COSC 8720: Doctoral Seminar: Computer Security
Fall 2024

Instructor: Prof. Benjamin E. Ujcich
Instructor Email: bu31 [at] georgetown [dot] edu

Office Hours: Thursdays 12:30 – 1:30 PM ET or by appointment (see Canvas for Zoom info)

Course Description

This doctoral seminar investigates current trends in computer and network security research. Students will read recent research papers in computer and network security academic venues. The course requires students to engage in novel research, supervised by the instructor.

This version of the seminar will focus on the trends of the security challenges of programmable networking and recent novel uses of programmable networks to enhance system security.

Textbook and Readings

Course Communications

The information on this course website is subject to change. Please check back regularly!

We will make use of the following communication methods during this course:

  • Announcements will be announced during class and posted on Canvas.
  • Meetings will be in person.
  • The course schedule and assignment information will be posted on this page.
  • Paper discussions will be managed through Perusall (link within Canvas).
  • Grades and assignment submissions will be managed through Canvas.
  • The class forum will be managed through Piazza, which can also be found on the course Canvas page under the Piazza tab. Note that Piazza will often be the easiest, fastest, and most efficient way to get in contact.

For administrative issues, e-mail the course instructor.

Grading

See the assignments page for more information. Semester grades will be calculated as follows:

  • 30%: Discussion participation
  • 20%: Discussion leader presentations
  • 50%: Research projects
    • 5%: Proposal
    • 5%: Related work
    • 10%: Status updates
    • 15%: Final presentation
    • 15%: Final report

University and Department Policies

You are required to familiarize yourself with the University’s Information Security Policy and Computer Systems Acceptable Use Policy. Enrollment in this class does not constitute a waiver of these policies. You are expected and required to obey all University policies. Talk to the instructor before conducting any network experiments.

The course follows the Departmental Honor Policy, which (among other topics) includes information about what constitutes academic plagairism and cheating. If you are unsure whether or not a certain practice is permissible, please ask the instructor beforehand.

Additional University policies can be found here.

Special Accommodations

If you believe that you have a disability that will affect your performance in this class, please contact the Academic Resource Center (arc@georgetown.edu) for further information. The center is located in the Leavey Center, Suite 335. The Academic Resource Center is the campus office responsible for reviewing documentation provided by students with disabilities and for determining reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and University policies.

Support Services

Georgetown offers a variety of support services for students that can be accessed online and has put together this newsletter, which aims to provide you with information about well-being resources and virtual meetings that can connect you with mental health professionals on and off campus during this time. Below are some resources available to you:

Georgetown University and its faculty are committed to supporting survivors and those impacted by sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, and stalking. Georgetown requires faculty members, unless otherwise designated as confidential, to report all disclosures of sexual misconduct to the University Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator. If you disclose an incident of sexual misconduct to a professor in or outside of the classroom (with the exception of disclosures in papers), that faculty member must report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator, or Deputy Title IX Coordinator. The coordinator, will, in turn, reach out to the student to provide support, resources, and the option to meet. Please note that the student is not required to meet with the Title IX coordinator.

Please note that University policy requires faculty to report any disclosures about sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the University’s response to sexual misconduct. Georgetown has a number of fully confidential professional resources who can provide support and assistance to survivors of sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct. These resources include:

  • Jen Schweer, MA, LPC, Associate Director of Health Education Services for Sexual Assault Response and Prevention, 202-687-0323 or jls242@georgetown.edu
  • Erica Shirley, Trauma Specialist, Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS), 202-687-6985 or els54@georgetown.edu

More information about reporting options and resources can be found on the Sexual Misconduct Website.

Georgetown University is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive environment for pregnant and parenting students. Students may request adjustments based on general pregnancy needs or accommodations based on a pregnancy-related complication. Specific adjustments will be handled on a case by case basis and will depend on medical needs and academic requirements. Students seeking a pregnancy adjustment or accommodation should follow the process laid out on the Title IX website.

Discrimination based on sex, including sexual misconduct and discrimination based on pregnancy or parenting status, subverts the University’s mission and threatens permanent damage to the educational experience, careers, and well-being of students, faculty, and staff.