCCC only:

Cadets contracted or pursuing a contract should take 8 semesters of ROTC.
Cadets not contracted or pursuing a contract should take 4 semesters of ROTC Basic and 4 semesters of ROTC fulfilment courses. Available ROTC fulfillment courses are published online annually by the department of Leadership Studies.
ROTC courses typically carry 1 to 3 hours of credit, depending on the level. ROTC fulfillment courses typically carry 3 hours of credit. See the course descriptions for specific information.