Extended Major Overview

Description

Almost every Information and Communications Technology (ICT) career path encompasses some aspect of cybersecurity. The Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science (International Cybersecurity) will prepare you for a range of specialist cybersecurity roles with a global perspective. With industry integrated learning, you'll gain the practical skills and knowledge to lead design, implementation and management of secure computer systems across a range of exciting career paths, protecting people and their data from cyber-attacks. The major provides you with strong computing and cybersecurity skills and includes advanced units. You also study contemporary international politics in the context of cybersecurity, providing you with the breadth of understanding that local and global employers are looking for alongside technical knowledge.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. secure information systems across a range of industries and real world settings using mathematical, technical and business tools and an awareness of international political agendas
  2. design prevention and mitigation strategies to address specific cyber security challenges
  3. create secure computer systems
  4. perform effectively in a cybersecurity project team
  5. communicate cybersecurity concepts and techniques and results clearly in oral and written formats
  6. extend knowledge in cybersecurity through research, experimentation and analysis
  7. discuss the impact of global politics on cybersecurity risk and mitigation strategies.
Broadening guidelines
All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.
Suggested units to broaden your study area, are:
(1) MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
(2) WILG3001 Professional Experience Practicum
Prerequisites

Mathematics Methods ATAR

Incompatibilities

MJD-CMPSC Computer Science (ID 468) MJD-DATSC Data Science (ID 700) MJD-CYBER Cybersecurity (ID 4874)

Courses

International Cybersecurity can only be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2025 – may be available in 2026 or 2027
NS
non-standard teaching period

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (30 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CITS1003 Introduction to Cybersecurity
Incompatibility
CITS3004 Cybersecurity
S1, S2 CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
Mathematics Methods ATAR or equivalent
or MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
or
Enrolment in
62510 Master of Information Technology
or 62530 Master of Data Science
or BH011 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
Incompatibility
CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation
S1, S2 CITS1402 Relational Database Management Systems
Prerequisites

Successful completion of
Mathematics Applications ATAR or equivalent
or MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals or equivalent
or MATX1720 Mathematics Fundamentals

or Enrolment in 62510 Master of Information Technology
or 62530 Master of Data Science
Incompatibility
CITS2232 Databases
S1 PHIL1001 Ethics for the Digital Age: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy
Incompatibility
PHIL1107 Ethics, Free Will and Meaning
S2 POLS1102 Understanding Global Politics None

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 CITS2002 Systems Programming
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation

or
Enrolment in
62510 Master of Information Technology
and Successful completion of
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
Incompatibility
CITS1002 Programming and System
S1 CITS2005 Object Oriented Programming
Prerequisites
ATAR Mathematics Methods
or MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods or equivalent
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
or Enrolment in
62510 Master of Information Technology
and CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation
Incompatibility
CITS1001 Software Engineering with Java
or CITX1001 Software Engineering with Java
S1 CITS2006 Defensive Cybersecurity
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS1003 Introduction to Cybersecurity
or CITX1003 Introduction to Cybersecurity
and Successful completion of
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
S1 CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
Prerequisites
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
and
Mathematics Methods ATAR
or MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods or equivalent
or MATX0721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods
S2 CITS2211 Discrete Structures
Prerequisites
MATH1721 Mathematics Foundations: Methods or equivalent
or MATX1721 Mathematics Foundations
(
and CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python or equivalent )
S1 IREL2001 Foundations of Foreign Policy
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 1
Incompatibility
POLS2214 Foundations of Foreign Policy

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (36 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 CITS3001 Advanced Algorithms
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
S1 CITS3002 Computer Networks
Prerequisites
CITS1002 Programming and System
or CITS2002 Systems Programming
S2 CITS3006 Penetration Testing
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS2002 Systems Programming
or CITS2005 Object Oriented Programming
and
Successful completion of
CITS2006 Defensive Cybersecurity
S1 CITS3007 Secure Coding
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
or CITS2002 Systems Programming
or CITS2005 Object Oriented Programming
or CITS2402 Introduction to Data Science
S2 CITS3200 Professional Computing
Prerequisites
completion of at least 84 points, including
CITS2002 Systems Programming
or CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
or CITS2402 Introduction to Data Science
Incompatibility
CITS5206 Professional Computing
S1 CITS3403 Agile Web Development
Prerequisites
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python or equivalent
Incompatibility
CITS5505 Agile Web Development
Degree-specific major units

Group A—take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 CITS3003 Graphics and Animation
Prerequisites
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITS2002 Systems Programming
or CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation
or CITX1401 Computational Thinking with Python
S2 CITS3005 Knowledge Representation
Prerequisites
CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
and CITS2211 Discrete Structures
S1, S2 CITS3009 Computer Science WIL Internship
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
BH008 Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science [Honours]
or Enrolment in
MJD-CMPSC Computer Science

and Successful completion of
96 points
Incompatibility
WILG3001 Work Integrated Learning Internship Program
or WILG2201 Work Integrated Learning Internship Program
S2 CITS3011 Intelligent Agents
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
S2 CITS3402 High Performance Computing
Prerequisites
CITS2002 Systems Programming
Incompatibility
CITS5507 High Performance Computing
or PHYS4022 Advanced Quantum Computing
or SHPC4002 Advanced Computational Physics
Degree-specific major units

Group B—take unit(s) to the value of 6 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
N/A POLS3204 The Politics of Gender
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Science and/or Humanities study at level 2
S2 POLS3231 Politics of the Mass Media
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Science and/or Humanities study at level 2
Incompatibility
POLS2231/POLS3331 Politics of the Mass Media
S2 POLS3304 Policy and Diplomacy in Practice
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
any one level 1 Political Science (POLS) units and any three level 2 Political Science (POLS)
or Political Science, Philosophy, and Economics (PPHE) units
Incompatibility
PARL3339,
and WILG3001
S1 POLS3308 Greater China: Politics and International Relations
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
Incompatibility
POLS2208 Politics in Greater China
N/A POLS3324 Islam and World Politics
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
Incompatibility
POLS2224 Islam and World Politics
N/A POLS3334 The International Politics of Africa
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
S1 POLS3335 Social Movements and the Politics of Change
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
N/A POLS3342 Global Environmental Politics
Prerequisites
12 points of Social Sciences and/or Humanities study at level 2
Incompatibility
POLS2229 States, Welfare and Environmental Policy

Level 4

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 CITS4010 Computer Science Honours Research Project Part 1
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
BH008 Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science [Honours]
or 5011H Bachelor of Science honours degree
or BH005 Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours)
and Successful completion of
120 points
S1, S2 CITS4011 Computer Science Honours Research Project Part 2
Prerequisites
Successful completion of
CITS4010 Computer Science Honours Research Project Part 1
Degree-specific major units

Group B—take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 CITS4403 Computational Modelling
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
BH008 Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science [Honours]
or HON-CMSSE Computer Science and Software Engineering
or 62510 Master of Information Technology
or 62530 Master of Data Science
or 73660 Master of Medical Physics
or ( 61550 Master of Professional Engineering and Software Engineering specialisation
)
and Successful completion of
CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
or CITS2401 Computer Analysis and Visualisation or equivalent
N/A CITS4419 Mobile and Wireless Computing
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-CMSSE Computer Science and Software Engineering
or 62530 Master of Data Science
or 62550 Master of Professional Engineering
or BH008 Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science [Honours]
or
Enrolment in
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree
and 96 points
and Successful completion of
CITS3002 Computer Networks
S1 PHYS4021 Quantum Information and Computing
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
CM015 Bachelor of Science Frontier Physics and Master of Physics
or 53560 Master of Physics
or 65550 Master of Quantum Technology and Computing
or HON-MTHST Mathematics and Statistics
( HON-CMSSE Computer Science and Software Engineering
or MJD-ICYDM International Cybersecurity
or 62530 Master of Data Science and
MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods or equivalent
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
Incompatibility
PHYS3005 Quantum Computation
Degree-specific major units

Group C—take unit(s) to the value of 12 points:

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 CITS5501 Software Testing and Quality Assurance
Prerequisites

Enrolment in
62510 Master of Information Technology
or BH008 Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science [Honours]

and Successful completion of CITS2002 Systems Programming
or CITS2005 Object Oriented Programming
or
Enrolment in
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree
and 120 points
and CITS3301 Software Requirements and Design

or Enrolment in
62550 Master of Professional Engineering
S2 CITS5503 Cloud Computing
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
HON-CMSSE Computer Science and Software Engineering
or 62510 Master of Information Technology
or 62530 Master of Data Science
or 42630 Master of Business Analytics
or BH008 Bachelor of Advanced Computer Science [Honours]
or MJD-ICYDM International Cybersecurity
or MJD-CDSDM Computing and Data Science
and

Successful completion of
( CITS2002 Systems Programming
or CITS2005 Object Oriented Programming
or CITS2200 Data Structures and Algorithms
or CITS2402 Introduction to Data Science
or ( CITS1401 Computational Thinking with Python
and CITS4009 Computational Data Analysis

or BUSN5101 Programming for Business
and BUSN5002 Fundamentals of Business Analytics
)
or Enrolment in 62550 Master of Professional Engineering
Software Engineering specialisation
or
Enrolment in
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree
and 120 points
and 12 points of programming-based units
S2 CITS5507 High Performance Computing
Prerequisites

Enrolment in
( 62510 Master of Information Technology
or 62530 Master of Data Science

and 12 points of programming-based units )
or Enrolment in 62550 Master of Professional Engineering Software Engineering specialisation
or
Enrolment in
Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) or an associated Combined Degree
and 120 points including 12 points of programming-based units
Incompatibility
CITS3402 High Performance Computing
or SHPC4002 Advanced Computational Physics
NS POLS5641 International Security
Incompatibility
POLS8604 Problems of International Security.
POLS5642 Contemporary Issues in International Security