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Cybersecurity Ph.D.

Emphasis Admissions Requirements: Upper-division undergraduate coursework in data structures and introductory systems programming. The equivalent courses at Boise State are CS 253 and CS 321.

Cybersecurity Degree Plan

Degree Requirements

  • COMPUT 601 Introduction to Graduate Studies (1 credit)

Required Core Courses (9 credits):

  • CYBER 500 Introduction to Cybersecurity (3 credits)

Select two of the following groups and take at least one course from that section (in total two courses from different groups).

Complete two of the following groups.

Cryptography
Take at least one of the following:

  • CS 567 Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
  • MATH 508 Foundations of Cryptographic Computing (3 credits)
  • MATH 509 Symmetric Key Cryptography and Cryptanalysis (3 credits)
  • MATH 510 Quantum and Post Quantum Cryptography (3 credits)

Software
Take the following:

  • CS 575 Software Security (3 credits)

Networks
Take the following:

  • CS 622 Advanced Network Security (3 credits)

Cyber-Physical Systems
Take at least one of the following:

  • CS 523 Cyber-Physical Systems (3 credits)
  • CS 524 Cyber Security of Critical Infrastructures (3 credits)

Forensics
Take the following:

  • CS 547 Digital Forensics (3 credits)

Elective Courses (19 credits):

  • Must be approved by the supervisory committee and Computing Program directors. Pre-approved electives and specific requirements are provided in the Computing PhD Student Handbook

Comprehensive Exam (1 credit):

  • COMPUT 691 Doctoral Comprehensive Examination (1 credit)

Dissertation (30 credits):

  • COMPUT 693 Dissertation (30 credits)

Total Credits: 60

Content on this page is provided as a quick reference for planning. All official degree requirements are published on the Graduate Catalog site.