Cyber Security (CYSEC) Ph.D. Qualifying Exam

Cyber Security (CYSEC) Ph.D. The Qualifying Exam consists of written and oral exam parts as explained in detail below.

Ph.D. Qualifying Written Exam

CYSEC PhD Program offers the following written qualifying exams:

Cryptography and Network Security (CS 411, CS432)
Operating Systems and Computer Networks (CS307, CS408)
Computer Architecture and Digital Design (CS303, CS401)
Each package is equivalent to one FENS subject area.

Students must pass Ph.D. Qualifying written exams from three packages with the following rules:

Students must pass Cryptography and Network Security exam.
Students must pass at least one of “Operating Systems and Computer Networks” and “Computer Architecture and Digital Design” exams.
If needed, students can select their third exam from the following options:

One of exams provided by the CSE program
“Engineering Mathematics” exam provided by the EE program
“Finite Fields and Applications” exam provided by the MATH program
“Stochastic Models in Operations Research” exam provided by the IE program.
Students are strongly advised to receive the consent of their thesis advisors and when needed contact the Graduate Advisor/PhD Committee representative of the CYSEC  program before taking the exams.

Those students in other FENS PhD programs (non-CYSEC students) can take any one of the three exams. However, non-CYSEC students are strongly advised to receive the consent of their thesis advisors and also contact the Graduate Advisor/PhD Committee representative of their own program before taking the exams.
 

Ph.D. Qualifying Oral Exam, Timeline, and Evaluation

For CYSEC students:
If a student failed in one or more package(s), he/she has to take only the package(s) that he/she failed or replace his/her non-mandatory failed package(s), from other FENS Qual Subjects.

After the written exam, there will be an oral exam. The oral exam can be taken after a student passes from all written tests.

For non CYSEC students:
Students can take any of the three packages above and their affiliated programs will be informed about the grade(s) of the students.

 1. Develop and deepen the current and advanced knowledge in the field with original thought and/or research and come up with innovative definitions based on Master's degree qualifications.

2. Conceive the interdisciplinary interaction which the field is related with; come up with original solutions by using knowledge requiring proficiency on analysis, synthesis and assessment of new and complex ideas.

3. Evaluate and use new information within the field in a systematic approach.

4. Develop an innovative knowledge, method, design and/or practice or adapt an already known knowledge, method, design and/or practice to another field; research, conceive, design, adapt and implement an original subject.

5. Critical analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of new and complex ideas.

6. Gain advanced level skills in the use of research methods in the field of study.

7. Contribute the progression in the field by producing an innovative idea, skill, design and/or practice or by adapting an already known idea, skill, design, and/or practice to a different field independently.

8. Broaden the borders of the knowledge in the field by producing or interpreting an original work or publishing at least one scientific paper in the field in national and/or international refereed journals.

9. Demonstrate leadership in contexts requiring innovative and interdisciplinary problem solving.

10. Develop new ideas and methods in the field by using high level mental processes such as creative and critical thinking, problem solving and decision making.

11. Investigate and improve social connections and their conducting norms and manage the actions to change them when necessary.

12. Defend original views when exchanging ideas in the field with professionals and communicate effectively by showing competence in the field.

13. Ability to communicate and discuss orally, in written and visually with peers by using a foreign language at least at a level of European Language Portfolio C1 General Level.

14. Contribute to the transition of the community to an information society and its sustainability process by introducing scientific, technological, social or cultural improvements.

15. Demonstrate functional interaction by using strategic decision-making processes in solving problems encountered in the field.

16. Contribute to the solution finding process regarding social, scientific, cultural and ethical problems in the field and support the development of these values.

Common Outcomes of Our Graduate Programs at SU:

1. Develop the ability to use critical, analytical, and reflective thinking and reasoning

2. Reflect on social and ethical responsibilities in his/her professional life.

3. Gain experience and confidence in the dissemination of project/research outputs

4. Work responsibly and creatively as an individual or as a member or leader of a team and in multidisciplinary environments.

5. Communicate effectively by oral, written, graphical and technological means and have competency in English.

6. Independently reach and acquire information and develop appreciation of the need for continuously learning and updating.

Common Outcomes of Our Graduate Programs at FENS:

7. Design and model engineering systems and processes and solve engineering problems with an innovative approach.

8. Establish experimental setups, conduct experiments and/or simulations.

9. Analytically acquire and interpret data.

Cyber Security (With Thesis) Graduate Program Specific Outcomes:

10. To have acquired basic theoretical knowledge and technical infrastructure in the field of cyber security,

11. To have developed a deep experience and understanding on the basic methods and human-induced and technical weaknesses followed by the existing and future cyber-attacks, threats, and counterfeiting,

12. To be able to analyze an IT infrastructure comprehensively and to determine risk by monitoring the existing weaknesses and to determine a cyber security strategy,

13. To take the necessary measures to prevent possible costs and destruction during the occurrence of cyber-attacks,

14. To be able to use current cyber security software tools and related software for professional purposes,