Instructor: Rhett Saunders
Email: 📧 rsaunde2@uccs.edu
Phone: 📱 719-200-1539
Office Location: 🏢 TBD
Office Hours: 🕒 TBD
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Email: 📧 TBD
TA Office Location: 🏢 TBD
TA Office Hours: 🕒 TBD
This course introduces the fundamental concepts, principles, and practices in computer security. Students will learn about basic cryptography, user authentication, access control, malicious software, network attacks and protection, software security, and operating system security.
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- 🔑 Understand and apply basic cryptographic principles and tools
- 🔒 Explain and implement user authentication and access control
- 🦠 Identify and analyze malicious software and network attacks
- 🛡️ Evaluate and apply protection mechanisms for software and operating systems
- ☁️ Discuss and implement database and cloud security
- 🤝 Analyze ethical issues and responsible disclosure in cybersecurity
- 🔬 Complete a hands-on project in cybersecurity
- 💻 CS 3160 (Concepts of Programming Languages)
- 🧩 CS 3300 (Software Engineering)
- 🔄 Or instructor consent
📕 Computer Security: Principles and Practice (4th Edition) by William Stallings and Lawrie Brown
ISBN-13: 9780134794105
Canvas
Access to a computer and internet for coursework and Canvas
This course is delivered via Canvas and in-person class meetings.
Modules/weeks start on Monday at 12:00am and end Sunday at 11:59pm.
All graded work is due Sunday at 11:59pm unless otherwise noted.
| Week | Date | Reading | Topics | Deliverable Due Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25-Aug | Course Overview | ||
| 1 | 27-Aug | Ch. 1 | Computer Security Overview Part 1 | Week 1 Discussion (due 8/31) |
| 2 | 2-Sep | No class (Labor Day) | ||
| 2 | 4-Sep | Ch. 1 | Computer Security Overview Part 2 | Week 2 Discussion (due 9/7) |
| 3 | 8-Sep | Ch. 2 | Cryptographic Tools Part 1 | |
| 3 | 10-Sep | Ch. 2 | Cryptographic Tools Part 2 | Week 3 Discussion (due 9/14) |
| 4 | 15-Sep | Ch. 3 | User Authentication | |
| 4 | 17-Sep | Ch. 4 | Access Control | Week 4 Discussion & Assignment 1 (due 9/21) |
| 5 | 22-Sep | Information Theory & Complexity Part 1 | ||
| 5 | 24-Sep | Exam 1 Review | Week 5 Discussion & Exam 1 (due 9/28) | |
| 6 | 29-Sep | Information Theory & Complexity Part 2 | ||
| 6 | 1-Oct | Ch. 5 | Database & Cloud Security Part 1 | Week 6 Discussion (due 10/5) |
| 7 | 6-Oct | Database & Cloud Security Part 2 | ||
| 7 | 8-Oct | Malicious Software Part 1 | Week 7 Discussion & Assignment 2 (due 10/12) | |
| 8 | 13-Oct | Ch. 6 | Malicious Software Part 2 | |
| 8 | 15-Oct | Capture the Flag Part 1 | Week 8 Discussion (due 10/19) | |
| 9 | 20-Oct | Capture the Flag Part 2 | ||
| 9 | 22-Oct | Denial of Service Attacks | Week 9 Discussion (due 10/26) | |
| 10 | 27-Oct | Ch. 7 | Intrusion Detection | |
| 10 | 29-Oct | Ch. 8 | AI and Security | Week 10 Discussion & Assignment 3 (due 11/2) |
| 11 | 3-Nov | Intrusion Prevention | ||
| 11 | 5-Nov | Ch. 9 | Exam 2 Review | Week 11 Discussion, Exam 2 (due 11/9) |
| 12 | 10-Nov | Buffer Overflow | ||
| 12 | 12-Nov | Ch. 10 | Blockchain and Application | Week 12 Discussion (due 11/16) |
| 13 | 17-Nov | Cryptocurrency | ||
| 13 | 19-Nov | Ethics & Responsible Disclosure | Week 13 Discussion (due 11/23) | |
| 14 | 24-Nov | No class (Thanksgiving Break) | ||
| 14 | 26-Nov | No class (Thanksgiving Break) | Thanksgiving Break | |
| 15 | 1-Dec | Software Security Part 1 | ||
| 15 | 3-Dec | Ch. 11 | Software Security Part 2 | Week 14 Discussion & Assignment 4 (due 12/7) |
| 16 | 8-Dec | Blue and Red Team Demonstration | ||
| 16 | 10-Dec | Purple Team Demonstration | Week 15 Discussion & Course Project (due 12/14) | |
| 17 | 15-Dec | Final Exam Review 1 | Final Exam (due 12/19) | |
| 17 | 17-Dec | Final Exam Review 2 | Final Exam (due 12/19) |
Detailed assignment instructions and due dates are posted on Canvas. Schedule may be adjusted as needed.
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 10% |
| Assignments | 30% |
| Discussions | 10% |
| Exam 1 | 7.5% |
| Exam 2 | 7.5% |
| Course Project | 20% |
| Final Exam | 15% |
| Total | 100% |
- 🏆 A: 93-100
- 🥇 A-: 90-92.9
- 🥈 B+: 87-89.9
- 🥉 B: 83-86.9
- 📝 B-: 80-82.9
- 📝 C+: 77-79.9
- 📝 C: 73-76.9
- 📝 C-: 70-72.9
⚠️ D+: 67-69.9⚠️ D: 60-66.9- ❌ F: <60
Homework: 📚 Complete individually unless otherwise specified. Write your own answers and code.
Late Policy: ⏰ 10% deduction per day late.
Exams: 📋 Three Canvas take-home exams; Exams 1 & 2 start at 7:20pm and are due the following Sunday by 11:59pm. Final exam starts after 7:20pm on 12/17 and is due Friday 12/19 by 11:59pm.
- 👥 Two-person teams
- 🔐 Must be in cybersecurity and include a hands-on component
- 📋 Deliverables: Final Presentation, Demo Video, and IEEE Format Report (3 pages)
- 📚 Project resources available in repository:
- Course Project Instructions - Complete guidelines and requirements
- Detailed Grading Rubric - 100-point evaluation criteria
- Project Report Template - IEEE format structure
- PowerPoint Template - Presentation structure
- Video Demo Guide - Video creation instructions
Plagiarism/Cheating:
AI Tools: 🤖 If you use AI, you are responsible for accuracy and must properly cite any AI-generated content.
Example APA citation:
OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT [Language model]. OpenAI. https://openai.com/chatgpt
(In-text: (OpenAI, 2025))
- 🗣️ Participate in all class activities and discussions
- ⏱️ Spend a minimum of 3-4 hours per week on coursework
- 📧 Check UCCS email and Canvas regularly
- 💬 Practice netiquette and civility
- 📤 Submit assignments on time via Canvas
- 📜 Know policies for late/missed work
- 🙋 Seek help as needed
Disability Services: 🧩 Main Hall 105, 719-255-3354, dservice@uccs.edu, Disability Services
Military Students: 🎖️ Contact instructor by week 1 for attendance policy considerations, Veteran and Military Affairs
Student Code of Conduct: 📜 UCCS Student Conduct
Withdrawal: 🚪 Withdrawal Policies
Technology Help: 💻 Canvas Support 844-802-9230 | Canvas Live Chat | UCCS Helpdesk 719-255-3536 | IT Help
Academic Help: 📚 Excel Centers | Online Services
Advising: 🧭 Academic Advising
Student Wellbeing: 🧠 Mental Health Screenings | Wellness Center: 719-255-4444
Preferred Contact: 📧 Email (rsaunde2@uccs.edu)
Response Time: ⏱️ Within 24 hours for emails; graded work/feedback within 5 business days
For all course updates, assignments, and resources, refer to the Canvas course page. If you have any questions or need accommodations, contact the instructor as early as possible.