Computer Systems (Network Security Applications Development Option)

This course offers a comprehensive overview of software engineering issues: software development methodologies, software requirements analysis, functional and non-functional requirements, software architecture, design principles and paradigms, and quality assurance. Students will learn how to apply principles, use the most adequate strategies and tools, and assure quality during the entire software development cycle.​
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems Degree program. CST BTech 7000 level courses are also open to bachelor students from other disciplines, pending approval from the BTech Program Head.

The objective of this course is to apply concepts and problem-solving techniques that are used in the design and analysis of efficient algorithms. This course will provide students with exposure and practice to more advanced data structures and algorithmic strategies used in software development. Students will identify real world problems and apply a heuristic approach to solve them. After reviewing basic data structures and algorithms, students will apply advanced analysis techniques and algorithms. Particular emphasis will be placed on efficiency and optimization.​
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in MATH 7908

This course offers a comprehensive overview of project management techniques to effectively plan, manage, and control software development projects. Students will learn project management methodologies with an emphasis on software projects and agile methodology. Students will design a project for which they will create a project work breakdown structure; identify risks, inter-operability, and privacy and security issues; establish the necessary roles in the software development team; and apply strategies to control the project schedule and quality.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7082

​Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the intelligence expected to be demonstrated by machines and computer programs. This course is designed to provide students with expertise in creating and modifying required AI algorithms and techniques. The first part of the course will focus on classic AI solutions (especially decision making) while the second part will cover some of machine learning (ML) related applications of AI (with an emphasis on learning from examples). The course will consider real world problems that need to be solved with applications of AI and the techniques used to build such applications (e.g. using the techniques to create challenging non player characters (NPC) in games development or password strength classification and intrusion detection in network security). More specifically, students will learn about the searching paradigm in designing intelligent agents and will practice implementing search algorithms. Logical knowledge representation and reasoning (another essential tool for AI experts) will be another topic in this course. Probabilistic reasoning will also be explored to help students learn how to deal with incomplete information and uncertainty. The course will also examine different learning techniques to guide students in creating self-learning models that can improve performance in decision-making over time through practical examples.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 8042

This course covers the basics of linear algebra and related topics, including vector algebra with its application to 3D geometry, matrix algebra with application to solving systems of linear equations, complex numbers/ vectors and discrete Fourier Transforms. Matrix topics will include linear transformations, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, similarity of matrices and applications of these. Concepts such as vector spaces, inner product spaces, and symmetric and orthogonal matrices are also introduced. Computer algorithms for performing various matrix operations and calculations and discrete Fourier Transforms will be explored.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into CST BTech program.

This course will cover the advanced elements of Data Communication and Network Architecture. The TCP/IP protocol suite and its application within the Internet architecture will be examined in depth, and in a practical manner. Also covered will be advanced topics such as Wireless Data Communication, and Security Protocols, and Cryptology. Students will be introduced to the Berkeley socket API and the basics of Client/Server programming. Please note that COMP 7005 is offered once a year in the Fall term.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems Degree program.

This course is designed to provide students with a solid set of practical skills in the area of network and system-level programming on the Linux platform. The design and implementation of IPv4/IPv6 Client-Server applications is covered in-depth. Issues such as modularity and efficiency in the implementation of protocols will be covered. The emphasis will be very much the design and implementation of high-performance, robust, and scalable network applications. Security and private data transmission techniques over public networks are covered. Client-Server applications are designed and implemented using the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) API. An in-depth coverage of techniques used to design and develop secure code and robust applications will be provided. Students will also be familiarized with the Bluetooth software development techniques.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7005

This course is a study of topics of particular interest to advanced B. Tech students in the area of Network software development and Network security. The focus will be on the research and application of advanced implementation of security tools such as Covert Channels, Stealth Backdoors, Trojans, Packet crafting and sniffing, and security tools proof-of-concept and prototyping. Also covered will be Malware analysis and Reverse Engineering techniques.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 8005

The objectives of this course are to give students the opportunity to explore in-depth a selected area of computer technology and identify complex real-world problems. Students will select a problem to solve in their Major Project. They will critically analyze the problem, existing challenges and issues, and related literature. Students will prepare a project proposal that includes the project’s objectives, specifications, review of similar systems and related literature, feasibility analysis, and a design of a solution that should be innovative, experimental or exploratory in nature. Students will implement a proof-of-concept prototype to demonstrate the feasibility of their project. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• COMP 8082, LIBS 7001, at least one 8000 level specialty course

Based on their approved proposal developed in Comp 8037 Major Project Proposal, students will design, implement, and test their major project. This course is directed study under the guidance of a supervisor. Students will follow a software engineering methodology. The outcome of this course is a working project and a final report. Please refer to the Major Projects Guidelines as described on the CST BTech Commons webpage.​
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 8037

This is a course in advanced composition and rhetoric, in which students will develop skills in complex critical analysis and interpretation by analyzing and evaluating materials from a variety of discourses or genres, including visual, online, and print; developing and writing essays, including critiques and research papers; applying and discussing principles of rhetoric and critical theory; examining and using methods of interpretation and analysis from the humanities and social sciences; evaluating the credibility of primary and secondary sources, including as it applies to media literacy, and for the purposes of academic research; situating discourses within their historical context and relevant to rhetorical theories of different periods (for example, Aristotle in the ancient world and Bakhtin in the twentieth century). The course format will include lecture, discussion, and both individual and group activities.
Prerequisite(s):

• BCIT ENGL 1177 or equivalent, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of a university/college first-year social science or humanities course.

Fosters abilities and values required for ethical decision making at work. Develops skills in logical analysis, a working knowledge of moral principles and theories, and the ability to diagnose and resolve moral disagreements commonly found at work. Examines and applies moral principles to historically famous cases in manufacturing, human resources, management, engineering, health care, and computing.
Prerequisite(s):

• BCIT ENGL 1177, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of a university/college first-year social science or humanities course.

Introduction to networking and cross platform file sharing using Win32 and Linux tools. Students will learn the basics of NFS, SAMBA, Apache, NIS and DHCP. In depth coverage of TCP/IP and "real world" network traffic analysis using tools such as packet sniffers and tcpdump. Introduction to intrusion detection, attacks and defences.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems Degree program.

​Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) is the field of computing concerned with the design, implementation, and evaluation of interactive technology. In this foundation course students learn and apply HCI heuristics and principles to software development. Students will learn to analyze the context of interaction, identify the users' needs based on a user-centered approach, conduct usability studies, and design, implement and test effective and usable interfaces. Part of this course, students will develop an application related to their interests applying the capabilities of computer technology and the needs of human factors.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7082

​This course focuses on developing and deploying wireless applications on personal mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Popular data applications involving text messaging, web-browsing and email will be developed. This is a lab-based course in which students gain hands-on experience of developing applications on mobile platforms such as Android. Please note that COMP 7031 is offered once a year in the fall term.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems Degree program.

​This course offers an in-depth study of Database System Concepts and Architectures including, query processing, query optimization, transaction processing, concurrency control, recovery, parallel databases, distributed databases and access control. Design of storage and file structures including different indexing and hashing organizations are also discussed. ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation and Durability) property and non-ACID complied database are discussed. Various database languages are discussed including Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manipulation Language (DML). Comparative analysis with alternative data models and database systems is conducted. Assignments will reinforce learning through designing and constructing a database from conceptual, to logical model to final physical deployment.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems Degree program.

This course offers an introduction to the theory and practice of mobile graphics. Emphasis is placed on understanding the principles underlying interactive computer graphics on mobile devices, as well as gaining hands-on experience in programming with OpenGL ES.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course teaches students the art and science of securing data (information). Course components will cover Cryptography with an introduction to Cryptanalysis, with an emphasis on the practical implementation of Cryptographic algorithms and techniques. Topics in Cryptography will include substitution and transposition ciphers, including stream and block ciphers. Applications will include bit-manipulation ciphers, secret and public-key ciphers. Topics in Cryptanalysis will include traditional techniques such as Ciphertext-only, Known-plaintext, and Chosen-plaintext attacks. Students will also be introduced to more modern linear and differential cryptanalysis. Students will be permitted to choose programming languages of their choice in the implementation of algorithms during assignments and final projects.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course teaches students how to create intelligent chatbots. In this hands-on course, students will create chatbots that interact intelligently with people. The use of automated sentiment analysis techniques will be explored students can create chatbots are able to detect a range of human emotional expressions. Students will use a variety of platforms to create and deploy the software.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​This course provides an introduction to the various topics in Artificial Intelligence (AI). Topics to be covered include search, games, regression, classification and neural networks. Students will develop an understanding of the fundamentals underpinning AI applications and gain hands-on experience through the development of AI systems. Practical work in course projects focuses on developing components of AI systems as well as analyzing real-world datasets from different domains. The societal implications and ethical considerations in the design of AI systems will also be discussed.
Prerequisite(s):

• Acceptance into the Bachelor of Technology in Computer Systems Degree program OR special permission (COMP2121, MATH3042, COMP3522 or equivalent).

There is a wealth of information stored in each organization's operational data store, with an increasing demand to mine that data and use it for competitive advantage. Data Mining/Business Intelligence enables organizations to move from merely good to great by supporting better business decision making. Course participants will gain an understanding of the principles of data mining and the various techniques and algorithms through classroom instructions and by conducting a research paper in data mining / business intelligence technology. Through participation in a group project, students are exposed to hands-on experience of designing and using a data mining tool to consolidate their learning experience. Some of the Data Mining predictive and inference techniques learned in the course can apply to Big Data and Data Science. The course is divided into three main components: (1) Understanding of knowledge discovery, business intelligence, data mining concepts, techniques, selected algorithms and associated applications, as well as overview of the underlying large data storage architecture such as data warehouse and data mart; (2) Participation in a group project in design and building a model using a business intelligence data mining tool; (3) Conduct an individual research paper on a data mining algorithm and/or tool for a business application. ​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course is designed to equip students with Malware analysis skills, which are a critical requirement in the cybersecurity repertoire today. Throughout the course, students will learn to reverse engineer and analyze machine code. Students will be able to identify vulnerabilities in executable code and construct effective defenses against malicious attacks. The course will develop a strong set of skills for reverse-engineering malicious software using a variety of freely available tools. Students will learn to identify and acquire investigative leads from host and network-¬based indicators associated with malicious code and applications.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course will cover fundamental concepts, theory, methodologies, and techniques of DevOps. Students will learn principles of DevOps Software Development Lifecycle, and use various DevOps tools and frameworks designed to support real life deployment.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course builds on the foundations established in Comp 7006 and covers more advanced topics in network security and intrusion detection. In-depth coverage of perimeter protection and firewall designs. Advanced intrusion detection and IDS signature and analysis. Introduction to privacy and Cyberwarfare issues and vulnerabilities. Students will be familiarized with network monitoring and security tools, and use them to perform traffic analysis and network forensics.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7006

​This course provides a hands-on introduction to combining different input and output devices for human computer interaction, with a focus on the application of concepts. Lab exercises and assignments are used to help student understand the differences in input modalities and display devices and learn when and how to combine different input devices to create effective 3D user interfaces. Topics include visual representation of data, tactile and gesture input, wearable computing, user body tracking, context-aware computing, and multi-modal and 3D user interfaces.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7022

​This course builds upon the foundation of Wireless Mobile Application Development 1. High performance multimedia application as well as applications involving 2D/3D animation are developed for mobile platforms and evaluated. Impact of network connectivity as well as the underlying operating system on the performance of such applications is studied. This is a lab-based course in which students gain hands-on experience by developing the said applications on mobile platforms.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7031

​This course teaches the design and development of data warehouses. The OLTP and OLAP needs of businesses are analyzed to rationalize the need of data warehouses and corresponding data models. Data warehouse architectures ranging from ROLAP to MOLAP are developed and evaluated. Data models conducive to such needs are studied. Tools to develop in-house data warehouses are identified and practiced along with off-the-shelf data warehouse solutions including cloud based services. Role of competing concepts such as data lakes and big data is evaluated in the context of data warehousing.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7071

This course is a study of topics of particular interest to advanced B. Tech students in the area of network security. The focus will be on understanding network vulnerabilities and how they can be exploited. Penetration testing frameworks and tools will be covered. The use of Honeynets and wargames in understanding how to mitigate network threats and vulnerabilities will be covered.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 8006

​In this course students will learn advanced techniques aimed to design user interaction. This course introduces the students to adaptive interfaces that provide individualized support and incorporate intelligent agents. Applying heuristics and principles of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), probabilistic models and machine learning algorithms, students will learn how to design, implement and test adaptive software applications.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 8022

This course will cover a broad selection of topics in mobile computing architectures and protocols. Students will learn the principles of Mobile Computing and its enabling technologies, and explore solutions and paradigm shifts. The solutions and paradigm shifts address the issue of limited bandwidth and unreliability of wireless medium while taking advantage of mobility. The focus is on examining strategies and algorithms to achieve design goals such as performance, reliability, scalability, consistency and security in wireless mobile applications. The course will have a project component in which students will develop multimedia applications involving real-time communications as well as data storage for WLAN (Wireless Local Area Networks), WPAN (Wireless Personal Area Networks) or MANET (Mobile Ad-hoc Networks) platforms.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 8031

This course is focused on emerging object-oriented database technology. Object-oriented design and development is discussed with specific emphasis on database systems. Topics on handling large objects (LOBs) and database-web integration are also included.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 7071