NCS 511         Information Assurance Fundamentals (3)

Introduction to the field of information assurance with a focus on management issues. Topics include an overview of data, computer, and network security fundamentals, including threats and countermeasures. Topics given detailed coverage include risk management, disaster recovery, business continuity planning, legal and regulatory issues, and operations security.

 NCS 515        Linux Networking (3)

Covers the command line, shell scripting, system administration, and networking services for the Linux operating system.  System administration topics include the Linux command line usage, managing users, shell scripting, system services, system hardening, and software installation.  Linux networking topics include networking services DNS, SSH, DHCP, routing, and security.

 NCS 521         Data Communications (3)

Data communications is a rigorous treatment of advanced topics in the technology of communicating digital information over public and private communications facilities. The topics include general principles, LANs, WANs, and related topics. These topics are covered in: lectures, individual exercises, team exercises, and interactive competitive team projects.

NCS 522         Network Administration (3)

This course is designed to provide students with the foundations, advanced level knowledge and skills in system administration in the UNIX and MS Windows server environments. Students will gain an understanding of core system administration topics and techniques and acquire the ability to identify major tasks in administering server systems, manage primary services on the system, employ basic security and performance tuning techniques, and troubleshoot common system problems.

NCS 531         Computer Security (3)

Investigation and detailed study of computer security principles, mechanisms and implementations to ensure data protection and security of computers systems; Course will focus on computer security issues in both UNIX and Windows operating systems, database security, understand the systems issues in building secure computing platforms, computer security threats and attacks, including vulnerabilities in the password authentication system, file system, virtual memory system, and learn how to respond to potential violations. Specific topics to be examined include access control, security policies, entity authentication, defense methods against malicious logic and writing secure programs. Prerequisite: NCS 511.

 NCS 532         Network Intrusion Prevention and Detection (3)

This course is a fast paced examination of the specialized security field of firewalls and intrusion detection systems (IDS). The course provides more detailed background and need for firewalls and IDS. Specific topics to be covered include firewall designs/architectures, configuring PIX, VPN, Host-based and Network-based IDS. Prerequisite: NCS 541.

NCS 541         Network Security (3)

Covers network security from a practical perspective, focusing on securing an organization’s network with L2 and L3 security best practices. Topics covered include layer 2 network segmentation, layer 3 router/firewall configuration, IPsec, SSL/TLS, SSH, authentication services, IDS/IPS systems, and VPN configuration basics. Lab exercises will provide students with hands-on experience in network security technologies. Prerequisites: NCS 511 and NCS 521.

NCS 542         Advanced Network Protocols and Standards (3)

A rigorous course covering the principles, standards, and practices of data communications protocols with emphasis on the TCP/IP protocol suite. The topics will include: reference model, Network Access layer protocols, Internet layer protocols, Transport layer protocols, and Application layer protocols. These topics are covered in: lectures, individual assignments, on-line assignments and an interactive competitive team project. Prerequisite: NCS 521 or permission of instructor.

NCS 543         Secure Protocols (3)

Advanced study of cryptographic security protocols to provide TCP/IP security at various layers of the network protocol stack. Topics include protocols for network authentication, Key Exchange, Key Management, link layer security, routing security (IPSec), transport and application layer security, including (SSL/TLS, SSH, PGP), and security protocols in wireless networks. Prerequisites: NCS 541.

NCS 552         VolP and Multimedia Security (3)

This is an advanced level course on multimedia traffic security. It reviews the general knowledge and techniques for streaming data traffic, such as VolP and multimedia. The security challenge unique to such traffic will be discussed, such as disruption of service, theft of service, and violation of confidentiality. The relevant data encryption and communication parties authentication techniques will be covered. Prerequisite: NCS 541.

NCS 553         Internet of Things Security (3)

Investigates the emerging topic of Internet-of-Things (loT) and the (in)security of these devices. Topics such as loT in the enterprise, loT vulnerabilities, and loT attacks and countermeasures are covered in detail. Emerging topics will be covered as students read, review, and make presentations on recently published loT security research papers. Selected hands-on activities, including group projects, will offer students practical experience in the field.

NCS 562         Wireless and Mobile Networks (3)

The course is an advanced introduction to principles, standards, and practices of wireless and mobile communications. Specific topics include fundamentals of radio propagation and channel models; signal processing in wireless systems; error control and coding; Cellular technologies, spread spectrum techniques; satellite communications; wireless LANs and Bluetooth. Basic knowledge of networking assumed.

NCS 563         Wireless Security (3)

Provides advanced coverage of wireless networks and the special security problems they pose. Topics include measures taken to secure wireless personal area networks (PANs), wireless local area networks (LANs), cellular wireless networks, and ad-hoc wireless networks. Threats, vulnerabilities and countermeasures specific to each type of network will be enumerated and studied in detail. The treatment of ad-hoc wireless network security will cover secure routing protocols and intrusion detection systems. Prerequisites: NCS 541, NCS 562.

NCS 570         Penetration Testing (3)

Students will develop the core skills and techniques that penetration testers use to perform security evaluations of networks and computing systems. Using a virtual machine-based lab that includes Kali Linux and vulnerable operating systems such as Metasploitable, WinXP, Win7 that are loaded with vulnerable versions of software, we’ll run through a series of practical lessons with tools like MetaSploit, Wireshark, Nmap, and Burp Suite. Students will study and gain hands-on experience with key stages of an actual assessment; including information gathering, finding exploitable vulnerabilities, gaining access to systems, post exploitation, and more. Additional topics may include web application pentesting, bypassing antivirus, mobile application pentesting and buffer-overflows in Windows and Linux.

NCS 590         Special Topics in Network and Computer Security (3)

An in-depth study of selected topics based on: new developments in the field, more in-depth treatment of topics than covered in regular courses, or topics not normally covered in a graduate program in Network and Computer Security.

NCS 597         Research Project (Variable 1-3)

Upon the approval of the advisor, students will research, design, solve and implement a graduate project. The students must complete a total of 3 credits of Research Project to fulfill the degree requirements.

NCS 598         Seminar in Research Methods (3)

Reviews the major considerations and tasks involved in designing and conducting a thesis or research project in Network and Computer Security.  The goal is for students who successfully complete the course to be able to produce and defend the methodology of his or her proposed research, be ready to carry out the various tasks involved in doing the research, and to find the resources to guide them through their research.  The theme throughout the course will be on comparing and/or combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to research.

NCS 599         Thesis Research (Variable 1-6)

Upon approval of the advisor, the student will research and write an original work on a significant topic in the field of Network and Computer Security. The students must complete a total of 6 credits of Thesis Research to fulfill the degree requirements.