Bachelor of Cyber Security

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Cyber Security
Deakin course code	S334
Faculty	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Online	Yes
Duration	3 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024 This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 2 2024 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	091336M Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Cyber security threats are a rapidly growing global challenge for individuals and businesses alike. Secure technology is not only pivotal to business, but to everyday life. As a result, cyber security professionals are in high demand around the world. Deakin’s Bachelor of Cyber Security equips you with the essential skills to investigate and combat cybercrime and cyber terrorism. You will graduate with the expertise to tackle one of the fastest growing criminal threats to modern-day society.

Gain practical and theoretical knowledge with an emphasis on assessing cyber security in a working environment, and the business, ethical and legal implications of risk management. You will cover areas such as computer crime and digital forensics and gain the skills to identify, diagnose and manage the challenges of cyber security. As a graduate, you will be well prepared for an exciting career in one of the most in-demand global industries.

Are you ready to join the fight against cyber crime?

Rise to the challenge of cyber crime with a world class degree from a university ranked in the top 1% globally for computer science and information systems.*

This course equips you with the skills demanded by a diverse range of industry and government sectors, covering areas such as:

computer crime and digital forensics
evaluating software for security vulnerabilities
designing secure databases
securing operating systems
assessing and reinforcing the security of websites
integrating security requirements into new developments
designing secure network architectures
performing risk assessments and responding to cyber security incidents.

With access to our specialised capstone project and co-working space, you will collaborate with your teammates on your capstone project, develop solutions to real-world problems from industry and learn agile project management methods, which are widely used across the industry. Our past students have collaborated on capstone projects such as:

is my smart home secure enough?
virtual penetration testing lab
one-time pad (OTP) VPN
voice activated password security
secure Australian online voting system.

This course also includes a core IT work placement unit, where you will undertake a minimum of 100 hours of professional work experience with an approved host organisation. You may also have the opportunity to access one of 50 guaranteed employment placements with banks, including partnerships with NAB, ANZ and Dimension Data. You will work on industry projects and gain experience in entrepreneurship and business skills.

This experience ensures you will be well-prepared to apply your learning in the workplace and deal with imminent threats and challenges emerging in the digital space.

*2022 SHanghaiRankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

Indicative student workload

You can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Professional recognition

The Bachelor of Cyber Security is professionally accredited with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

Career opportunities

Graduate with the skills needed to thrive in a booming industry and help secure our digital future. Australian Government employment projections predict a 38.9% growth for Database and Systems administrators and ICT Security specialists for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026*. Take advantage of this huge demand for cyber security specialists with the Bachelor of Cyber Security at Deakin.

As a graduate you may find employment in one of the following roles:

cyber security analyst
network security analyst
cyber threat analyst
incident responder
operations coordinator
penetration tester
cyber security advisor
vulnerability researcher
cyber security consultant
information security auditor
IT security engineer
digital forensics analyst
project manager
cyber security system developer or programmer
cyber security system manager.

*Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026

Participation requirements

Placement can occur at any time, including during standard holiday breaks. Learn about key dates at Deakin.

Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Mandatory student checks

Any unit which contains work integrated learning, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, Working with Children Check or other check.

Equipment requirements

Student equipment purchases

The learning experiences and assessment activities within this course require that students have access to a range of technologies beyond a desktop computer or laptop. Students will be required to purchase minor equipment, such as small single board computers, microcontrollers and sensors, which will be used within a range of units in this course. This equipment is also usable by the student beyond their studies. Equipment requirements and details of suppliers will be provided on a per-unit basis. The indicative cost of this equipment for this course is AUD$500.

For information regarding hardware and software requirements, please refer to the School of Information Technology.

Combined courses

The Bachelor of Cyber Security is also available as the following combined courses

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place. For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Develop a broad, coherent knowledge of the IT discipline including its dynamic environment, with detailed knowledge of project management principles and in depth knowledge in IT Security. Design, develop and implement IT systems and software, and associated policies and procedures for optimal use and apply industry standards and best practice in one or more specialised areas of IT. Acquire in-depth knowledge and skills to develop, implement and manage security solutions for systems, networks, and data according to industry-accepted standards and best practice.
Communication	Communicate in an IT context to inform, motivate and effect change utilising a range of verbal, graphical and written methods, recognising the needs of diverse audiences.
Digital literacy	Utilise a range of digital technologies and information sources to discover, analyse, evaluate, select, process and disseminate both technical and non-technical information.
Critical thinking	Evaluate specialist IT information using critical and analytical thinking, technical skills and well-developed judgement to identify problems, analyse user requirements and propose solutions.
Problem solving	Apply theoretical constructs and skills and critical analysis to real-world and ill-defined problems and develop innovative IT solutions.
Self-management	Apply knowledge and skills to new situations in professional practice and/or further learning in the field of IT with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner. Apply understanding of reflective practice and self-critique skills within broad parameters to plan for their own future continuing professional development.
Teamwork	Apply the principles of effective teamwork as a member of diverse IT teams to demonstrate responsibility for own learning within broad parameters.
Global citizenship	Apply professional and ethical standards and accountability for own learning to the development, design, construction and management of localised IT solutions.

Approved by Faculty Board 2 June 2022

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Cyber Security, students must attain 24 credit points, which must include the following:

DAI001 Academic Integrity Module (0-credit point compulsory unit)
SIT010 Safety Induction Program (0-credit point compulsory unit)
STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)
thirteen (13) credit points of core units
three (3) credit points of Cyber Security capstone units
four (4) credit points from a minor sequence
four (4) credit points of open elective units
six (6) credit points at level 3.

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.

Minor sequences

Refer to the details of each minor sequence for availability.

Core

Year 1 -Trimester 1

SIT102

Introduction to Programming

SIT111

Computer Systems

SIT182

Real World Practices for Cyber Security

SIT192

Discrete Mathematics

DAI001

Academic Integrity Module (0 credit points)

SIT010

Safety Induction Program (0 credit points)

STP010

Career Tools for Employability (0 credit points)

Year 1 - Trimester 2

SIT202

Computer Networks and Communication

SIT232

Object-Oriented Development

Plus one open elective unit (one credit point)

Plus one minor unit (one credit point)

Year 2 - Trimester 1

SIT282

Computer Forensics and Investigations #

SIT384

Cyber Security Analytics

Plus one open elective unit (one credit point)

Plus one minor unit (one credit point)

Year 2 - Trimester 2

SIT218

Secure Coding

SIT223

Professional Practice in Information Technology

Plus one open elective unit (one credit point)

Plus one minor unit (one credit point)

Year 3 - Trimester 1

SIT324

Malware Analysis

SIT327

Network Forensics

Plus one minor unit (one credit point)

Plus one (1) credit point from the following capstone options:

SIT374

Team Project (A) - Project Management and Practices ^~ OR

One (1) SIT elective unit

Year 3 - Trimester 2

SIT379

Ethical Hacking

Plus one open elective unit (one credit point)

Plus two (2) credit points from the following capstone options:

SIT378

Team Project (B) - Execution and Delivery ^ and

SIT306

IT Placements and Industry Experience ^+

SIT344

Professional Practice (2 credit points) ^+

^ offered in trimester 1, trimester 2, trimester 3

+ Students must have completed STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit) and SIT223 Professional Practice in IT.

~ Note: Students are recommended to undertake SIT374 and SIT378 in consecutive trimesters. Students should seek advice from the unit chair if they are unable to complete SIT374 and SIT378 consecutively.

# Corequisite of STP010 Career Tools for Employability (0-credit point compulsory unit)

Electives

Select from a range of elective units offered across many courses. You may even be able to choose elective units from a completely different discipline area (subject to meeting unit requirements).

Work experience

This course includes a compulsory work placement where you will be required to undertake a minimum of 100 hours in industry, providing professional work experience with an approved host organisation. Alternatively, high achieving students may have the opportunity to undertake an extended full-time paid industry-based learning placement (conditions apply, please refer to deakin.edu.au/sebe/wil)

Elective units may also provide additional opportunities for Work Integrated Learning experiences.

Details of minor sequences

Security Management

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Geelong (Waurn Ponds), Online

Unit set code

MN-S000003

Overview

The Security Management minor will provide the opportunity for you to use your gained managerial and cyber security skills to assist companies in their planning, governance and change policies to help ensure their resilience and defence of related threats.

Units

Four units from:

MIS211

Cyber Security and Governance *

MMH356

Change Management *

MMM132

Management *

SIT182

Real World Practices for Cyber Security

SIT284

Cyber Security Management *

*Students in S326, S334 and S434 should undertake MIS211, MMH356, MMM132 and SIT284.

Network Security

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Geelong (Waurn Ponds), Online

Unit set code

MN-S000010

Overview

Learn the details of defending computer networks. Study advanced network defence techniques, including using forensics, machine learning, and data science to protect network data from attackers.

Units

SIT221

Data Structures and Algorithms

SIT281

Cryptography

SIT325

Advanced Network Security

SIT326

Advanced Network Analytics and Forensics

Other course information

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Other learning experiences

To broaden your experience of the world, you will have an opportunity to participate in overseas placements and study tours as an elective option in your course.