B.S. in Network and Computer Security

Bachelor of Science Degree

Cybersecurity professionals are in high demand throughout industry and government sectors. SUNY Poly’s Network and Computer Security (NCS) program provides graduates with a thorough understanding of the technologies used to provide and secure modern network and computing infrastructures. Core courses provide a firm background in information security principles, data communications networks, and computer system security, while the wide range of electives enables a customized program to be developed.

Typical job titles in information security:

Information Assurance/Security Specialist
Security Analyst
Security Researcher
Security Engineer
Network Security Engineer
Information Security and Risk Specialist

Mission Statement

The mission of the Network and Computer Security (NCS) program at SUNY Poly is to provide quality undergraduate studies in the field of cybersecurity, a field broadly encompassing network security, computer security, data security, and operational security. The goals of the program are to prepare students for employment and advancement opportunities in cybersecurity, including the Information Technology (IT) and information assurance research sectors. Our graduates will help address society’s growing need for cybersecurity experts. This program values and encourages academic and intellectual achievement of the highest quality and the technical competencies the cybersecurity field is based upon. The faculty is committed to the integration of these elements into a coherent program of higher education.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates from SUNY Polytechnic’s Network and Computer Security BS program are expected to attain the following educational objectives within a few years of graduation:

  1. Be engaged in a career in the field, utilizing knowledge and skills acquired in the program.
  2. Be effective collaborators working with team members to solve real-world problems in the field.
  3. Be engaged in the pursuit of life-long learning and professional development, making positive contributions to their professions and society.

Student Outcomes

Students who successfully complete the BS-NCS program graduation requirements will, at the time of graduation:

  1. Understand the fundamental principles that underlie the design and operation of modern data communications networks.
  2. Apply fundamental knowledge in cybersecurity to form a basis for designing, implementing and analyzing secure data networking and information technology systems.
  3. Have a fundamental understanding of security concepts as applied to real-world network provisioning techniques on system components such as switches, routers, firewalls, and wireless access points.
  4. Perform independent research, reporting results orally and in effective technical documents.

B.S. in Network and Computer Security (NCS) — 124 total credits

Students shall satisfy the requirements listed below.

I. SUNY General Education Requirements (30 credits)

All SUNY students must satisfy the following requirements.

No fewer than 30 credits must be attained from the SUNY approved General Education Course List with the following provisions:

  • Mathematics (see NCS specific requirements below)
  • Basic Communication (ENG 101 or equivalent)

At least five (5) out of the following eight (8) SUNY General Education categories:

      • Natural Science
      • Social Science
      • American History
      • Western Civilization
      • Other World Civilization
      • Humanities
      • The Arts
      • Foreign Language

NOTE: You may take more than one course in a given category to complete this 30 credit hour requirement, but you must also satisfy the appropriate number of categories.

II. Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements 

The New York State Education Department (SED) requires a student earning a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree to attain no fewer than 60 credits of combined SUNY General Education and Liberal Arts/Sciences courses. There may be overlap between courses meeting both the SUNY General Education Requirements and Liberal Arts/Sciences Requirements, but a student may receive course credits only once even if multiple requirements are satisfied by a single course. The total number of combined credit hours must be no fewer than 60 credits.

SUNY Poly degree requirements:

Natural Sciences

  • One General Education Natural Science course.

Upper-Division Writing Course

  • See the Catalog descriptions of COM and ENG courses to find specific courses that satisfy this requirement.

Specific requirements for NCS majors include:

Mathematics, Science, and Oral Communications

  • MAT 112/151 Calculus
  • STA 100/225 Statistics
  • MAT 115/413 Finite/Discrete Math (Minimum grade of “C” required for this course or its transfer equivalent.)
  • COM 200 Principles of Speech Communication and Public Speaking

  • A General Education Natural Science course that incorporates a lab.

III. Professional Coursework

To earn a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Network and Computer Security, a student must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in their professional coursework.

A. Core Courses (6 courses)

  • CS 108 Computing Fundamentals (Minimum grade of “C” required for this course or its transfer equivalent.)
  • NCS 181 Introduction to Cybersecurity
  • NCS 205 Introduction to Linux
  • NCS 210 Network Transmission Technology
  • CS 220 Computer Organization
  • CS 240 Data Structures and Algorithms

B. Intermediate Coursework (5 courses)

  • NCS 315 Networking and Information Systems
  • NCS 320 Information Assurance Fundamentals
  • IS 320 Systems Analysis and Design
  • NCS 330 Information Assurance Ethics, Policies and Disaster Recovery
  • NCS 350 Wireless Systems and Security

C. Advanced Electives (3 courses)

Must include 2 NCS courses taken at SUNY Poly

  • NCS 316 Data Network Design
  • NCS 384 Network Intrusion Detection
  • NCS 416 Digital and Internet Telephony
  • NCS 425 Internetworking
  • NCS 430 Penetration Testing
  • NCS 435 Computer and Network Forensics
  • NCS 440 Virtualization
  • NCS 450 Network Security
  • NCS 460 Advanced Wireless Security
  • NCS 470 Reverse Engineering
  • NCS 480 Internet of Things Security
  • NCS 490 Special Topics in Network and Computer Security
  • NCS 494 Network and Computer Security Internship

Courses marked with * have CS course prerequisites beyond NCS degree requirements.

  • CS 370* Software Engineering
  • CS 381* Computer Security and Cryptography
  • CS 407* UNIX System Administration
  • CS 441* Computer Systems Architecture
  • CS 445* UNIX Network Programming
  • CS 454* System Simulation
  • CS 477* Algorithms
  • IS 340* E-Commerce
  • IS 470* Database Programming

D. Capstone 2 credits

  • NCS 495 Network and Computer Security Capstone

IV. Open Electives: Balance of 124

Additional coursework as required totaling 124 credits.

This program requires first-year students to purchase a laptop for use in classes and labs. The faculty feel that laptops are an important tool for a student’s education. Details regarding laptop specifications will be sent to new admitted students prior to enrollment.