Bachelor of Science Cyber Operations

Protect the Systems Society Relies On

As cybercrime continues to rise, skilled defenders are more essential than ever鈥攖hat鈥檚 where you come in. At 51福利社, you鈥檒l develop in-demand skills in programming, network security, cybersecurity, and more through our NSA-certified Cyber Operations degree program.

Learn how to track and stop hackers, analyze malware, defend networks, and respond to threats in real time. You鈥檒l also explore the ethical, legal, and human aspects of cybersecurity, gaining a deeper understanding of how cyberattacks happen and why they matter.

Gain hands-on experience with real-world tools, access internship opportunities, and connect with industry pros who can help guide your career. By the time you graduate, you鈥檒l be ready to make an impact and help shape the future of cybersecurity.

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Why Study Cybersecurity at the Region's Polytechnic?

Get a hands-on education, real-world experience, and personalized support from faculty so you can launch your career with confidence.


Applied Learning

Applied Learning

Engage in hands-on training, real-world simulations, and research opportunities that help you sharpen your skills.

Support & Mentorship

Support & Mentorship

Build confidence with personalized guidance tailored to your learning style and goals so you're set up for success.

NSA Certified

NSA Certified

51福利社 is the region鈥檚 only four-year institution recognized by the National Security Agency as a NCAE-C.

Career Connections

Career Connections

Gain insights from faculty, collaborate with peers, and get expert guidance from industry pros to launch your cybersecurity career.

National Cyber Competitions

National Cyber Competitions

Join the Cybersecurity Club and represent 51福利社 in competitions like the National Cyber League and National Security Club Challenge.

Applied Learning Opportunities

  • Internships: Get real-world experience (and often credit or pay) by working in a professional setting connected to your career goals.
  • Classroom-Based Applied Learning/Simulation: Practice real-world decision-making through simulations, case studies, role playing, and other hands-on activities in the classroom.
  • Applied Laboratory Work: Build practical, career-ready skills by working hands-on in labs that mirror professional lab environments.
  • Apprenticeship:听Build career-ready skills through a structured program that combines hands-on training, paid work experience, and classroom instruction.
  • Co-ops (Cooperative Education):听Spend six months or more in a full-time, career-related job that alternates with classes so you graduate with professional experience.
  • Undergraduate Research: Collaborate with professors on research projects where you ask questions, solve problems, and present what you discover.
Cyber students work in the classroom.

What You'll Learn

The following information comes from the official , which outlines all degree requirements and serves as the guide to earning a degree. Courses are designed to provide a well-rounded and versatile degree, covering a wide range of subject areas.

Cyber Operations Major, Bachelor of Science (BS)

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The Cyber Operations degree program equips students with the expertise needed to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals. Alongside core computer science courses, students will develop skills in confidentiality, integrity, privacy, risk management, industrial control systems, digital forensics, and adversarial thinking. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning and practical application, covering security topics related to data, software, hardware, cybersecurity systems, and emerging threats.

This program prepares students to design and implement secure networks, applications, systems, and critical infrastructures. Graduates will be well-equipped for careers in cyber operations, with program outcomes aligned with the Department of Defense Cybersecurity Workforce Roles, addressing the critical need to safeguard national security.

Exam Requirement: All Computer Science majors are required to pass the Advanced Programming Exam prior to taking courses for which it is a prerequisite. Passing the exam is required for graduation and no exam waivers will be granted for degree completion.

Grade Requirements: As a computer science student, you are expected to maintain an overall university GPA ≥2.3. Each computer science course and cybersecurity course must be completed with a minimum grade of C+.  Additionally, all courses satisfying an elective must be completed with a minimum grade of C+. All supporting courses required by the department must be completed with a minimum grade ≥C.

Required Computer Science Courses
COMPUTING ETHICS4
PROGRAMMING PRINCIPLES I5
PROGRAMMING PRINCIPLES II5
C AND UNIX PROGRAMMING5

ARCHITECTURE AND ORGANIZATION
and ARCHITECTURE AND ORGANIZATION LAB
4
or 
MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEMS
and MICROCONTROLLER SYSTEMS LAB
DATA STRUCTURES5
ALGORITHMS5

RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEMS
and RELATIONAL DATABASE SYSTEMS LAB
4

COMPUTER NETWORKS
and COMPUTER NETWORKS LAB
4
OPERATING SYSTEMS5
Required Cybersecurity Courses
CYBERSECURITY FUNDAMENTALS5

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SECURITY
and COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SECURITY LAB
4
CYBERSECURITY POLICIES, PRIVACY AND LAWS4

APPLIED CYBER DEFENSE
and APPLIED CYBER DEFENSE LAB
4

APPLIED CYBER OPERATIONS
and APPLIED CYBER OPERATIONS LAB
4

NETWORK SECURITY
and NETWORK SECURITY LAB
4

SECURE CODING
and SECURE CODING LAB
4

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY I
and CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY I LAB
4

APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY
and APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY LAB
4

REVERSE ENGINEERING
and REVERSE ENGINEERING LAB
4

SECURE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
and SECURE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING LAB
4
Required Supporting Courses

DIGITAL CIRCUITS
and DIGITAL CIRCUITS LAB
5
DISCRETE MATHEMATICS5
ELEMENTARY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS5
Required Electives–choose six courses for 24 credits from the approved elective list of CSCD/CYBR/EENG courses. Contact your advisor for approval.24
Required Senior Capstone Series
SENIOR CAPSTONE5
Total Credits135
 

The following plan of study is for a student with zero credits.听Individual students may have different factors such as: credit through transfer work, Advanced Placement, Running Start, or any other type of college-level coursework that requires an individual plan.

Courses could be offered in different terms, checking the academic schedule is paramount in keeping an individual plan current.听Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

All Undergraduate students are required to meet the听.

First Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney Campus
555
555
Diversity - graduation requirement1555
151515
Second Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses on the Cheney CampusAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst Building
(Humanities & Arts BACR 1)4
&听
4
&听
4
(Social Science BACR 1)54
&听
4
Social Science BACR 2 (Recommended LIBR 110)15
&听
5Global Studies- graduation requirement (Online Course)15
Humanities & Arts BACR 215
141813
Third Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst Building
5
&听
45

&听
4
&听
4
&听
4
Natural Science BACR 1 (Recommended GEOS 100)5CYBR Elective 124
&听
4
Natural Science BACR 2 (Recommended GEOS 113)5CYBR Elective 224
141717
Fourth Year
Fall QuarterCreditsWinter QuarterCreditsSpring QuarterCredits
All Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst BuildingAll Courses at the Spokane Catalyst Building

&听
4
&听
4
&听
4
CYBR Elective 324
&听
4 (Senior Capstone - graduation requirement )5
CYBR Elective 424CYBR Elective 524CYBR Elective 624
Elective - minor, or general elective1Elective - minor, or general elective4
131613
Total Credits 180
1

University Graduation Requirements (UGR) and Breadth Area Course Requirements (BACR) courses may be less than 5 credits and additional credits may be required to reach the required 180 total credits needed to graduate.听 Students should connect with an advisor to ensure they are on track to graduate.

2

Required Electives鈥揷hoose six courses for 24 credits from the approved elective list of CSCD/CYBR/EENG courses. Contact your advisor for approval.

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(GER)

  • Minimum Quarter Credits—180 cumulative credit hours
    • 60 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 45 credits in residence (attendance) at 51福利社, with at least 15 upper-division credits in major in residence at 51福利社
  • Minimum Semester Credits—120 cumulative credit hours
    • 40 upper-division credits (300 level or above)
    • 30 credits in residence (attendance) at 51福利社, with at least 10 upper-division credits in major in residence at 51福利社
  • Minimum Cumulative GPA ≥2.0

University Competencies and Proficiencies


 

 


(BACR)

 
 


 (UGR)




 
 (for Bachelor of Arts)


Application for Graduation (use ) must be made at least two terms in advance of the term expected to graduate (undergraduate and post-baccalaureate).

Use the to determine .

  1. The catalog in effect at the student's first term of current matriculation is used to determine BACR (Breadth Area Core Requirements) and UGR (Undergraduate Graduation Requirements).
  2. The catalog in effect at the time the student declares a major or minor is used to determine the program requirements.

51福利社

Students who earn a BS In Cyber Operations from 51福利社 should be able to:​​​

  • analyze a complex computing problem and to apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions;
  • design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of the program’s discipline, utilizing techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice;
  • communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts;
  • recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles, including local and global impacts of computing solutions on individuals, organizations, and society;
  • function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline;
  • apply security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats.

Furthermore, the required cybersecurity courses, listed below, align with the ABET Fundamental Topics for Cybersecurity. These ABET topics include:

  • Data Security: protection of data at rest, during processing, and in transit.
  • Software Security: development and use of software that reliably preserves the security properties of the protected information and systems.
  • Component Security: the security aspects of the design, procurement, testing, analysis, and maintenance of components integrated into larger systems.
  • Connection Security: security of the connections between components, both physical and logical.
  • System Security: security aspects of systems that use software and are composed of components and connections.
  • Human Security: the study of human behavior in the context of data protection, privacy, and threat mitigation.
  • Organizational Security: protecting organizations from cybersecurity threats and managing risk to support successful accomplishment of the organization’s missions.
  • Societal Security: aspects of cybersecurity that broadly impact society as a whole.