Handbook

In this course students will build their knowledge and skills in the technical and theoretical aspects of computing. The course is intended to meet the Australian Computer Society professional standards for ICT and cyber security courses which includes the underlying core body of knowledge in IT and the professional and ethical responsibilities relevant to working in the IT industry.

The units in the course are taught using a combination of lecture and small-group classes, augmented by learning activities outside of class.

Lectures introduce concepts and techniques, particularly by example, and provide an opportunity for staff and students to discuss areas of difficulty. In some units, lectures are augmented by prepared videos that cover the basic material and the classes are mostly used for clarifying discussion.

Small-group classes (e.g., small group teaching activities and practicals) give students an opportunity to work on exercises that reinforce the concepts and techniques from lectures with the guidance of an academic. Many units feature practical exercises that are completed in a computer laboratory or on a student's own computer.

Learning materials are selected as appropriate from textbooks, locally-produced lecture notes and exercises, and online materials. In many units students will learn to use software and tools to achieve practical outcomes. We have a preference for open source software that students may obtain and study without cost or prohibitive licensing.

Computing units require significant work by students outside of class to explore and experiment with the unit material on their own or in a group.

Units in the Bachelor of Cyber Security have assessments that are designed not just to test discipline-specific knowledge, but all aspects of professional competency including professional practice, project work, design and communication skills. In addition to formal assessments, students are provided with informal feedback from staff and their peers throughout the semester.

Assessment types are very diverse and include:

• Assignments - test the understanding of a learning outcome by means of small size problems.
• Programming Assignments - allow students to demonstrate their competency in developing software of varying complexity.
• Reports and documents - beside essay style questions to analyse and critique different topics they also assess relevant skills involving documentation such as requirements documentation and project plans.
• Oral presentations - these test students ability to communicate the results of their work.
• Group reports - are used when group projects or group laboratory work is conducted.
• Final exams - several units have a final examination where the ability to synthesise and apply knowledge is assessed.
• Module exams - each session has 2 to 3 modules, and a module exam assesses students' ability to synthesise and apply knowledge, happening after the end of the module.
• Quizzes and in-class tests assess student learning part-way through the unit and provide feedback to students on learning progress.
• In class assessment - assess students work in formal class sessions where students receive the support of tutors and other staff

Employability is embedded through the course with work-relevant problems used to motivate and drive the learning experience. The capstone unit in particular will be a vehicle for developing work readiness and expose students, where possible, to employers and work practices.

The course aims to ensure that students have a range of experiences through their study, for example through the use of different tools and technologies across various units, our goal is to provide students with a wide array of experience to help them understand the range of choices of tools and techniques available to them. Similarly, assessment types are coordinated over the program to ensure that students experience a balance of practical and written assessment in the course.

Careers include Cyber Security Analyst, GRC officer, Data Privacy Analyst, Helpdesk, Security Administrator, Security Operations Centre Analyst, Source Code Auditing,Vulnerability Assessor, Risk Analyst, Security Consultant, Ethical Hacker / Penetration Tester, Data and Information Security Analyst, SOC Manager, Chief Information Security Officer, Chief Privacy Officer, etc.

Employers range across the board from IT and Telco companies (Fujitsu, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Optus, Telstra) to consultancies (EY, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte), financial sector (banks and insurance companies) and government. These days everyone has data and is crying out for our graduates to keep it secure.