Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

No Banner module data is available

Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: CA646I)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

This module introduces students to modern public-key cryptography and security protocols.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the fundamental concepts underpinning public-key cryptography, digital signature schemes and provable security.
2. Explain the mathematical concepts underlying RSA and ElGamal, and perform appropriate calculations and proofs using these concepts.
3. Describe and analyse public-key encryption schemes and digital signature schemes based on RSA and ElGamal.
4. Interpret and synthesize reductionist security arguments for differing security goals.
5. Design & write software to implement public-key encryption schemes and digital signature schemes based on RSA and ElGamal.
6. Describe the fundamental concepts underpinning security protocols, key management and public key infrastructures.
7. Describe and analyse security protocols for applications such as authentication, key-exchange, e-mail,e-cash, zero-knowledge protocols, bit-commitment protocols and fair-exchange protocols.
8. Design & write software to implement security protocols.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	36	Lecture
Independent Study	64	Private study/research
Assignment Completion	80	Math/Programming Exercises
Total Workload: 180

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	A collection of mathematical and coding tasks.	30%	n/a
Formal Examination	End of semester examination	70%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	4,
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Wenbo Mao: 2004, Modern Cryptography: Theory & Practice, Prentice Hall,
Katz & Lindell: 2008, Introduction to Modern Cryptography, Chapman & Hall,
Menezes, van Oorschot & Vanstone: 1997, Handbook of Applied Cryptography, CRC Press, http://www.cacr.math.uwaterloo.ca/hac/,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None