Cyber Science Major

Cyber Science Major

Cyber Science

Major

The cyber science major offers five different tracks from which cadets can choose. The interdisciplinary curriculum across all tracks includes the study of data, software, hardware, connection, human, organizational, and societal factors that affect secure computer systems in cyberspace.

All Cyber Science Majors

Required Courses

The cyber science major is the study of the structure, behavior, and effective use of cyberspace in the presence of intelligent, adaptive, and evolving adversaries, both human and artificial. Cyberspace is made up of hardware, software, information, people, organizations, policies, and laws. Building on a common, 10-course foundation, this flexible major allows cadets to choose one of five tracks. The cyber science major is not intended to prepare cadets for commissioning in the cyber branch exclusively.   

Cyber science majors have a lab requirement component. To learn more about this area of study, visit the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Cybersecurity Track

An interdisciplinary study of people processes, and technology to assure operations in the face of cyberspace risks. 

 

Network Services Track

A course of study similar to a traditional information technology major focused on building and securing the networks and services fundamental to operating in cyberspace. 

 

Cyber Operations Track

A program of study that explores the low-level technical skills that enable offensive and defensive operations.  

 

Cyber-Physical Systems Track

A course of study that uniquely combines deep exploration of both hardware and software to exploit networked, physical systems that are controlled by algorithms. 

 

Machine Learning Track

A program of study that prepares cadets to gain insight using algorithmic tools that exploit large datasets and the internet of things (IoT). 

Required Courses

CS380 COMPUTER ORGANIZATION

CS400 PRO CONSIDERATIONS IN COMPUTING

CY300 PROGRAMMING FUNDAMENTALS

CY350 NETWORK ENGR & MGT

CY355 CYBER FOUNDATIONS - COMPUTING

CY450 CYBER SECURITY ENGINEERING

EE360 DIGITAL LOGIC W/ EMBEDDED SYS 

MA372 INTRODUCTION TO DISCRETE MATH

XE401 INTEGRATIVE SYSTEM DESIGN I 

XE402 INTEGRATIVE SYSTEM DESIGN II

 

Cybersecurity Track

Required Courses

CY383 SECURE INTERFACE DESIGN 

CY384 NETWORK SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING

CY394 CLOUD COMPUTING

CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS

CY465 ORGANIZATIONAL SECURITY

 

Sample Electives

CS384 DATA STRUCTURES

CS393 DATABASE SYSTEMS

CY385 CYBER ALGORITHMIC FOUNDATIONS

EE487 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT 

LW462 CYBER LAW

MA394 FUNDAMENTALS/NETWORK SCIENCE

MA464 APPLIED ALGEBRA W/ CRYPTOLOGY

PY326 CYBER ETHICS 

XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY

 

This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more, view the full Cyber Science:  Cybersecurity Major Curriculum.

 

Network Services Track

Required Courses

CY383 SECURE INTERFACE DESIGN 

CY384 NETWORK SYSTEMS PROGRAMMING

CY394 CLOUD COMPUTING

CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS

CS393 DATABASE SYSTEMS 

CS484 COMPUTER NETWORKS

CY392 NETWORK SERVICES MANAGEMENT

 

Sample Electives

CY385 CYBER ALGORITHMIC FOUNDATIONS

CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS

CY465 ORGANIZATIONAL SECURITY 

LW462 CYBER LAW 

PY326 CYBER ETHICS 

XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY

 

This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more, view the full Cyber Science:  Network Services Major Curriculum.

 

Cyber Operations Track

Required Courses

CS384 DATA STRUCTURES

CS403 SOFTWARE TESTING & DEVELOPMENT

CS481 OPERATING SYSTEMS

EE487 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

MA464 APPLIED ALGEBRA W/ CRYPTOLOGY

CS483 DIGITAL FORENSICS

CS484 COMPUTER NETWORKS

CY385 CYBER ALGORITHMIC FOUNDATIONS

CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS

 

This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more, view the full Cyber Science:  Cyber Operations Major Curriculum.

 

Cyber-Physical Systems Track

Required Courses

CS384 DATA STRUCTURES

CS403 SOFTWARE TESTING & DEVELOPMENT

CS481 OPERATING SYSTEMS

EE487 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

MA464 APPLIED ALGEBRA W/ CRYPTOLOGY

EE302 INTRO ELECTRICAL ENGIN 

XE472 DYNAMIC MODELING AND CONTROL 

MA205 CALCULUS II

 

Sample Electives

CY385 CYBER ALGORITHMIC FOUNDATIONS

CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS

CY465 ORGANIZATIONAL SECURITY 

LW462 CYBER LAW 

PY326 CYBER ETHICS 

XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY

 

This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more, view the full Cyber Science:  Cyber-Physical Systems Major Curriculum.

 

Machine Learning Track

Required Courses

CS384 DATA STRUCTURES

CS403 SOFTWARE TESTING & DEVELOPMENT

CS481 OPERATING SYSTEMS

EE487 EMBEDDED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT

MA464 APPLIED ALGEBRA W/ CRYPTOLOGY

CS486 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 

MA477 THEORY & APPL OF DATA SCIENCE 

MA376 APPLIED STATISTICS

 

Sample Electives

CY385 CYBER ALGORITHMIC FOUNDATIONS

CY460 CYBER POLICY, STRATEGY, & OPNS

CY465 ORGANIZATIONAL SECURITY 

LW462 CYBER LAW 

PY326 CYBER ETHICS 

XH341 INTEL CYBER HISTORY

 

This major offers an honors track. 

 

To learn more, view the full Cyber Science:  Machine Learning Major Curriculum.

 

Cadets in this major will have the opportunity to participate in a number of academic clubs, honor societies, and Academic Individual Advanced Development (AIAD) program, USMA-run academic enrichment experience.

Honor Societies:
Upsilon Pi Epsilon - International Honor Society for the Computing and Information Disciplines
Golden Key - International Honour Society
Phi Kappa Phi - Oldest and Largest Collegiate Honor Society

To learn more about enrichment for this area of study, visit the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science or the Army Cyber Institute.