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COSC 366 Spring 2024

Table of contents

  1. Course information:
  2. Course Description:
  3. Texts/Resources/Materials:
  4. Course Resources:
  5. Grade Distribution:
  6. Letter Grade Distribution:
  7. Course Policies:
    1. Exams
    2. Assignments
    3. Attendance and Absences
    4. Course Feedback:
  8. University Policies:
    1. Academic Integrity:
    2. University Civility Statement:
    3. Disability Services:
    4. Your Role in Improving Teaching and Learning Through Course Assessment:
    5. Key Campus Resources for Students:

This syllabus is a living document, and subject to change as needed. Any changes made after the first day of class will be announced publicly at the start of the class following the change.

Course information:

  • Instructor: Doowon Kim
  • Course credit hours: 3.0
  • Meeting time and place: MWF 9:10 am - 10:00 am; MKB-524
  • Office Hours: Please check schedule.

Course Description:

This course is designed to provide a broad introduction to cybersecurity and related topics. It prepares students for being able to think about security as a software engineer. It also prepares students to take further coursework in cybersecurity. Topics include security concepts and principles, cryptographic building blocks, authentication, operating system security and access control, software security, malicious software, public key certificate management and use, web and browser security, firewalls and tunnels, intrusion detection and network-based attacks, wireless LAN security, human factors in security. The course concludes with an overview of cybersecurity research occurring at UTK.

At the completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Understand how to model both security goals and adversarial threats.
  2. Understand design choices that lead to secure systems.
  3. Understand the modern threat ecosystem.
  4. Understand the role human factors play in securing systems.
  5. Understand the basics of cryptography and privacy.
  6. Understand the basics of OS, software, and network and distributed systems security.
  7. Understand other major areas of security: malware, reverse engineering, forensics, cyber-physical security, and data science/ML/AI in defensive system design.

Texts/Resources/Materials:

Required textbook

  • NA

Optional textbooks/reading:

Course Resources:

  • This course homepage: all information regarding this course will be posted on this course homepage.
  • Canvas (Online@UT) – assignment submissions, quizzes, exams, etc.
  • Discord
  • Students can submit anonymous feedback at any time.

Grade Distribution:

The number of assignments is subject to change, but the percentage of grades will remain the same. There will be enough of each that assignments do not weigh too much on the overall grade.

  • Quizzes: 10%
  • Assignments (4 in total): 40%
  • Midterm Exam: 20% + CTF (as bonus points before the midterm exam)
  • Final Exam: 30% + CTF (as bonus points after the midterm exam)

Letter Grade Distribution:

These are ceilings of the grade cut-offs.

>= 93.00 A
90.00 - 92.99 A-
87.00 - 89.99 B+
83.00 - 86.99 B
80.00 - 82.99 B-
77.00 - 79.99 C+
73.00 - 76.99 C
70.00 - 72.99 C-
<= 69.99 F

We reserve the right to curve the grades (by lowering the thresholds), depending on the circumstances.

Course Policies:

Exams

  • More details will be determined soon.
  • No makeup exams given.

Assignments

  • Deadlines will be set in Canvas and assignments must be done and submitted by that time to be counted. No partial credit for late submissions.
  • Assignments will also be turned in via Canvas as a report in a single PDF file that may include your code.
  • No late assignments will be accepted under any circumstances.
  • It is not acceptable for you to copy code from the Internet and pass it off as yours. The first time you are caught doing this you will receive a zero on that assignment, if it happens again you will receive an F in the class. If the copied code is from prior years of the class I will pursue disciplinary action via the university immediately.

Attendance and Absences

  • Attendance to the in-person class is heavily encouraged if you want to learn anything about security and be prepared for the exams. However, you are adults, so you are welcome to miss if needed, but it is not advised. It is your responsibility to keep up with assignments and review the posted slides after the lecture.
  • Note that no video-recording will be provided.

Course Feedback:

At any point in the course, feel free to come talk to me or email me with your feedback.

University Policies:

The honor statement is included on the Campus Syllabus available on the Provost and TLI websites, and the online UT catalog. These elements are also included below.

Academic Integrity:

An essential feature of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is a commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of intellectual integrity and academic honesty. As a student of the university, I pledge that I will neither knowingly give nor receive any inappropriate assistance in academic work, thus affirming my own personal commitment to honor and integrity.

University Civility Statement:

Civility is genuine respect and regard for others: politeness, consideration, tact, good manners, graciousness, cordiality, affability, amiability and courteousness. Civility enhances academic freedom and integrity, and is a prerequisite to the free exchange of ideas and knowledge in the learning community. Our community consists of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and campus visitors. Community members affect each other’s well-being and have a shared interest in creating and sustaining an environment where all community members and their points of view are valued and respected. Affirming the value of each member of the university community, the campus asks that all its members adhere to the principles of civility and community adopted by the campus: http://civility.utk.edu/.

Disability Services:

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is committed to providing an inclusive learning environment for all students. If you anticipate or experience a barrier in this course due to a chronic health condition, a learning, hearing, neurological, mental health, vision, physical, or other kind of disability, or a temporary injury, you are encouraged to contact Student Disability Services (SDS) at 865-974-6087 or sds@utk.edu. An SDS Coordinator will meet with you to develop a plan to ensure you have equitable access to this course. If you are already registered with SDS, please contact your instructor to discuss implementing accommodations included in your course access letter.

Your Role in Improving Teaching and Learning Through Course Assessment:

At UT, it is our collective responsibility to improve the state of teaching and learning. During the semester, you may be requested to assess aspects of this course either during class or at the completion of the class. You are encouraged to respond to these various forms of assessment as a means of continuing to improve the quality of the UT learning experience.

Key Campus Resources for Students: