SNHU CS-305: Software Security
CS-305 teaches secure coding in Java through the Artemis Financial project: you assess a provided codebase for vulnerabilities, then refactor it to add secure communications, hashing, and dependency checks. It sits in the upper CS core and assumes comfortable Java from IT-145 and CS-320.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with Southern New Hampshire University. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my CS-305 study planWhat makes it hard
Most of the difficulty is reading and modifying someone else's code rather than writing your own — certificate generation, enabling HTTPS, and interpreting the OWASP dependency-check report are fiddly, tool-driven tasks where one skipped step breaks everything. The written vulnerability assessment also carries real grade weight, and students who code well but document thinly lose points there.
What you'll cover
- • Vulnerability assessment
- • Secure coding practices
- • Cryptographic hashing (SHA-256)
- • Certificates and HTTPS
- • OWASP dependency checking
- • Refactoring for security
The CS-305 study guide
How to study for SNHU CS-305, step by step.
- 1
Get the starter project building in week 1
The Artemis Financial code has to compile and run before any security work starts. Tooling friction with Maven and Java versions is where CS-305 time quietly disappears.
- 2
Learn the vocabulary behind each fix
Know what a hash actually guarantees and what a certificate proves before you implement either. The written assessments grade your reasoning, not just whether the checksum prints.
- 3
Follow the certificate steps exactly, in order
Generating a keystore and enabling HTTPS is a sequence of precise commands where one skipped flag breaks the chain. Document each command as you run it — the report needs them anyway.
- 4
Read the dependency-check report critically
The OWASP scan flags more than you need to fix. Practice separating real, relevant vulnerabilities from noise, because the assessment asks you to justify what you addressed and what you didn't.
- 5
Pace the refactor with Fennie
Upload the CS-305 module list and Fennie's Daily Plans split each week between code work and write-up time ahead of the Sunday deadlines, with flashcards on the security concepts generated from your actual course materials. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with CS-305
Upload the CS-305 module list and Fennie's Daily Plans split each week between refactoring work and the written assessments so neither gets crammed Sunday night. Chat through the concepts behind the steps — what hashing guarantees, why the certificate chain matters — and quiz yourself on secure-coding vocabulary before the report weeks.
FAQ
Is SNHU CS-305 hard?
It's moderate — less algorithmic than CS-300 but heavy on tooling and documentation. The students who struggle are those who treat the written vulnerability assessment as an afterthought; it carries real grade weight.
What is the CS-305 project?
The Artemis Financial project: you take a provided Java codebase, assess it for security vulnerabilities, then refactor it to add SHA-256 hashing, HTTPS with a self-signed certificate, and an OWASP dependency check, documenting everything in a written report.
Do I need to know cryptography for CS-305?
No — the course introduces what you need at a practical level. You use existing Java libraries and tools rather than implementing algorithms; understanding what each one guarantees is the actual skill being graded.
Pass CS-305 with a plan, not a cram
Upload your CS-305 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
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