Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity - Special Track in Cyber Operations | School of Interdisciplinary Informatics

About the Cybersecurity Undergraduate Degree Program

The National Security Agency's (NSA) National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) program supports the President's “National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE): Building a Digital Nation” and furthers the goal of broadening the pool of skilled workers capable of supporting a cyber-secure nation. The University of Nebraska at Omaha Cybersecurity undergraduate degree program is one of the few NSA-certified CAE-CO universities in the nation and the only one in the state of Nebraska. As a result, UNO’s College of Information Science & Technology is able to offer undergraduate students majoring in Cybersecurity the option to pursue a specialized Cyber Operations (CO) track and complete the requirements set out by the NSA’s CAE-CO program. Successfully completing the CO track opens up a variety of new opportunities that are only available to students with this specialization.

Students who successfully complete the Cyber Operations track will have the designation recorded on their transcript in addition to receiving their regular Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity diploma.

The CAE-CO program is intended to be a highly technical, interdisciplinary, higher education program firmly grounded in computer science (CS), computer engineering (CE), and technical cybersecurity, with extensive opportunities for hands-on applications via labs/exercises. The track provides a particular emphasis on technologies and techniques related to specialized cyber operations (e.g. collection, exploitation, and response) to enhance the national security posture of our nation. These technologies and techniques are critical to intelligence, military, and law enforcement organizations authorized to perform these specialized operations.

Each student in the Cyber Operations track must complete 10 required knowledge units (KUs) and four out of 10 additional elective KUs that UNO offers. Some graduate-level courses (marked with * on the table below) are required for successful completion of the Cyber Operations track.

Required Knowledge Units (KU)	UNO courses that cover all the required KUs (updated 2023)
Low-Level Programming Languages	CYBR 2250 – Low-Level Programming CSCI 3710 -Intro to Digital Design
Software Reverse Engineering	CYBR 4450 – Host-Based Vulnerability Discovery
Operating System Theory	CSCI 4500 – Operating Systems
Networking	CSCI 3550 - Communication Networks CYBR 4460 – Network-Based Vulnerability Discovery
Cellular and Mobile Technologies	CYBR 4460 – Network-Based Vulnerability Discovery
Discrete Math and Algorithms	CSCI 2030 – Mathematical Foundations of CS CSCI 3320 - Data Structures
Overview of Cyber Defense	CYBR 4360 – Foundations of Cybersecurity
Security Fundamental Principles (i.e. “First Principles”)	CYBR 4360 – Foundations of Cybersecurity CYBR 8420 – Software Assurance *
Vulnerabilities	CYBR 4450 – Host-Based Vulnerability Discovery CYBR 4460 – Network-Based Vulnerability Discovery CYBR 8420 – Software Assurance * CYBR 4360 - Foundations of Cybersecurity
Legal and Ethics	CIST 3110 – Information Technology Ethics CYBR 3600 – Information Security Policy and Awareness PSCI 4260 – International Law

Elective Knowledge Units (KU) (Must choose any 4 out of 11)	Courses to fulfill corresponding elective knowledge units (Updated 2023)
Programmable Logic	CYBR 9460 – Security of Embedded Systems
Risk Management of Information Systems	No additional courses required
Computer Architecture (includes Logic Design)	CSCI 3710 - Intro to Digital Design CSCI 4350 – Computer Architecture
Microcontroller Design	CYBR 9460 – Security of Embedded Systems
Software Security Analysis	No additional courses required
Secure Software Development (Building Secure Software)	No additional courses required
Embedded Systems	CYBR 9460 – Security of Embedded Systems
Digital Forensics	CYBR 4380 – Digital Forensics
Applied Cryptography	CYBR 3570 – Cryptography
Industrial Control System (ICS)	CYBR 4440 – Industrial Control System Security
Offensive Cyber Operations	Not Applicable

National Security Agency (NSA) Summer Internship Program

Students who are eligible for security clearances (usually US Citizens) enrolled in the Cyber Operations track must apply to NSA summer intern program specially designed for Cyber Operations students. You may or may not end up doing but you must apply.

If you are selected and join, NSA pays interns a bi-weekly salary for the 12-week intern. Housing will be paid by you out of your salary. However, the agency does arrange for reduced price 3-4 bedroom apartments for interns which you may wish to use.

CAE INFORMATION

For more information about the Center of Academic Excellence see the link

Contact Information

Farida Majid
Director/Academic Advisor
Email: fmajid@unomaha.edu
Office: 176E PKI
Phone: 402.554.3819

Dr. William Mahoney
Professor of Cybersecurity
Email:wmahoney@unomaha.edu
Office: 281E PKI