Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity

Department Chair Glen Sagers – ELC 420	Faculty & Staff
CSIA Program Director Shalini Kesar – ELC 413	Student Success Advisors
Administrative Assistant Crystal Reed – ELC 423	Website

Overview of Programs

Undergraduate

The Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity (CSCY) provides rigorous programs that enable students to pursue exciting careers in computer science, cybersecurity, information technology, and/or attend graduate programs. Graduates are recruited by local and national companies in the booming tech industry, including Microsoft and Amazon.

Faculty members are dedicated to the success of students inside and outside of the classroom, and have expertise in various areas of computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology. The curriculum is founded on providing students with engaged and experiential education, as well as opportunities to participate in undergraduate research.

Graduate

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity with Information Assurance program focuses on the design, planning, and management of cyber systems and procedures for protecting these systems and infrastructure from external threats. The program is delivered online and includes instruction in cybersecurity and IT policy; information, vulnerability and threat assessment; physical, personnel, and operational security; and contingency, redundancy, emergency, and disaster planning.

Mission

The Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity (CSCY) supports the mission of the University and the College of Engineering and Computational Sciences by providing high-quality graduate and undergraduate education to students through certificate, associate’s, baccalaureate, and master’s degree programs.

The mission of the Department of CSCY is to provide a learning-centered environment that enables students, faculty, and staff to achieve their goals and empower our students to compete on a global level for careers in government, industry, secondary education, and for acceptance to graduate school.

The department provides programs in computer science, cybersecurity, and information technology. The curricula are rich with opportunities for students to develop a sound understanding of fundamentals as well as specialized theories, practices, and ethics that enhance their learning.

The CSCY faculty members are committed to providing high-quality education and individual guidance and assistance to students, preparing them to be critical thinkers, effective communicators, and lifelong learners. CSCY faculty uphold individual integrity while pursuing academic goals, as well as engage in scholarly activities to enhance their classes, involve students, and assist in the economic development of the region through partnerships with industry, inventors, and entrepreneurs.

Department/Program Learning Outcomes

Undergraduate

The Computer Science bachelor’s degree is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET under the General Criteria and the Computer Science Program Criteria. As such, the undergraduate degrees are designed to provide students with the following learning outcomes:

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.
Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
Apply computer science theory and software development fundamentals to produce computing-based solutions.

SUU has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) by the National Security Agency (NSA) for the Cybersecurity bachelor’s degree.

Graduate

The master’s degree programs are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). As such, the master’s degrees are designed to provide graduating students with the following learning outcomes:

Cyber Operations

Examine, analyze and interpret legal and ethical aspects of global cybersecurity law.
Develop, apply, and institutionalize cyber operations practices and assessment from a cybersecurity perspective.
Design and document incident response plans.
Analyze and recommend pen testing cybersecurity practices for an enterprise environment.

Cybersecurity Strategy

Develop, apply, and institutionalize risk management practices and assessment from a cybersecurity perspective.
Integrate legal and ethical aspects of global cybersecurity law and frameworks into planning and strategy.
Design and document incident response plans.
Analyze and recommend cybersecurity frameworks for an enterprise environment.

Healthcare Administration

Examine, analyze, and interpret legal and ethical aspects of global cybersecurity law.
Develop, apply, and institutionalize cyber security practices and assessments in different contexts.
Examine interrelated changes in healthcare administration, ethical and legal expectations, and the organization of healthcare and health policy.
Analyze and recommend cybersecurity solutions to threats in a medical environment.

Management

Examine concepts of security risks, threats, and vulnerabilities to the computing assets of an organization.
Design, apply, and institutionalize risk management and assessment practices from a cybersecurity perspective.
Examine, analyze and interpret legal &and ethical aspects of global cybersecurity law and frameworks.
Integrate knowledge from cybersecurity and management to lead teams within an organization.

Graduate Admissions

General Admissions Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Minimum 2.5 GPA

Note: NO GMAT or GRE scores are required for admission. Students may declare more than one emphasis in the MS-CSIA program if they meet the appropriate entrance requirements.

Admissions Requirements for the Cybersecurity Strategy, Healthcare Administration, and Management Emphases

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field.

Applicants without a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university NOT in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Information Technology, or Computer Science or a related field are required to take CSIA 6000 - Foundations of Cybersecurity with Information Assurance alone in their first seven-week term of the MS-CSIA program.
- This course must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better grade in order to move forward in the program. Students who do not complete this course with a “C” or better will be required to retake the course alone prior to moving forward in the program.

Admissions Requirements for the Cyber Operations Emphasis

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in Cybersecurity, Information Systems, Information Technology, or Computer Science.
Students enrolled in CSIA 6000 - Foundations of Cybersecurity with Information Assurance cannot be admitted into the Cybersecurity and Information Assurance - Cyber Operations Emphasis program.

Transcripts

Applicants must submit official transcripts from each college/university in which a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an accredited institution was obtained.

Applicants who have graduated from SUU do not need to submit a transcript.
International transcripts must include a transcript evaluation from a third-party service such as SpanTran or WES showing that the degree is equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree.

Official transcripts must be mailed or emailed directly from the granting institution(s) to:

Email address: gradapps@suu.edu

Mailing address:

Admissions Office
Southern Utah University
P.O. Box 8008
Cedar City, UT 84720

Questions?

For questions about the application process or application status, please contact the Graduate/Online Admission Office. Submit all materials by sending them to the email address or postal mail address above.

Graduation Requirements

Undergraduate

To be counted in the Department of Computer Science and Cybersecurity’s undergraduate programs, all courses for majors and minors must be completed with a “C-” (1.7) or better. Computer Science majors must take an approved comprehensive examination in computer science during their senior year.
Students who need to strengthen their mathematical backgrounds will need to select appropriate courses from MATH 1010 - Intermediate Algebra , MATH 1050 - College Algebra , and/or MATH 1060 - Trigonometry before they can begin to take the required mathematical courses.

Graduate

Graduate students must complete their program within six (6) years of matriculation.
All courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) or better to be counted in the program.
Students must earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 to graduate. Students who fail to maintain a 3.0 GPA may be dismissed from the program.
Courses may not be repeated more than once.

Programs

Associate’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Academic Certificate (Undergraduate)

Academic Certificate (Post-bachelor’s)

Minor

Master’s Degree