Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - CMPT 318 D100

Special Topics in Computing Science (3)

Class Number: 5436

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    CMPT 225 with a minimum grade of C-. Additional prerequisites to be determined by the instructor subject to approval by the undergraduate program chair.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Special topics in computing science at the 300 level. Topics that are of current interest or are not covered in regular curriculum will be offered from time to time depending on availability of faculty and student interest.

COURSE DETAILS:

Cyber attacks are increasing in frequency, severity and sophistication. This course introduces cybersecurity (cyber security) concepts, principles and practices in responding to the globally evolving cyber threat landscape and explores cyber situational awareness and threat intelligence models. Cyber security analytics and probabilistic modeling for threat detection and response (mitigation and remediation) will play a central role. Fundamentals of cyber security risk assessment, intrusion detection and prevention methods and their application to critical infrastructure protection will be discussed in detail. Coursework involves using software environments for statistical computing and graphics including R and Python.

Topics

  • Online cyber intrusion detection
  • Advanced threats and zero-day exploits
  • Cyber risk assessment and management
  • Probability concepts, models and interpretation
  • Time series anomaly detection and scoring
  • Stochastic processes and Markov models
  • Cyber-physical control systems
  • Reinforcement Q-learning
  • Blockchain technology

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • Develop a broad understanding of common cyber security concepts, principles and practices used in responding to the globally evolving threat landscape;
  • Aquire detailed knowledge and practical skills for analyzing threat activity patterns detected in supervisory control systems for Operational Technology (OT), widely deployed for the continuous operation of critical infrastructures and services;
  • Boost awareness of challenges and opportunities as well as perspectives arising from this rapidly advancing field of computer science.

Grading

  • The course has three tests 35%
  • Three graded assignments 20%
  • A term project organized as group project 40%
  • Active class participation 5%

NOTES:

There will also be reading assignments and several tutorial sessions on using R. This grading scheme is tentative and to be finalized during the first week of classes.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Course materials (articles, lecture notes, tutorial notes, slides et cetera) will be provided as PDF documents through the online course home page.

RECOMMENDED READING:

An Introduction to Statistical Learning with Applications in R
G. James, D. Witten, T. Hastie, and R. Tibshirani
Springer
2017
ISBN: 9781461471370

How to Measure Anything in Cybersecurity Risk
2nd Edition
Douglas W. Hubbard and Richard Seiersen
John Wiley & Sons
2023
ISBN: 9781119892304

Fundamentals of Machine Learning for Predictive Data Analytics
John D. Kelleher, Brian Mac Namee, and Aoife D'Arcy
The MIT Press
2020
ISBN: 978-0262044691

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.