Computer Science (BS): Cybersecurity Concentration
Program Overview & Accreditation
The Department of Computer Science in the College of Engineering at NC State 福利逼站 offers a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science degree. This program provides a comprehensive technical education and is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET ().
The First-Year Foundation
Students begin their academic journey by completing the standard Engineering First-Year curriculum. This foundational year includes essential coursework in the humanities, chemistry, mathematics, physics, and computing. Upon successful completion of these requirements, students apply to join the Department of Computer Science as degree-seeking students via the College鈥檚 Change of Degree Application (CODA) process.
Core Curriculum & Skills
Our curriculum is designed to transform students into versatile problem solvers. Core courses provide a rigorous foundation in the social, ethical, and technical dimensions of the field, teaching students to specify, design, implement, and test complex software systems. Key areas of study include:
- Programming languages and data structures
- Software engineering and secure systems design
- Computer systems and architecture
- Theory of computation
- Teaming and professional communication
Advanced Specializations & Electives
Starting in the junior year, students consult with advisors to customize their degree through advanced electives. These courses allow for deep exploration into specialized fields, including:
- Systems & Infrastructure: Cloud computing, computer architecture, networks, sensor systems, and database management.
- Intelligence & Data: Artificial intelligence, data science, and social computing.
- Security & Privacy: Cryptography, privacy, and network/software security.
- Interfaces & Media: Computer graphics, human-computer interface design, game development, and web services.
- Development: Compilers, DevOps, and educational technology.
Cybersecurity Concentration
"Securing Cyberspace" is identified as one of the . With critical infrastructure increasingly reliant on software, the Cybersecurity concentration addresses the urgent demand for professionals capable of protecting banking, healthcare, and utility systems. Students complete 21 credit hours of focused coursework designed to teach the analysis of security risks, the definition of threat landscapes, and the defense of software and networks against malicious adversaries. Students complete a security-focused capstone project for an industrial sponsor. Additionally, students in this track are uniquely positioned to apply for the , a prestigious federal program for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
Capstone Experience: The Senior Design Center
All Computer Science majors complete their degree with a semester-long team project under the auspices of the Senior Design Center. Many of these projects are supported by industrial sponsors, allowing student teams to work directly with industry representatives. This capstone experience challenges students to solve real-world technical problems while mastering the communication and process skills required for professional success.
Departmental Information
The Department of Computer Science is located in Engineering Building II on NC State鈥檚 Centennial Campus.听听
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Major Field of Study Requirements | ||
| Math | ||
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| 惭础听305 | Introduction to Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| 厂罢听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| Sciences | ||
| 颁贬听101 &补尘辫;听颁贬听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 4 |
| CSC Major | ||
| 颁厂颁听116 | Introduction to Computing - Java 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听216 &补尘辫;听颁厂颁听217 | Software Development Fundamentals and Software Development Fundamentals Lab 1 | 4 |
| 颁厂颁听226 | Discrete Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听230 | C and Software Tools | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听246 | Concepts and Facilities of Operating Systems for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听316 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听326 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| 颁厂颁听333 | Automata, Grammars, and Computability | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听379 | Ethics in Computing | 1 |
| 颁厂颁听492 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| Other Major | ||
| 颁厂颁听201 | Fundamentals of Applied AI 2 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听301 | Problem Solving with Applied AI | 3 |
| Other Restricted Electives - Group B | 3 | |
| 贰狈骋听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| Concentration Courses/Groups/Electives | ||
| 颁厂颁听236 | Computer Organization and Assembly Language for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听405 | Computer Security 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听471 | Modern Topics in Cybersecurity 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听472 | Cybersecurity Practicum 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听474 | Network Security 1 | 3 |
| CSC Cybersecurity Restricted Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Foundations of Cryptography | ||
| Software Security | ||
| Privacy in the Digital Age | ||
| Human-Centered Security | ||
| Cybersecurity Topics | 3 | |
| Cybersecurity Topics | ||
| College Requirements | ||
| Orientation Course(s): | 4 | |
| Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | ||
| Engineering in the 21st Century 2 | ||
| Introduction to Computing Environments | ||
| Other: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Economics | ||
辞谤听贰颁听201 | Principles of Microeconomics | |
辞谤听础搁贰听201 | Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | |
| General Education Program Requirements | ||
| 贰狈骋听101 2 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Interdisciplinary Perspectives | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 121 | |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
CSC Restricted Electives
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 颁厂颁听236 | Computer Organization and Assembly Language for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听302 | Introduction to Numerical Methods | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听580 | Numerical Analysis I | |
| 颁厂颁听342 | Applied Web-based Client-Server Computing | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听401 | Data and Computer Communications Networks | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听573 | Internet Protocols | |
| 颁厂颁听402 | Networking Projects | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听405 | Computer Security | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听406 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听506 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | |
| 颁厂颁听408 | Software Product Management | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听411 | Introduction to Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听520 | Artificial Intelligence I | |
| 颁厂颁听412 | Compiler Construction | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听512 | Compiler Construction | |
| 颁厂颁听414 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听514 | Foundations of Cryptography | |
| 颁厂颁听415 | Software Security | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听515 | Software Security | |
| 颁厂颁听416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听417 | Theory of Programming Languages | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听418 | Software Analysis and Design | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听419 | DevOps: Modern Software Engineering Practices | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听519 | DevOps: Modern Software Engineering Practices | |
| 颁厂颁听422 | Automated Learning and Data Analysis | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听522 | Automated Learning and Data Analysis | |
| 颁厂颁听431 | File Organization and Processing | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听433 | Privacy in the Digital Age | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听533 | Privacy in the Digital Age | |
| 颁厂颁听440 | Database Management Systems | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听540 | Database Management Concepts and Systems | |
| 颁厂颁听442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听447 | Introduction to Cloud Computing | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听547 | Cloud Computing Technology | |
| 颁厂颁听450 | Web Services | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听451 | Robot Motion Planning | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听453 | Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT) Systems | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听454 | Human-Computer Interaction | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听554 | Human-Computer Interaction | |
| 颁厂颁听455 | Social Computing and Decentralized Artificial Intelligence | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听555 | Social Computing and Decentralized Artificial Intelligence | |
| 颁厂颁听456 | Computer Architecture and Multiprocessors | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听506 | Architecture Of Parallel Computers | |
| 颁厂颁听461 | Computer Graphics | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听561 | Principles of Computer Graphics | |
| 颁厂颁听462 | Advanced Computer Graphics Projects | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听562 | Introduction to Game Engine Design | |
| 颁厂颁听467 | Introduction to Quantum Algorithms | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听469 | Quantum Programming | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听471 | Modern Topics in Cybersecurity | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听472 | Cybersecurity Practicum | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听474 | Network Security | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听574 | Computer and Network Security | |
| 颁厂颁听481 | Game Engine Foundations | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听581 | Game Engine Foundations | |
| 颁厂颁听482 | Advanced Computer Game Projects | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听484 | Building Game AI | 3 |
| 辞谤听颁厂颁听584 | Building Game AI | |
| 颁厂颁听486 | Computational Visual Narrative | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听490 | Independent Study in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| 颁厂颁听491 | Special Topics in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| 颁厂颁听499 | Independent Research in Computer Science | 1-6 |
| 颁厂颁听501 | Operating Systems Principles | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听503 | Computational Applied Logic | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听505 | Design and Analysis Of Algorithms | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听510 | Software Engineering | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听517 | Object-Oriented Design and Development | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听530 | Computational Methods for Molecular Biology | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听537 | Systems Attacks and Defenses | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听541 | Advanced Data Structures | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听542 | Neural Networks and Deep Learning | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听546 | Management Decision and Control Systems | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听548 | Parallel Systems | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听563 | Visual Interfaces for Mobile Devices | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听565 | Graph Theory | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听568 | Enterprise Storage Architecture | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听570 | Computer Networks | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听572 | Optimizations and Algorithms | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听575 | Introduction to Wireless Networking | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听576 | Networking Services: QoS, Signaling, Processes | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听577 | Switched Network Management | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听578 | LTE and 5G Communications | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听582 | Computer Models of Interactive Narrative | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听583 | Introduction to Parallel Computing | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听591 | Special Topics In Computer Science | 1-6 |
| 颁厂颁听595 | Cybersecurity Practicum | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听482 | Engineering Entrepreneurship Senior Design I | 3 |
| 贰颁贰听483 | Engineering Entrepreneurship Senior Design II | 3 |
| 惭础听414 | Foundations of Cryptography | 3 |
| 惭础听416 | Introduction to Combinatorics | 3 |
| 厂罢听442 | Introduction to Data Science | 3 |
Other Restricted Electives - Group B
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CSC Restricted Elective Courses | 1-6 | |
| 础颁颁听310 | Intermediate Financial Accounting I | 3 |
| 础颁颁听311 | Intermediate Financial Accounting II | 3 |
| 础颁颁听330 | An Introduction To Income Taxation | 3 |
| 础颁颁听340 | Accounting Information Systems | 3 |
| 础搁厂听306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 |
| 叠鲍厂听320 | Financial Management | 3 |
| 叠鲍厂听340 | Information Systems Management | 3 |
| 叠鲍厂听360 | Marketing Methods | 3 |
| BUS 4** | ||
| 颁贬贰听435 | Process Systems Analysis and Control | 3 |
| 颁贬贰听465 | Colloidal and Nanoscale Engineering | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| 顿厂颁听405 | Data Wrangling and Web Scraping | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听406 | Exploratory Data Analysis for Big Data | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听410 | Data Internship Preparation for Social Impact | 1 |
| 顿厂颁听412 | Exploring Machine Learning | 1 |
| EC 3** | ||
| EC 4** | ||
| EC 5** | ||
| ECE 3** (except for 贰颁贰听309) | ||
| ECE 4** | ||
| ECE 5** | ||
| 贰贰顿听401 | Teaching Undergraduate Engineers | 3 |
| 辞谤听贰贰顿听501 | Teaching Undergraduate Engineers | |
| 贰贰顿听411 | Societal Foundations for Engineering Education | 3 |
| 辞谤听贰贰顿听511 | Societal Foundations for Engineering Education | |
| 贰贰顿听414 | Ethics for Engineering Education | 3 |
| 辞谤听贰贰顿听514 | Ethics for Engineering Education | |
| 贰贰顿听495 | Special Topics in Engineering Education | 1-3 |
| 贰贰顿听502 | Engineering Education : Content, Assessment, and Pedagogy | 3 |
| 贰贰顿听509 | Field Experiences in Engineering Education | 3 |
| 贰贰顿听595 | Special Topics in Engineering Education | 1-3 |
| 贰惭厂听480 | Teaching Mathematics with Technology | 3 |
| 骋颁听320 | 3D Spatial Relations | 3 |
| 骋颁听350 | Applied CAD/D and Geometric Controls | 3 |
| 骋颁听420 | Visual Thinking | 3 |
| GN 5** | ||
| 滨厂贰听311 | Engineering Economic Analysis | 3 |
| 滨厂贰听361 | Deterministic Models in Industrial Engineering | 3 |
| ISE 4** | ||
| ISE 5** | ||
| 尝翱骋听335 | Symbolic Logic | 3 |
| 尝翱骋听435 | Advanced Logic & Metamathematics | 3 |
| 尝翱骋听535 | Advanced Logic and Metamathematics | 3 |
| 惭础听302 | Numerical Applications to Differential Equations | 1 |
| 惭础听341 | Applied Differential Equations I | 3 |
| 惭础听351 | Introduction to Discrete Mathematical Models | 3 |
| 惭础听401 | Applied Differential Equations II | 3 |
| 惭础听402 | Mathematics of Scientific Computing | 3 |
| 惭础听403 | Introduction to Modern Algebra | 3 |
| 惭础听405 | Introduction to Linear Algebra | 3 |
| 惭础听407 | Introduction to Modern Algebra for Mathematics Majors | 3 |
| 惭础听408 | Foundations of Euclidean Geometry | 3 |
| 惭础听410 | Theory of Numbers | 3 |
| 惭础听412 | Long-Term Actuarial Models | 3 |
| 惭础听413 | Short-Term Actuarial Models | 3 |
| 惭础听425 | Mathematical Analysis I | 3 |
| 惭础听426 | Mathematical Analysis II | 3 |
| 惭础听427 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis I | 3 |
| 惭础听428 | Introduction to Numerical Analysis II | 3 |
| 惭础听430 | Mathematical Models in the Physical Sciences | 3 |
| 惭础听432 | Mathematical Models in Life Sciences | 3 |
| 惭础听437 | Applications of Algebra | 3 |
| MA 5** | ||
| MAE 3** | ||
| MAE 4** | ||
| MAE 5** | ||
| MIE 3** | ||
| MIE 4** | ||
| MSE 3** | ||
| MSE 4** | ||
| MSE 5** | ||
| 惭鲍厂听306 | Music Composition with Computers | 3 |
| NE 3** | ||
| NE 4** | ||
| NE 5** | ||
| OR 5** | ||
| 笔贬滨听425 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 |
| 笔厂驰听307 | Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3 |
| 笔厂驰听340 | Human Factors Psychology | 3 |
| 笔厂驰听400 | Perception | 3 |
| 笔厂驰听420 | Cognitive Processes | 3 |
| 笔厂驰听425 | Introduction to Cognitive Science | 3 |
| PY 4** | ||
| PY 5** | ||
| 厂罢听372 | Introduction to Statistical Inference and Regression | 3 |
| ST 4** | ||
| ST 5** | ||
Semester Sequence听3
| Freshman Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| 颁贬听101 &补尘辫;听颁贬听102 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science and General Chemistry Laboratory 1 | 4 |
| 贰听102 | Engineering in the 21st Century 2 | 2 |
| 贰听115 | Introduction to Computing Environments | 1 |
| 贰狈骋听101 | Academic Writing and Research 2 | 4 |
| 惭础听141 | Calculus I 1 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听116 | Introduction to Computing - Java 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听201 | Fundamentals of Applied AI 2 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听297 | Cybersecurity Topics | 1 |
| 贰听101 | Introduction to Engineering & Problem Solving 2 | 1 |
| 惭础听241 | Calculus II 1 | 4 |
| 笔驰听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I 1 | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听216 &补尘辫;听颁厂颁听217 | Software Development Fundamentals and Software Development Fundamentals Lab 1 | 4 |
| 颁厂颁听226 | Discrete Mathematics 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听297 | Cybersecurity Topics | 1 |
| 颁厂颁听301 | Problem Solving with Applied AI | 3 |
| 惭础听242 | Calculus III | 4 |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听230 | C and Software Tools | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听316 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| 惭础听305 | Introduction to Linear Algebra and Matrices | 3 |
| 笔驰听208 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists II | 4 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听236 | Computer Organization and Assembly Language for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听246 | Concepts and Facilities of Operating Systems for Computer Scientists | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听297 | Cybersecurity Topics | 1 |
| 颁厂颁听333 | Automata, Grammars, and Computability | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听474 | Network Security 1 | 3 |
| 厂罢听370 | Probability and Statistics for Engineers | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听326 | Software Engineering | 4 |
| 颁厂颁听379 | Ethics in Computing | 1 |
| 颁厂颁听405 | Computer Security 1 | 3 |
| 贰狈骋听331 | Communication for Engineering and Technology | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| Other Restricted Electives - Group B | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Senior Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听471 | Modern Topics in Cybersecurity 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听472 | Cybersecurity Practicum 1 | 3 |
| 颁厂颁听414 | Foundations of Cryptography 1 or Software Security or Privacy in the Digital Age | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 15 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| 颁厂颁听492 | Senior Design Project | 3 |
| 贰颁听205 | Fundamentals of Economics or Principles of Microeconomics or Introduction to Agricultural & Resource Economics | 3 |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Requirement | 3 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 121 |
- 1
A grade of C or higher is required.
- 2
A grade of C- or higher is required.
- 3
One of the following two conditions regarding the major GPA is required: (l) the major GPA, which consists of all CSC courses attempted at NCSU, must be 2.0 or higher or (2) a student whose major grade point average is below 2.0 may graduate if no CSC course used to satisfy the major requirements has a grade below a C-.
Career Opportunities
Designing computer systems, and the software that runs on them is the job of computer scientists. Computer scientists find demand for their innovation, design, analysis, testing, and engineering skills across all domains. As a direct consequence of the increasingly critical role of computers in society, the discipline of computer science has enjoyed rapid growth for many years, with the trend likely to continue. 听Employment projections indicate a critical nationwide shortfall in the supply of people skilled in computing and information technology, and a resulting steady rise in demand and salaries, for decades to come. Computer Science graduates from NC State are in high demand, including by employers that are extremely selective in their national recruiting.听 The Cybersecurity concentration prepares students to defend our critical cyber infrastructure.
Anchoring one corner of the world-famous Research Triangle Park, and located in modern state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities on NC State鈥檚 Centennial Campus, the department and its students and faculty benefit from strong and active industry partnerships. NC State Computer Science is one of the top suppliers in the nation of new graduate hires to a number of high-tech companies, including several Fortune 500 companies, some with a substantial presence in the Research Triangle. Starting salaries for our undergraduates now average over $75,000 and show a steady increase. Opportunities are also plentiful for graduate study for those who wish to pursue the field in more depth.
Career Titles
- Architectural Drafters
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Clinical Data Managers
- Computer and Information Scientists
- Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Computer Hardware Engineers
- Computer Network Architects
- Computer Programmer
- Computer Science Professor
- Computer Systems Analyst
- Computer Systems Engineer
- Computer User Support Specialist
- Data Warehousing Specialists
- Database Administrator
- Information Security Analysts
- Information Technology Project Managers
- IT Administrator (Information Technology)
- Mathematician
- Project Management Specialists
- Robotics Engineers
- Scientific Linguist
- Software Developer
- Software Engineer
- Technical & Scientific Publications Editor
- Technical Publications Writer
- Video Game Designer
- Web Art Director
- Webmaster
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Professional Organizations & Societies
- 听(ACM)
- 听(AITP)
- 听(NSPE)