This unit provides an introduction to the knowledge and skills required for the design, writing and support of technical software and other such functions normally falling within the role of the systems programmer. It provides for detailed study of a systems programming environment and its application to systems programming tasks.

This unit is concerned with the protection and privacy of information in computer systems. The focus of the course is primarily on introducing basic concepts in computer and information security and then using this knowledge as the vehicle to study the design and implementation of secure computer and network systems. This unit also provides students with practical experience with security programming. In more specific terms, the unit is intended to provide the following: basic concepts of conventional and public key encryption; number theory and its application in public key encryption and signatures; protocols used in secure computer systems.

This unit is concerned with the protection of information transferred over computer networks. It includes discussion of techniques for securing data transported over local and wide area networks. At the conclusion of the unit students will have a good understanding of the practical aspects of securing a computer network against internal and external attacks.

This unit provides an introduction to the theory and practice of the internal structure, implementation and functionality of operating systems. The unit is relevant not only for systems programmers, but also for applications developers who need to understand how operating systems control computer hardware, and how they provide convenience, efficiency and security for application development and implementation.