BSc (Hons) Computer Security with Placement Year drafted draft

Program Overview

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As we increase the scope of our working and personal lives online there has been a rise in the number of attacks being made against information systems by hackers and other criminals looking to steal resources. It seems that on a weekly basis there is another news story detailing a new ransomware attack or a new vulnerability in a piece of software used by the public.

The UK government has identified a skills gap and therefore a need for more staff trained in Computer Security. Students graduating from the Computer Security course will be in demand by companies looking to fill their Computer Security roles with trained staff. LJMU has a growing national and international reputation for its research into computer security and this expertise ensures the degree is at the leading edge of developments in this discipline.

About the BSc (Hons) Computer Security Degree

The Computer Security course will teach you the skillsrequired to be able to identify Computer Security issues, how to solve theseissues and how to recover if a Security breach occurs. Students will learn someComputer Forensics skills to help them identify where attacks are beinglaunched from and ways to secure their systems against them. There is a closerelationship between Computer Forensics and Computer Security, and it isnecessary that professionals in both areas are aware of each other’s roles insecuring computing systems.

Students will study Computer Security topics such as PenetrationTesting, Secure Software Development, Ethical Hacking, Applied Cryptography andNetwork Forensics. Modules will teach the required practical skills and thetheory that underpins this material, as well as understanding of the businesscontext for security. The modules are informed by internationally recognisedresearch by the staff who teach the modules.

The Computer Security modules are complemented by modules in Computer Science. We balance the specialist skills of Computer Security with broader topics in Computer Science such as Operating Systems, Databases Systems, Programming, and Computer Systems, that are required as context for applying security skills.

The curriculum is informed by consultancy with Fujitsu and Computer Security companies within the local area. This ensures that the course is up to date and producing students who can go straight into the industry.

Practical, hands-on experience to boost your employability is incorporated into this programme wherever possible. However the best way to really get a taste of working in the computer security industry or the IT industry in general is to take a year out after your second year and spend 12 months on supervised work placement.

This invaluable experience gives you a chance to put into practice the many concepts and techniques you have learnt on the course, as well as developing new skills. We highly recommend that you take up this opportunity, as it will greatly enhance your prospects when you come to negotiate your way around the competitive graduate job market.

Dedicated Facilities

There is a dedicated Computer Security lab with its own private internal network that students can use to run experiments and look at the ways in which malware works. We teach Ethical Hacking using a virtual environment and this gives students a good practical experience of Ethical Hacking in the real world.

Upon Graduation

Students who graduate from the Computer Security course are normally in work or further study within 12 months of graduating. Students on the course develop problem solving skills that are transferrable to employment, both in Computer Security and outside of the industry. Students have gained employment recently with GCHQ, Microsoft, Google, Ratheon, BT and Very. Students who continue onto further study have either started a masters’ course, PGCE or a PhD.

Program Outline

Modules

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Year one

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Programming

Professional Practice

Data Modelling

Introduction to Computer Forensics and Security

Problem Solving for Computer Security

Introduction to Web Development

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Year two

Compulsory modules

Group Project

Operating Systems

System Penetration Testing

Secure Software Development

Information Security Management

Options modules

Sandwich Year - Computer Security

Study Year Abroad - Computer Security

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Year three

Conmpulsory modules

Project

Network Forensics

Network Defence

Ethical Hacking

Applied Cryptography