Bachelor of Cyber Security (Honours)

2024 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2024 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Cyber Security (Honours)
Deakin course code	S434
Faculty	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	4 years full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	The course map for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2024 The course map 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	111443E Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
Note: Waurn Ponds (Geelong) CRICOS approval and offering effective from T1 2025.

Course sub-headings

Course overview

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 (Honours) is a specialised four-year course equips you with the essential skills to investigate and protect computer systems, networks and programs through exploration of best practice in the identification, diagnosis, analysis and management of cyber security challenges.

You will assess cyber security systems in a working environment, and cover areas such as computer crime and digital forensics while gaining the skills to identify, diagnose and manage risk. You will undertake a professional placement, work in teams with an industry partner to tackle authentic business challenges as part of a capstone project, focus your studies by undertaking a minor in an area of your choosing, and complete an honours research project in your final year.

Ready to secure the digital future?

The Bachelor of Cyber Security (Honours) gives you ample opportunity to sharpen your skill set under the guidance and direction of our supportive teaching staff. You'll explore fundamental concepts across computer systems and discrete mathematics in your first year, before diving into more advanced topics in networking and communication, computer and network forensics, security analytics, secure coding and ethical hacking.

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.

Career opportunities

Skilled cyber security professionals are highly sought-after across the globe. As a graduate, you will have a highly specialised skill-set that enables you to effectively identify, diagnose and manage cyber security challenges. You may find employment as a security analyst; project manager; security systems developer, programmer or auditor; security consultant; or IT security engineer to name a few.

By undertaking a focused research project in your final year of study, you will also acquire research skills and advanced technical expertise in your chosen topic, as well as the skills to become a creative, solutions-driven professional in the dynamic and ever-evolving field of cyber security. You will also be well positioned to pursue further study including a masters by research or PhD.

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.

Alternative exit

S334 Bachelor of Cyber Security

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 coherent and advanced knowledge of cyber security, with detailed knowledge of the computer networking, security analytics, secure coding and knowledge, skills, tools, and methodologies for professional practice and research.
Communication	Communicate in a professional context to inform, motivate, and effect change, and to drive sustainable innovation, 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 in cyber security projects and research.
Critical thinking	Evaluate information and evidence, applying critical and analytical thinking and reasoning, technical skills, personal judgement and values, in decision processes.
Problem solving	Apply theoretical constructs and skills and critical analysis to real-world and ill-defined problems and develop robust cyber security solutions.
Self-management	Work independently to apply knowledge and skills to new situations in research and professional practice and/or further learning in the field of cyber security with adaptability, autonomy, responsibility, and personal accountability for actions as a practitioner and a learner.
Teamwork	Contribute effectively as a skilled and knowledgeable individual to the processes and output of a work unit or team, with specific knowledge and skills associated with using professional and research practices associated with the information technology industry.
Global citizenship	Apply professional and ethical standards and accountability in research and in designing, deploying, and operating cyber security solutions.

Approved by Faculty Board 28 July 2022

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Cyber Security (Honours) students must complete 32 credit points comprising:

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 Cyber Security capstone units
four (4) credit points Cyber Security Research Training capstone units
and one of:
- three minors (totalling 12 credit points) OR
- two minors (totalling 8 credit points), and four open elective units (4 credit points) OR
- one minor (totalling 4 credit points), and eight open elective units (8 credit points)
no more than ten (10) credit points at level 1
minimum of 14 credit points over levels 2 and 3
level 7 – minimum 4 credit points of postgraduate units.

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.

Course structure

Course Certifications

Students will also have the opportunity to complete industry certifications within the following core units as part of your cyber security degree for no additional cost:

SIT182

Real World Practices for Cyber Security

SIT218

Secure Coding

SIT282

Computer Forensics and Investigations

SIT379

Ethical Hacking

Certifications include:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Secure Programmer (ECSP)
Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
Cybersecurity Fundamentals (CSX)

These industry certifications are recognised globally and prove your competence and proficiency in these highly skilled cyber security areas.

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 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 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 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 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) ^+

Year 4 - Trimester 1

SIT723

Research Techniques and Applications (2 credit points) (Research Training capstone)^

Plus two (2) major or minor units (two (2) credit points)

Year 4 - Trimester 2

Plus two (2) electives or minor units (2 credit points)

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

SIT724

Research Project (2 credit points)^

SIT746

Research Project (Advanced) (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.

^ Offered in Trimester 1, trimester 2 and trimester 3

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

* Entry to SIT746 is subject to specific unit entry requirements.

Electives

Select from a range of elective units offered across many courses. In some cases 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

Information Technologies Research

Campuses

Burwood (Melbourne), Online

Unit set code

MN-S000018

Overview

This minor provides students with hands on experience in research and publishing scientific papers. This minor is designed to help support students aiming to pursue a research higher degree.

Units

SLE761

Professional Research Practice

SIT718

Real World Analytics

SIT747

Research Project (Publication) (2 credit points)+

+ Entry to SIT747 is subject to specific unit entry requirements.

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