Digitally enabled technologies and services support most aspects of modern life. Ensuring information is safe and services are kept running is the responsibility of cyber security practitioners and computer security experts.

The subject area is first in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

This course:

• addresses the advances in cyber security through an in-depth understanding of IT security, hacking, forensics, and the future and emerging technologies associated with this rapidly changing field
• provides opportunities to undertake real-life projects, preparing you for work within the industry
• provides opportunities to build and configure computer and networked systems, as well as the necessary support systems, to enable them to work effectively in a range of employment environments
• explores the issues associated with managing these types of systems and in particular the necessary aspects of network security
• offers the option of an Industrial Placement Year 

Digitally enabled technologies and services support most aspects of modern life. Ensuring information is safe and services are kept running is the responsibility of cyber security practitioners and computer security experts.

The subject area is first in Wales for learning opportunities and academic support (WGU analysis of unpublished 2019 NSS data).

This course:

• addresses the advances in cyber security through an in-depth understanding of IT security, hacking, forensics, and the future and emerging technologies associated with this rapidly changing field
• provides opportunities to undertake real-life projects, preparing you for work within the industry
• provides opportunities to build and configure computer and networked systems, as well as the necessary support systems, to enable them to work effectively in a range of employment environments
• explores the issues associated with managing these types of systems and in particular the necessary aspects of network security
• offers the option of an Industrial Placement Year 

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)

 Your first year contains essential fundamental material that is relevant in all of our computing programmes and supports your studies in years two and three. You will learn both subject-specific skills along with transferable skills, which will increase your employability prospects.

With the support of your tutors, you will learn about some of the essential facts, concepts, techniques, design process and context of computer science and security. You will also learn about hardware issues, including interfacing and data communications and their impact on the overall design and performance of computer-based systems.

MODULES 

• Computer Systems
• Managing Data
• Problem Solving with Programming
• Information and Systems Engineering
• Discrete Computational Methods
• Fundamentals of Networks and Security

 Year 2 (Level 5)

Your second year continues teaching you the fundamentals of the discipline as more specialist modules start to be introduced, such as the Cybersecurity and Forensics and Security in Context modules, which explore how computer systems can be configured to resist and identify cyber attacks. You will enhance your computing and investigative skills by applying them in laboratory and practical work, to areas that are relevant to the discipline of cyber security.

MODULES 

• Server Technology
• Networking: Scaling Networks
• Data Structures and Algorithms
• Responsible Computing
• Cybersecurity and Forensics
• Group Project

Optional Industrial Placement Year

YEAR 3 (LEVEL 6)

Once you reach your final year, you will further develop your skills through taught modules and research, with a focus on the latest developments in cyber security and study the specialist modules of Network Security and Ethical Hacking, both of which will prepare you to deal with a range of security threats and attacks. You will also undertake an individual final year project, which will help prepare you for the kind of tasks and situations you may encounter in the workplace. The final year practical and project work will further develop your in-depth specialist knowledge, understanding and practical skills within key areas of the discipline, as applied to the development of telecommunications systems and services using current and emerging technologies.

MODULES 

• IT Project Management
• Network Security
• Ethical Hacking
• Future Technologies
• Project

Part-time students will cover the same modules but their diet will vary depending upon their availability to attend the scheduled classes.