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B-SC in Cyber Security at GITAM (Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management)
Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh
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About the Specialization
What is Cyber Security at GITAM (Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management) Visakhapatnam?
This B.Sc. Computer Science with Cyber Security program at GITAM focuses on equipping students with essential skills to protect digital assets and combat cyber threats. In the rapidly digitizing Indian landscape, where data breaches and cyber-attacks are on the rise, this specialization provides a robust foundation in network security, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and information security management, catering to the critical demand for cyber-savvy professionals.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for high school graduates with a keen interest in computer science and a strong aptitude for problem-solving, aspiring to build a career in the dynamic field of cyber security. It also suits individuals seeking to transition into the cyber defense sector or enhance their technical expertise in securing digital infrastructures within an Indian corporate environment.
Why Choose This Course?
Graduates of this program can expect to pursue diverse India-specific career paths such as Cyber Security Analyst, Ethical Hacker, Security Consultant, Digital Forensics Investigator, and Network Security Engineer. Entry-level salaries typically range from INR 3-6 LPA, growing significantly with experience. The curriculum aligns with certifications like CompTIA Security+, CEH, and ISO 27001, accelerating professional growth in Indian IT and security firms.
Student Success Practices
Foundation Stage
Master Programming Fundamentals- (Semester 1-2)
Dedicate significant time to understanding C and C++ programming concepts, practicing coding regularly on platforms to build strong logical thinking and problem-solving skills, which are crucial for any cyber security role.
Tools & Resources
HackerRank, LeetCode, GeeksforGeeks, Sololearn
Career Connection
A solid programming base is crucial for understanding how systems work, developing secure applications, and automating security tasks, directly impacting roles in secure coding and security tool development.
Excel in Digital Logic and Operating Systems- (Semester 1-2)
Focus on grasping the core principles of digital logic and operating systems, as these form the bedrock of understanding computer architecture and how cyber threats exploit low-level system vulnerabilities, essential for deep security analysis.
Tools & Resources
NPTEL lectures, university library resources on computer organization and OS textbooks, Linux command line practice
Career Connection
Strong understanding of these foundational subjects is essential for roles in reverse engineering, malware analysis, and designing robust secure systems, enhancing employability for security engineer positions.
Cultivate Strong Communication Skills- (Semester 1-2)
Actively participate in professional English classes, practice technical writing for reports, and engage in public speaking to articulate complex technical ideas clearly and effectively, a vital skill in incident reporting and client interactions.
Tools & Resources
Grammarly, Toastmasters International (if available), university language labs, professional writing workshops
Career Connection
Effective communication is vital for documenting security incidents, presenting vulnerability assessments to clients, and collaborating within security teams, a key soft skill sought by Indian employers.
Intermediate Stage
Deep Dive into Networking & Cryptography- (Semester 3-4)
Go beyond classroom lectures by building home labs (virtual machines) to experiment with network configurations, protocol analysis, and implementing cryptographic algorithms, understanding their strengths and weaknesses in practice.
Tools & Resources
Wireshark, VirtualBox/VMware, OpenSSL, Nmap, TryHackMe for guided labs
Career Connection
Hands-on expertise in networking and cryptography is directly applicable to roles in network security, security operations centers (SOC), and penetration testing, making graduates highly valuable to Indian enterprises.
Master Database & Web Security Fundamentals- (Semester 3-4)
Practice SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and other common web vulnerabilities in controlled environments, simultaneously learning secure coding practices for web applications and database interactions to prevent attacks.
Tools & Resources
OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite Community Edition, SQLZoo, PortSwigger Web Security Academy
Career Connection
Proficiency in securing databases and web applications opens doors to roles like Application Security Engineer and Web Penetration Tester, which are in high demand in India''''s digital economy.
Engage in Cyber Security Competitions- (Semester 3-4)
Form teams and participate in Capture The Flag (CTF) events, hackathons, or national-level cyber security challenges to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios and learn from peers in a competitive setting.
Tools & Resources
CTFtime.org, platforms like Hack The Box, Cyber Talents
Career Connection
Participation demonstrates practical skills, teamwork, and problem-solving under pressure, highly valued by recruiters for roles in incident response and security analysis in Indian companies.
Advanced Stage
Specialized Skill Development & Certification- (Semester 5-6)
Focus on chosen elective areas like Ethical Hacking, Digital Forensics, or Cloud Security, and pursue relevant industry certifications such as CEH, CompTIA Security+, or AWS Certified Security - Specialty to validate expertise.
Tools & Resources
Official certification guides, Udemy/Coursera courses, Kali Linux, FTK Imager, Autopsy
Career Connection
Certifications validate expertise and significantly boost employability for specialized roles in cyber security firms, government agencies, and major corporations across India.
Undertake Industry-Relevant Projects/Internships- (Semester 5-6)
Actively seek out and complete a substantial project or an internship with a cyber security company or an organization''''s security division, applying learned concepts to real-world challenges and gaining practical experience.
Tools & Resources
GitHub for project showcasing, LinkedIn for networking, university placement cell
Career Connection
Practical experience is paramount for securing placements. These experiences provide industry exposure, networking opportunities, and a strong resume builder for top Indian companies.
Build a Professional Network and Personal Brand- (Semester 5-6)
Attend cyber security conferences, workshops, and industry meetups (both online and offline) to network with professionals, build a strong LinkedIn profile showcasing projects and skills, and contribute to open-source security projects.
Tools & Resources
LinkedIn, Cyber Security community forums, local security meetups (e.g., NullCon, DEF CON India)
Career Connection
Networking often leads to job opportunities and mentorship. A strong personal brand demonstrates commitment and expertise, making graduates more visible to recruiters in the competitive Indian job market.
Program Structure and Curriculum
Eligibility:
- Pass in 10+2 with minimum 50% aggregate marks in any stream (Science/Commerce/Arts) from a recognized board
Duration: 3 years / 6 semesters
Credits: 120 Credits
Assessment: Internal: 40%, External: 60%
Semester-wise Curriculum Table
Semester 1
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSC101 | Problem Solving and Programming using C | Core | 3 | Introduction to C, Operators and Expressions, Control Structures, Functions and Modules, Arrays and Pointers, Structures and File Handling |
| UCSC102 | Problem Solving and Programming using C Lab | Core | 1.5 | C programming basics, Conditional and Looping statements, Function implementation, Array manipulation, Pointer applications, File operations |
| UCCS103 | Digital Logic Fundamentals | Core | 3 | Number Systems and Codes, Boolean Algebra and Logic Gates, Combinational Logic Circuits, Sequential Logic Circuits, Registers and Counters |
| UCCS104 | Digital Logic Fundamentals Lab | Core | 1.5 | Logic gates realization, Boolean function implementation, Adders and Subtractors, Flip-Flops and Latches, Register implementation |
| UECS105 | English | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC) | 2 | Grammar and Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Essay and Report Writing, Oral Communication Skills, Public Speaking |
| UENC101 | Environmental Science | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC) | 2 | Natural Resources, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, Environmental Pollution, Social Issues and the Environment, Environmental Ethics |
Semester 2
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSC106 | Object Oriented Programming using C++ | Core | 3 | OOP Concepts, Classes and Objects, Constructors and Destructors, Inheritance and Polymorphism, Exception Handling, Templates and File I/O |
| UCSC107 | Object Oriented Programming using C++ Lab | Core | 1.5 | Class and Object implementation, Inheritance mechanisms, Polymorphism concepts, Operator overloading, File handling operations |
| UCCS108 | Operating Systems | Core | 3 | OS Introduction and Structure, Process Management and CPU Scheduling, Deadlocks, Memory Management, Virtual Memory, File Systems |
| UCCS109 | Operating Systems Lab | Core | 1.5 | Unix/Linux commands, Shell scripting, Process creation and management, Inter-process communication, Synchronization problems |
| UCCS110 | Discrete Mathematics | Core | 3 | Mathematical Logic and Proofs, Set Theory and Relations, Functions, Graph Theory, Trees and Combinatorics |
| UECS111 | Professional English | Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC) | 2 | Technical Report Writing, Business Communication, Presentation Skills, Interview Techniques, Professional Etiquette |
Semester 3
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSC201 | Data Structures | Core | 3 | Arrays and Linked Lists, Stacks and Queues, Trees and Binary Search Trees, Graphs and Graph Traversal, Hashing Techniques, Sorting and Searching Algorithms |
| UCSC202 | Data Structures Lab | Core | 1.5 | Implementation of Stacks, Queues, Linked List operations, Tree traversals, Graph algorithms, Sorting and Searching implementations |
| UCCS203 | Computer Networks | Core | 3 | Network Models (OSI, TCP/IP), Physical and Data Link Layer, Network Layer Protocols, Transport Layer Protocols, Application Layer Protocols, Network Security Concepts |
| UCCS204 | Computer Networks Lab | Core | 1.5 | Network configuration commands, Socket programming, Network protocol analysis, Packet sniffing tools, Client-Server application development |
| UCCS205 | Database Management Systems | Core | 3 | DBMS Architecture and Data Models, Entity-Relationship Model, Relational Model and Algebra, Structured Query Language (SQL), Normalization and Dependencies, Transaction Management and Concurrency Control |
| UCCS206 | Database Management Systems Lab | Core | 1.5 | SQL DDL and DML commands, Joins and Subqueries, Views and Stored Procedures, Trigger implementation, Database connectivity |
| UCCS207 | Quantitative Aptitude and Logical Reasoning | Generic Elective (GE) | 2 | Number Systems, Time and Work, Speed, Time and Distance, Percentages and Ratios, Data Interpretation, Logical Deductions and Puzzles |
Semester 4
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSC208 | Cryptography and Network Security | Core | 3 | Classical Cryptography, Symmetric Key Cryptography (DES, AES), Asymmetric Key Cryptography (RSA), Hashing and Digital Signatures, Key Management and Distribution, Network Security Protocols (SSL/TLS, IPsec) |
| UCSC209 | Cryptography and Network Security Lab | Core | 1.5 | Implementation of cryptographic algorithms, Network security tool usage, Packet analysis for security protocols, Vulnerability scanning, Firewall rules configuration |
| UCCS210 | Web Technologies | Core | 3 | HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, XML and JSON, Web Servers and Web Browsers, Server-side Scripting Concepts, AJAX and Web Services |
| UCCS211 | Web Technologies Lab | Core | 1.5 | HTML and CSS page design, JavaScript for interactivity, DOM manipulation, Server-side scripting with database integration, Web form validation |
| UCCS212 | Python Programming | Core | 3 | Python Basics and Data Types, Control Flow and Functions, Modules and Packages, File I/O Operations, Object-Oriented Programming in Python, Exception Handling |
| UCCS213 | Python Programming Lab | Core | 1.5 | Python script writing, Data structure manipulation, File operations, Web scraping basics, API integration basics |
| UCCS214 | Digital Marketing | Generic Elective (GE) | 2 | Introduction to Digital Marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM), Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing, Email Marketing and Analytics |
Semester 5
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSC301 | Information Security & Cyber Laws | Core | 3 | Information Security Fundamentals, Security Policies and Standards, Risk Management, Incident Response, Indian IT Act, Cyber Crime and Data Protection Laws |
| UCSC302 | Ethical Hacking | Core | 3 | Introduction to Ethical Hacking, Footprinting and Reconnaissance, Scanning and Enumeration, System Hacking Techniques, Malware Threats, Web Application Hacking |
| UCSC303 | Cyber Security Lab | Core | 1.5 | Network scanning and enumeration, Vulnerability assessment tools, Penetration testing exercises, Exploitation techniques, Security incident simulation |
| UCSC304 | Advanced Data Structures | Elective | 3 | Heaps and Priority Queues, Balanced Search Trees (AVL, Red-Black), B-Trees, Advanced Graph Algorithms, String Matching Algorithms |
| UCSC305 | Cloud Security | Elective | 3 | Cloud Computing Architecture, Cloud Security Threats, Cloud Security Controls, Data Security in Cloud, Identity and Access Management for Cloud, Compliance in Cloud |
| UCSC306 | Machine Learning | Elective | 3 | Introduction to Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Regression and Classification, Clustering Algorithms, Introduction to Deep Learning |
| UCSC307 | Open Elective | Open Elective (OE) | 2 | Varies based on student choice, Interdisciplinary topics, Skill development courses, Entrepreneurship, General knowledge enrichment |
| UCSC308 | Project Work Phase I | Project | 2 | Problem identification and definition, Literature survey, Requirement analysis, System design, Project planning and scheduling |
Semester 6
| Subject Code | Subject Name | Subject Type | Credits | Key Topics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCSC309 | Digital Forensics | Core | 3 | Principles of Digital Forensics, Digital Evidence Collection, Incident Response and Investigation, Windows and Linux Forensics, Network and Mobile Forensics, Forensic Tools and Techniques |
| UCSC310 | Security Audit & Assurance | Core | 3 | Security Auditing Principles, Vulnerability Assessment Methodologies, Penetration Testing Frameworks, Compliance Standards (ISO 27001, PCI DSS), Risk Assessment Frameworks, Security Policies and Procedures |
| UCSC311 | Digital Forensics Lab | Core | 1.5 | Usage of forensic imaging tools, Data recovery techniques, Evidence analysis, Forensic report generation, Disk and memory analysis |
| UCSC312 | Industry Internship/ Project Work Phase II | Project/Internship | 6 | Real-world problem solving, System development and implementation, Testing and deployment, Documentation and Report writing, Project Presentation, Professional skill application |
| UCSC313 | Malware Analysis | Elective | 3 | Malware Types and Characteristics, Static Malware Analysis, Dynamic Malware Analysis, Reverse Engineering Principles, Debuggers and Disassemblers, Sandboxing and Virtualization |
| UCSC314 | IoT Security | Elective | 3 | IoT Architecture and Protocols, IoT Security Challenges, Secure IoT Device Design, IoT Data Security, Identity and Access Management in IoT, IoT Forensics |
| UCSC315 | Web Application Security | Elective | 3 | OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities, Injection Flaws (SQL, Command), Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF), Broken Authentication and Session Management, Security Misconfiguration |
