
The College of Information Science's Bachelor of Applied Science in Cyber Operations (BAS CO), offered on main campus and online, equips students with the versatile skills they need to become a critical part of the nation's cyber defense.
120
Units to Complete Degree, Includes:
42 Upper-Division
47 Major Coursework
18 Minor or Dual Degree
Emphasis Areas:
Cyber Engineering,
Defense & Forensics,
Cyber Law & Policy
Program Goals & Learning Outcomes
- Forensics: Demonstrate and explain how to acquire a forensically sound image;
understand user activity; determine the manner in which an operating system or
application has been subverted; identify forensic artifacts left by attacks; and
recover deleted and/or intentionally hidden information. - Networking: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of how networks work at
the infrastructure, network and applications layers; how they transfer data; how
network protocols work to enable communication; and how the lower-level
network layers support the upper ones. - Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Demonstrate understanding of how
variability affects outcomes; how to identify anomalous events; how to integrate
and differentiate continuous functions of multiple variables; and how to solve
complex problems using computation and scripting languages. - Law, Ethics, & Policy: Describe and explain the relationship between cyber ethics
and law; US and International cyber laws; criminal penalties related to unethical
hacking; and apply the notion of Gray Areas to articulate where the law has not
yet caught up to technology innovation. - Security Principles & Vulnerabilities: Demonstrate and explain the various types
of vulnerabilities and their underlying causes; how security principles interrelate
and are typically employee to achieve assured solutions; and explain how failures
in fundamental security design principles can lead to system vulnerabilities that
can be exploited as part of an offensive cyber operation. - Cyber Threat Intelligence: Describe and demonstrate how knowledge about an
adversary's motivation, intentions, and methods are collected, analyzed, and
disseminated to help security personnel and business staff to align resources and
protect critical assets within an enterprise architecture.
- Students will be able to solve information and data challenges using key techniques of computational thinking (decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithms).
- Students will be able to collect, manipulate and correctly analyze varied data at different scales.
- Students will establish the ability to exercise the four key techniques of computational thinking (decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction and algorithms) in solving information and data challenges.
- Students will acquire the skills of collecting, manipulating and analyzing different types of data at different scales, and interpreting the results properly.
- Students will demonstrate understanding of the use of information and communication technologies and the implications of such use in, for example, scientific and social uses of information and social, cultural and economic implications of digital life and culture.
- Students will demonstrate the ability to conduct a research project using appropriate and ethical methods, including proper citation of sources.
- Students will demonstrate facility using basic research methods; for example, research design; statistics and analysis; organization, identification and location of data and information including open- and closed-access sources; and presentation of findings in oral, written and multimedia form, including proper use of and citation of sources.
- Students will be able to recognize and analyze ethical and policy concerns raised by new technologies and will be able to apply ethical thinking to real-world cases and craft effective solutions.
- Students will acquire the skills, knowledge and self-understanding to communicate with and effectively work and interact across cultures and with diverse people and groups.
- Students will be able to identify and apply professional ethics and standards relevant to their career and aspirations.
- Students will demonstrate knowledge of career possibilities and further education options and opportunities open to them relative to their plan of study and will set goals and make plans beyond their expected graduation.
Sample Four-Year Plan
120 units are required for graduation.
Click to view sample courses by year:
Year 1 | Fall
ENGL 101: First-Year Composition | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
UNIV 101: Introduction to the General Education Experience | 1 unit |
General Education | 3 units |
General Education | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
TOTAL | 16 units |
Year 1 | Spring
ENGL 102: First-Year Composition | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
General Education | 3 units |
MATH (based on placement) | 3 units |
General Education | 3 units |
TOTAL | 15 units |
Year 2 | Fall
Major Course | 3 units |
General Education | 3 units |
General Education | 3 units |
First-Semester Language | |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
TOTAL | 16 units |
Year 2 | Spring
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Second-Semester Language | 4 units |
TOTAL | 16 units |
Year 3 | Fall
UNIV 301: General Education Portfolio | 1 unit |
General Education | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
TOTAL | 16 units |
Year 3 | Spring
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
TOTAL | 15 units |
Year 4 | Fall
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
TOTAL | 15 units |
Year 4 | Spring
Major Course | 3 units |
Major Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
Additional Elective Course | 3 units |
TOTAL | 12 units |
TOTAL DEGREE CREDITS | 120 units |
This is a sample plan and is subject to change based on catalog year, placement tests, AP/CLEP credit, transfer work, minor requirements, summer school, etc. The official degree requirements may be found in the University General Catalog and all University of Arizona students should refer to the Academic Advising Report for specific graduation requirements.
Curriculum, Emphasis Areas & Courses
Bachelor's in Cyber Operations students take a mix of Foundations, General Education, Core Major and Electives courses, subject to change based on catalog year, placement tests, AP/CLEP credit, transfer work, minor requirements, summer school, etc.
Choose from either the Cyber Engineering, Defense and Forensics or Cyber Law and Policy emphasis area.
View or download fillable BAS CO degree checklist by emphasis area:
Click a link below to learn more and view course information:
Foundations
Specific unit requirements may vary based on placement and/or prior college-level coursework:
- First-year English or equivalent
- MATH 122B or MATH 113 or MATH 116
- Second-semester second language proficiency
General Education
- Introduction to General Education (1 unit)
- Exploring Perspectives Courses (12 units, including at least one course from each domain: Artist, Humanist, Natural Scientist, Social Scientist)
- Building Connections Courses (9 units)
- General Education Capstone (1 unit)
Learn More About U of A General Education Requirements
Students who started before Spring 2022 will follow the previous U of A GenEd requirements:
- Tier 1 Individuals & Societies (6 units)
- Tier 1 Traditions & Cultures (6 units)
- Tier 1 Natural Sciences (6 units)
- Tier 2 Humanities (3 units)
- Tier 2 Individuals & Society (3 units)
- Tier 2 Arts (3 units)
- Diversity (3 units)