COURSE CURRICULUM

The Cybersecurity major at Brooklyn is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to protect digital systems, networks, and data from cyber threats while understanding the legal, ethical, and technical frameworks surrounding cybersecurity. The program begins with foundational courses such as CJ 161, Intro to Cyber Security and Cyber Crime, which introduces students to major data crimes, social media risks, financial and medical data vulnerabilities, as well as government laws, policies, and basic cybersecurity tools like password cracking software and EnCase. CJ 158 and CJ 277 provide students with a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system and legal procedures, focusing on police conduct, individual rights, and New York State-specific laws. Core computing courses, including COM 150 and COM 152, teach programming fundamentals, problem-solving techniques, and algorithm development, while COM 210 emphasizes data structures, computational complexity, and efficient algorithm design. Mathematical foundations, covered in MAT 203, ensure students can approach cybersecurity problems with logical reasoning and discrete mathematical tools. Advanced courses such as COM 260 and COM 310 focus on computer and information security, secure system design, cryptography, network security, and operating systems management. COM 360 covers computer networking and communication protocols, enabling students to understand LANs, WANs, and network topologies. Specialized cybersecurity courses like CYB 310 Cloud Computing and Security, CYB 330 Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing, and CYB 350 Digital Forensics and SOC Operations prepare students to protect cloud-based infrastructures, identify system vulnerabilities, conduct penetration tests, and manage Security Operations Centers. The program culminates with CYB 400, a senior seminar that integrates theoretical knowledge with hands-on labs, secure coding exercises, and practical network security simulations. Throughout the curriculum, students gain technical expertise, legal and ethical awareness, and practical skills, positioning them for careers in cybersecurity, digital forensics, ethical hacking, and network security management across public, private, and government sectors.