The typical four-year outline for Michigan Tech's cybersecurity bachelor's degree with a concentration in software security provides a semester-by-semester guide to core courses, labs, and requirements.
The Interactive Degree Audit is the official method for tracking the completion of your specific degree requirements. Please be aware that there are multiple ways for students to progress through this major. This is just one sample and adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes. Students should work with their advisor to develop their individual plan. A full list of undergraduate course descriptions is available.
Year One
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SAT 1000 Intro to Applied Computing* or CS 1000 Explorations in Computing* |
1 | |
| SAT 1700 Cyber Ethics* | 3 | |
| MA 1160 or MA 1161 Calculus I* | placement | 4 or 5 |
| CS 1121 Introduction to Programming I* or CS 1131 Accelerated Introduction to Programming* (both Java) |
placement | 3 or 5 |
| UN1015 Composition | 3 | |
| Total | 14-17 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 1122 Intro to Programming II | CS 1121 | 3 |
| CS 2311 Discrete Structures | CS 1121 and MA 1160 or 1161 | 3 |
| MA 2320 Elementary Linear Algebra | MA 1160 or 1161 | 2 |
| Essential Education: Arts & Culture | varies | 3 |
| Essential Education: Natural and Physical Science | varies | 3 or 4 |
| Total | 14-15 |
Year Two
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SAT 2711 Linux Fundamentals | CS 1121 | 3 |
| CS 2321 Data Structures | CS 1121 | 3 |
| CS 1142 Programming at the HW/SW Interface | CS 1122 | 3 |
| MA 2720 Statistical Methods | MA 1160 or 1161 | 4 |
| Essential Education: Intercultural Competency | varies | 3 |
| Total | 16 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3141 Team Software Project | CS 2311 and 2321 | 3 |
| CS 3331 Concurrent Computing | CS 2311 and 2321 | 3 |
| CS 3421 Computer Organization | CS 1142 | 3 |
| Free elective | varies | 3 |
| Essential Education: SHAPE | varies | 3 |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 16 |
Year Three
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SAT 3812 Cybersecurity I | SAT 2711 | 3 |
| CS 3425 Intro to Database Systems | CS 2311 and 2321 | 3 |
| CS 3411 System Programming | CS 3421 | 3 |
| ENT 3950 Enterprise work** | 1 | |
| Essential Education: Experience | varies | 3 |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 13-14 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 3712 Software Quality Assurance | CS 3141 | 3 |
| CS 4321 Introduction to Algorithms | CS 2311 and 2321 | 3 |
| CS 4461 Computer Networks | CS 3411 | 3 |
| ENT 3960 Enterprise work** | 1 | |
| Free elective | varies | 3 |
| Essential Education: Communication Intensive | varies | 3 |
| Total | 15-16 |
Year Four
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 4471 Computer Security | CS 3411 | 3 |
| CS 4001 Cybersecurity Policy and Law | 3 | |
| SAT 4816 Digital Forensics | SAT 3812 | 3 |
| SAT 4283 Information Governance and Risk Management | 3 | |
| ENT 4950 Enterprise Capstone or CS 4741 Senior Design** | permission | 2 |
| Essential Education: Activities for Well-being and Success | 1 | |
| Total | 15 |
| Course | Prerequisites | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| CS 4740 Development of Trusted Software | CS 4471 | 3 |
| CS/EE 4723 Network Security | 3 | |
| CS 4741 Senior Design** | 2 | |
| Technical elective | varies | 3 |
| Free elective | varies | 3 |
| Free elective | varies | 3 |
| Total | 15-17 |
Grand Total = 120 Credits
* Satisfies a major requirement and an Essential Education requirement.
** Culminating experience consists of 4 credits of: {ENT 3950 (1), 3960 (1), 4950
(2)} or {CS 4741 (2), twice} or {UN 3002 (2), 3003 (2)}
Essential Education Requirements (24 total credits)
Required courses are:
- Essential Ed Seminar (UN 1013 or UN 2013, 1 credit),
- Composition (UN 1015-3 credits),
- a Natural and Physical Science course (3 credits),
- a Communication Intensive course (3 credits),
- an Arts and Culture course (3 credits),
- an Intercultural Competency course (3 credits),
- an Essential Education Experience course (3 credits),
- and 3 credits of Activities for Well-being and Success.
For specific courses, reference Essential Education on the Registrar's website.
Additional Notes
- Prerequisite (pre-req) course must be successfully completed PRIOR to taking the subsequent
course.
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Required Corequisite (co-req) courses that MUST be taken together in the same semester.
- Class Standing: So (Sophomore Standing earned 30 credits) Jr (Junior Standing earned 60 credits), Sr (Senior Standing earned 90 credits)
- Semester Offered: Noted under electives with F (Fall), Sp (Spring), Su (Summer) or On Demand (no anticipated offering but may show in the schedule, consult with your advisor)
- Concurrent Prerequisites (concurrent noted by (C) or ©) may be taken at the same time,
although it is not necessary if the prerequisite course is completed first.
- Math: Students are placed into an initial math course based on ACT/SAT math score, the online ALEKS assessment, or a math placement exam score for credit (AP, IB, CLEP).
- Transfer, Advanced Placement, or study abroad courses are not included in credit hours used for GPA calculations. Transfer credit is awarded for Michigan Tech equivalent coursework only if a grade of ‘C’ or better (2.00/4.00) or equivalent is earned at a transfer institution. Study abroad credit will be awarded based on passing a course according to equivalent international standards. Advanced Placement credit is awarded according to published AP Exam score standards (also IB and CLEP).
This degree plan is not an official list of degree requirements. Adjustments may be required due to curriculum changes.
For 2025-2026. Revised 11/11/2025.