A DEDICATED UNDERGRADUATE TRACK IN COMPUTER SECURITY EDUCATION S.Azadegan, M. Lavine, M. O’Leary, A.Wijesinha, M. Zimand Towson University Abstract: To better prepare our graduates to face the challenges in computer and information security, in Fall 2002, the authors launched an undergraduate track in computer security for the computer science majors at Towson University. This paper describes the motivation for this track and discusses its structure and requirements. Keywords: Undergraduate Computer Security Education, Cryptography, Network Security, Operating Systems Security, Application Software Security, Computer Security Case Studies 1. INTRODUCTION Our computer security track addresses the need for skilled personnel in the Computer Security field and provides an opportunity for our undergraduate students to be educated in this field. What is unique about this track is that at the time of its development, summer 2001, it was the only undergraduate track in computer security in the State of Maryland. Also, based on a preliminary search done on the Web, Towson University is one of the few Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education with an undergraduate program in computer security. Another unique feature of this track is our capstone course, titled “Computer Security Case Studies”. Students take this course as the last course in the track and collaborate with their classmates on real-world projects using their knowledge and skills gained in other courses of the track. Students graduating with this track will have a strong background in the fundamental principles of computer security and its applications, plus hands-on experience with security tools commonly used in industry. This will better prepare them to join the 21 st century workforce and to protect our national infrastructure and information assets, which is in keeping with the influential “Call to Action” document [1] that identified the lack of security skills as one of the top ten trends impacting security. 2. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES The objective was to develop a high-quality computer security track that uses and builds upon the courses that are already part of the computer science curriculum and allows students to finish their degree in four years. The courses in this track expose students to a wide range of security problems and vulnerabilities that exist in operating systems, application systems and networking protocols, and shows students how these vulnerabilities might be exploited by potential adversaries. The students will be given opportunities for hands-on experience with the tools and software used to secure systems.