Cyber Security (with foundation year) BSc (Hons)

Program Overview

This four-year BSc (Hons) Cyber Security program at Nottingham Trent University equips students with practical skills and knowledge in programming, engineering, and security to excel in the field. The coursework covers fundamental principles of cyber security, computer forensics, and system management, preparing graduates for careers as security analysts, forensic consultants, and other cyber security professionals. Students benefit from research-informed teaching, industry-standard software, and access to specialized facilities that enhance their learning experience.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program, BSc (Hons) Cyber Security (with foundation year), is designed to equip students with the practical skills and knowledge in programming, maths, and engineering needed to succeed in the field of cyber security. The program aims to enable students to identify security risks and preventative measures in technological solutions. Students will learn the basic principles and practices of collecting computer data as evidence of computer crime and how systems operate in terms of their software and hardware infrastructure. They will also learn how to manage such systems as a system administrator specializing in ensuring security.

Outline:

The program is a four-year full-time program offered at Nottingham Trent University's Clifton Campus. It is structured as follows:

Year One:

• Introductory Mathematics (20 credit points): This module introduces important mathematical ideas, including algebraic rearrangement, trigonometry, vectors, descriptive statistics, integration, and differentiation.
• Computational Mathematics (20 cp): This module provides a hands-on introduction to ideas and skills that cross mathematics, physics, and computing.
Students will learn about mathematical ideas like matrices and how physical systems can be represented mathematically using software such as Excel and Matlab.
• Introduction to Programming (20 cp): This module teaches students how to design, code, test, and debug basic Python language programs.
It covers the basics of Python, such as text strings, loops, and functions, and introduces math-related Python libraries such as pandas, scipy.stats, and matplotlib. Laboratory-based sessions provide practical knowledge and experience.
• Practical and Professional Skills (40 cp): This module aims to bridge the gap between theoretical modules and their practical implementation.
It covers professional skills such as interpreting coursework requirements, exam and revision techniques, note-taking, and referencing.
• Essential Skills (20 cp): This module develops the skills required to succeed in a computing degree.
Students will learn how to confidently deal with numerical aspects of their course and practice their web publishing skills by creating and formatting basic web documentation.
• Systems Technology (20 cp): This module teaches students the key principles, underlying technologies, and practical application of computer networks.
It introduces embedded systems, fundamentals, operation, and hardware components.
• Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) (20 cp): This module introduces students to the fundamental principles of SAD, providing a working knowledge of key systems, development methodologies, techniques, and tools.
• Professional Development for Industry (20 cp): This module enables students to learn about professional bodies and standards relating to the computing profession and enhance their employability potential by increasing their awareness of the technological, social, and economic factors driving the IT industry.
• Network Design and Administration (20 cp): This module focuses on network infrastructure, which has become key to the effective operation of most organizations.
Students will learn to plan, configure, and manage networking solutions to support business needs.
• Cyber Security (20 cp): This module teaches students how to manage the security of computer-based information and systems within organizations and develop the ability to make informed choices based on business drivers.
• Distributed Network Architectures and Operating Systems (20 cp): This module introduces operating systems running on single machines and how they can be put together to form a large-scale system comprising many networked machines.

Year Three:

• Practical Project Management and Professional Development (20 cp): This module emphasizes continued professional development and lifelong learning.
Students will improve their time and project management skills, presentations, and report writing.
• Project (40 cp): This module involves investigating problems in computing, implementing solutions, critically evaluating and reflecting on work, and developing abilities to communicate, self-organize, and manage.
• Digital Investigations (20 cp): This module teaches students how to plan for computer crime in the corporate environment, the legal issues associated with the events and their investigation, and techniques for acquiring and handling potential evidence.
• Advanced Topics in Cyber Security (20 cp): This module studies emerging and future developments in computer security, reflecting current topics such as IoT security, applications of cryptography, anonymity and privacy-enhancing technologies, and big data analysis for security.
• Choose one of the following modules:
• Service-centric and Cloud Computing (20 cp):
This module focuses on the design and implementation of object-based distributed solutions for building interoperable large-scale applications and analyzing the quality of service.
• Internet of Things (20 cp): This module studies a range of current and emerging wireless and mobile devices and their application to build an IoT system.
• Business Analysis (20 cp): This module explores two challenging aspects of implementing distributed computing systems in Service-Oriented Architectures (SOA).
• Communicating Science and Technology (20 cp): This module provides an opportunity for students to gain valuable transferable skills working as a ‘student-tutor’ with teachers in local schools or to work on a community-based project.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed through a variety of components, including:

• Coursework and practical (assignments, dissertation, group projects, oral presentations, reports)
• Written (exams, written tests)

Teaching:

• Students will attend lectures and seminars across various buildings on the Clifton Campus, including:
• ISTeC Building
• Teaching and Learning Building
• Erasmus Darwin Building
• The program utilizes research-informed teaching, meaning that the research being conducted at the university informs the subjects students will be studying.

Careers:

Graduates of this program are highly sought after and can pursue a variety of careers, including:

• Security analyst
• Forensic consultant
• Network administrator
• Cyber Security Analyst
• Business Analyst
• Product Consultant
• Cyber security network designer
• Further study on one of NTU's Masters-level courses or MPhil and PhD research degrees.

Other:

• The School of Science and Technology provides facilities that enhance the quality of education and push the boundaries of research.
Students have access to specialist centers, including:
• Games console laboratories
• Networking and security laboratories
• Human-interactive technology and stereo-projection
• Students also enjoy working with the latest software, including:
• EnCase
• 3D StudioMax
• The Adobe Creative Suite (Flash, After Effects, Photoshop)
• The Unreal and Half-life Games Engines
• NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, provides support to help students create, develop, and grow their own businesses.