Dear Dr. Jacob,
We the undersigned ask that the Department of Computer Science reinstate CPSC 527 (Computer Viruses and Malware) or an equivalent. Though the Department does offer a number of information security courses, this particular course seemed unique and had a reputation for it's difficult but also for invaluable skills and knowledge that students learned. Many foresaw it as one of the pinnacles of years of prerequisites, and finding out it will no longer be offered (and with no obvious replacement) has been very unwelcome news. We have created this petition so that you understand the number of students who planned to enroll in the course and to ask the course be reinstated or that an equivalent/replacement be offered for those wishing to specialize in information security.
Thank You,
Updates
March 31, 2020
The department is officially aware of our concerns. I am currently working to secure a meeting with the administration to discuss specific curriculum gaps.
11 Comments
While I'm not at UofC anymore, I would have loved to do this course. I hope, for future generations, that this course comes back. This course presents a great opportunity to learn about very real things that affect many people and their data. Please, bring this back.
As President of the Information Security Club, I believe this course was one of the cornerstones of our information security specialization. Members of our club were being introduced to many of the skills and tools that this course taught them to develop. On a personal note, seeing that University of Calgary offered a course like CPSC527 is one of the main reasons I decided to attend for this program.
this needs to be a course...
Very sad to see that this course is not offered anymore. :(
It's too late for me, bring it back for others!
First Year Computer Science Major
I've been looking forward to this specific course since before I began my degree. Hearing that it is now no longer offered, and with no replacement, is absolutely devastating. And right as I was finishing 3rd year! I thought that this course provided a hugely resourceful and stand-out experience, giving UofC grads in Information Security a real foothold into the area of virus and general malware research, since getting into those positions, or at least ones surrounding them, is incredibly difficult coming out of just an undergraduate degree. On top of that, it would be an amazing foundation for those going into a masters degree in the subject of security, but now students will simply be left without. This course in particular was one that I based my degree plan off of, and am now left wondering what I will do once I come back from my internship year. This is not a course that should be abandoned, as its relevance is increasing hand over fist as technology furthers, and the study of how we can protect ourselves in an evermore digital age should be emphasized! Please, in whatever capacity you and the CPSC faculty can do, reinstate or create a successor class in 527's stead. It would be greatly appreciated from all CPSC students, and would no doubt lead to better outcomes for InfoSec graduates.
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Dear Dr. Jacob,
We the undersigned ask that the Department of Computer Science reinstate CPSC 527 (Computer Viruses and Malware) or an equivalent. Though the Department does offer a number of information security courses, this particular course seemed unique and had a reputation for it's difficult but also for invaluable skills and knowledge that students learned. Many foresaw it as one of the pinnacles of years of prerequisites, and finding out it will no longer be offered (and with no obvious replacement) has been very unwelcome news. We have created this petition so that you understand the number of students who planned to enroll in the course and to ask the course be reinstated or that an equivalent/replacement be offered for those wishing to specialize in information security.
Thank You,
Updates
March 31, 2020
The department is officially aware of our concerns. I am currently working to secure a meeting with the administration to discuss specific curriculum gaps.
11 Comments
Looking at the courses offered, this course was one that stood out to me during my time at the U of C and disappointed me greatly that I couldn't take it. All of the other computer security courses offered never really went into any depth about what viruses and malware is, how they spread, and how they're combated. Hopefully this course will one day be brought back so that other students can learn about them in depth with a competent guiding hand.
While I'm not at UofC anymore, I would have loved to do this course. I hope, for future generations, that this course comes back. This course presents a great opportunity to learn about very real things that affect many people and their data. Please, bring this back.
As President of the Information Security Club, I believe this course was one of the cornerstones of our information security specialization. Members of our club were being introduced to many of the skills and tools that this course taught them to develop. On a personal note, seeing that University of Calgary offered a course like CPSC527 is one of the main reasons I decided to attend for this program.
this needs to be a course...
Very sad to see that this course is not offered anymore. :(
It's too late for me, bring it back for others!
First Year Computer Science Major
I've been looking forward to this specific course since before I began my degree. Hearing that it is now no longer offered, and with no replacement, is absolutely devastating. And right as I was finishing 3rd year! I thought that this course provided a hugely resourceful and stand-out experience, giving UofC grads in Information Security a real foothold into the area of virus and general malware research, since getting into those positions, or at least ones surrounding them, is incredibly difficult coming out of just an undergraduate degree. On top of that, it would be an amazing foundation for those going into a masters degree in the subject of security, but now students will simply be left without. This course in particular was one that I based my degree plan off of, and am now left wondering what I will do once I come back from my internship year. This is not a course that should be abandoned, as its relevance is increasing hand over fist as technology furthers, and the study of how we can protect ourselves in an evermore digital age should be emphasized! Please, in whatever capacity you and the CPSC faculty can do, reinstate or create a successor class in 527's stead. It would be greatly appreciated from all CPSC students, and would no doubt lead to better outcomes for InfoSec graduates.
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Looking at the courses offered, this course was one that stood out to me during my time at the U of C and disappointed me greatly that I couldn't take it. All of the other computer security courses offered never really went into any depth about what viruses and malware is, how they spread, and how they're combated. Hopefully this course will one day be brought back so that other students can learn about them in depth with a competent guiding hand.