Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour (1837)

This is an archived copy of the 2022-2023 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

  • Approved Abbreviation: BCyberSecBehav
  • Western Sydney University Program Code: 1837
  • AQF Level: 7

CRICOS Code: 094541D

This program applies to students who commenced in Autumn 2022 or later.

Students should follow the program structure for the session start date relevant to the year they commenced.

For Commencement Year Spring 2021 - please refer to 1837.3 Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour

For Commencement Year 2019 to Autumn 2021 - please refer to 1837.2 Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour

For Commencement Year 2017 to 2018 - please refer to 1837.1 Bachelor of Cyber Security and Behaviour

This program teaches you the technical components of cyber security, while emphasising the human behaviours that lead to poor cyber security practices. The program meets the pressing need for the application of behavioural sciences and research to understand cyber security issues in the context of decision-making, human errors, crime that deceives both humans and technical systems, social influence, organisational cultures and vulnerable populations. As cyber threats become more sophisticated and damaging across all types of organisations, cyber security has become one of the nation’s top priorities. Students will gain a solid grounding in conventional computer and network security concepts and skills, and will be exposed to elite training in what is known as Blue and Purple Teams – Cyber Defence and Incident Response. This program leads to a range of rewarding career options for graduates.  Examples include security architect, digital forensic officer, cyber intelligence, cyber safety officer, data security, security analyst, risk analytics, and cyber investigations.

Study Mode

Three years full-time or six years part-time.

Program Advice

Dr Abubakar Bello
 

Prospective students should visit the following websites for general enquiries about this program.

Enquire about this program| Local Admission | International Admission |

Location

Campus Attendance Mode Advice
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Full Time Internal See above
Parramatta Campus - Victoria Road Part Time Internal See above

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline.  This program includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is an optional work component available in this program.  Please contact the Program Advisor listed above for information.

International students should be aware that if an elective is a requirement of the program but the work itself was not registered with CRICOS, students can still complete these electives but it would be counted towards the work limitation.  For more details, refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website.

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

Admission

Students are admitted to the course via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC).

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas may be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) or directly through the Western Portal. Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

http://www.uac.edu.au/
https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

International students currently completing an Australian Year 12 in or outside Australia, an International Baccalaureate in Australia or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 3 must apply via UAC International.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

All other International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.  

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Program Structure

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the subjects listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Parramatta Campus

Full-time start-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Autumn sessionCredit Points
BEHV 1026 Cyber Behaviour 10
HUMN 1064 Digital Identities 10
INFS 1002 Information Systems in Context 10
COMP 1005 Programming Fundamentals 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
COMP 2004 Computer Networking 10
BEHV 1025 Usable Design 10
INFO 2004 Cyber Crime and Social Engineering 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Autumn session
MATH 2006 Experimental Design and Analysis 10
COMP 1013 Analytics Programming 10
COMP 2020 Technologies for Web Applications 10
INFO 2006 Usable Security 10
 Credit Points40
Spring session
INFO 3001 Computer Security 10
INFO 2008 Cyber Incident Response and Risk Management (Subject INFO2008 is not offered online. Students enrolled in Western Online must take an additional elective unit instead.) 10
BEHV 3018 Psychology and the Online World 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Autumn session
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 40
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3016
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Community Placement (1H)  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
 Credit Points40
Spring session
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 40
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3017
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Industry Placement (2H)  
Select two electives
  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
Select two electives
  
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Full-time mid-year intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Spring sessionCredit Points
COMP 2004 Computer Networking 10
BEHV 1025 Usable Design 10
COMP 1005 Programming Fundamentals 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
BEHV 1026 Cyber Behaviour 10
HUMN 1064 Digital Identities 10
INFS 1002 Information Systems in Context 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points40
Year 2
Spring session
INFO 3001 Computer Security 10
INFO 2008 Cyber Incident Response and Risk Management (Subject INFO2008 is not offered online. Students enrolled in Western Online must take an additional elective subject instead) 10
INFO 2004 Cyber Crime and Social Engineering 10
BEHV 3018 Psychology and the Online World 10
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
MATH 2006 Experimental Design and Analysis 10
COMP 1013 Analytics Programming 10
COMP 2020 Technologies for Web Applications 10
INFO 2006 Usable Security 10
 Credit Points40
Year 3
Spring session
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 40
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3016
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Community Placement (2H)  
Select two electives
  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
Select two electives
  
 Credit Points40
Autumn session
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 40
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3017
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Industry Placement (1H)  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
 Credit Points40
 Total Credit Points240

Western Sydney University Online (Continuing students only)

Please note this sequence is provided for the guidance of continuing students registered with WSU Online.  The program will not be available for admission to WSU Online from 2023. 

Full-time intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1026 Cyber Behaviour 10
HUMN 1064 Digital Identities 10
INFS 1002 Information Systems in Context 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 2
COMP 1005 Programming Fundamentals 10
COMP 2004 Computer Networking 10
BEHV 1025 Usable Design 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 3
INFO 2004 Cyber Crime and Social Engineering 10
COMP 1013 Analytics Programming 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points30
Year 2
Trimester 4
MATH 2006 Experimental Design and Analysis 10
COMP 2020 Technologies for Web Applications 10
INFO 2006 Usable Security 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 5
INFO 3001 Computer Security 10
BEHV 3018 Psychology and the Online World 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points30
Trimester 6
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 30
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3016
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Community Placement  
Select one elective
  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
Select one elective
  
 Credit Points30
Year 3
Trimester 7
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 30
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
INFO 3017
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Industry Placement  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
 Credit Points30
Trimester 8
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 30
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
Select two electives
  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
Select two electives
  
 Credit Points30
 Total Credit Points240

Part-time intake

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Trimester 1Credit Points
BEHV 1026 Cyber Behaviour 10
HUMN 1064 Digital Identities 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 2
INFS 1002 Information Systems in Context 10
COMP 1005 Programming Fundamentals 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 3
COMP 2004 Computer Networking 10
BEHV 1025 Usable Design 10
 Credit Points20
Year 2
Trimester 4
INFO 2004 Cyber Crime and Social Engineering 10
Select one elective 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 5
MATH 2006 Experimental Design and Analysis 10
COMP 1013 Analytics Programming 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 6
COMP 2020 Technologies for Web Applications 10
INFO 2006 Usable Security 10
 Credit Points20
Year 3
Trimester 7
INFO 3001 Computer Security 10
BEHV 3018 Psychology and the Online World 10
 Credit Points20
Trimester 8
Select two electives 20
 Credit Points20
Trimester 9
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 30
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3016
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Community Placement  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
INFO 3014
 Digital Investigations and Forensics  
 Credit Points30
Year 4
Trimester 10
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 30
Placement Pathway:  
INFO 3017
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Industry Placement  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
Research Pathway:  
INFO 3020
 Cyber Security and Behaviour Research Project  
INFO 3002
 Ethical Hacking Principles and Practice  
 Credit Points30
Trimester 11
Students will undertake either a Placement or Research Pathway 20
Placement Pathway:  
Select two electives
  
Research Pathway:  
Select two electives
  
 Credit Points20
 Total Credit Points240

Equivalent Subjects

The subjects listed below count towards completion of this program for students who passed these subjects in 2021 or earlier.  

BEHV 1024 Applied Psychology, replaced by BEHV 1026 Cyber Behaviour

BEHV 1009 Living, Learning and Working on the Web, replaced by HUMN 1064 Digital Identities

INFO 3012 Cyber Security and Behaviour Placement 1, replaced by INFO 3017 Cyber Security and Behaviour Industry Placement

INFO 3013 Cyber Security and Behaviour Placement 2 replaced, by INFO 3016 Cyber Security and Behaviour Community Placement

Minor elective spaces

Elective subjects may be used toward obtaining an additional approved minor (40 credit points).  Western Sydney University offers minors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Global Sustainability Minor 
Indigenous Australian Studies Minor

Western Sydney University also offers the following innovative transdisciplinary minors which we encourage those students who have elective space to consider.

Equitable Technologies
Urban Evolution
Migration and Global Change  
Personal Innovation    
Innovating, Creating and Problem Solving 
Eco-Socially Conscious Design and Manufacturing
Water for Life 
Climate Justice
Global Workplaces
Innovating For Humans 
Creative Living for Cultural Wellbeing  
Ideate.Strategise.Innovate.
Humanising Data

Search for majors and minors

Students can apply for an elective minor via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)