Cybersecurity, MS—Align (Boston)

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity—Align program is designed for students with a BS/BA degree from all backgrounds. During the first semester of year one, students are expected to take foundational courses in computer science fundamentals, as well as a course in data structures/discrete mathematics. During their second semester, students take coursework in foundations of cybersecurity. 

Our Master of Science in Cybersecurity combines a solid understanding of information security technology with relevant knowledge from law and ethics, the social sciences, criminology, and management. The MS program is designed for working professionals and recent graduates who want knowledge they can apply in workplaces to assess and manage information security risks effectively.

The cybersecurity program provides graduates with both the theoretical understanding and technical skills to perform professional cybersecurity duties. Due to the broad variety of positions that cybersecurity professionals may hold in the industry, our curriculum is designed to provide enough flexibility to our students to tailor their own careers appropriately.

The cybersecurity curriculum is intended to provide a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, which includes both the technical skills and the contextual understanding that are fundamental to cybersecurity professions.

Concentration in Criminology

Cybercrime has evolved into more advanced techniques and sophisticated structures. Cybersecurity professionals are of vital importance in crime investigations, and for that reason, they need to have a well-rounded background and knowledge. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity provides an interdisciplinary foundation that includes computer science technical courses, complemented with the contextual knowledge courses required for a proper holistic approach to cybercrime. The optional concentration in criminology will offer MSCY students an opportunity to obtain the fundamental principles and the most important practices that criminal justice professionals use.

Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.

Align Bridge Coursework

A grade of B or higher is required in each course.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Fundamentals
CS 5001 and CS 5003	Intensive Foundations of Computer Science and Recitation for CS 5001	4
Discrete Structures
CS 5002	Discrete Structures	4
Cybersecurity
CY 5001	Cybersecurity: Technologies, Threats, and Defenses	4
Additional Align Courses
CY 5003	Foundations of Software Security	4

Core Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Foundations
CY 5010	Cybersecurity Principles and Practices	4
Technical Track
Complete 8 semester hours from the following:		8
CY 5120	Applied Cryptography
CY 5130	Computer System Security
CY 5150	Network Security Practices
CY 5770	Software Vulnerabilities and Security
CY 6120	Software Security Practices
CY 6740	Network Security
CY 6760	Wireless and Mobile Systems Security
Contextual Track
Complete 8 semester hours from the following:		8
CY 5200	Security Risk Management and Assessment
CY 5210	Information System Forensics
CY 5240	Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights
CY 5250	Decision Making for Critical Infrastructure
CY 6200	Special Topics in IT Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance
Capstone
CY 7900	Capstone Project	4

Electives

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Complete 4 semester hours from the following:		4
CRIM 6200	Criminology
CRIM 6202	The Criminal Justice Process
CRIM 6262	Evidence-Based Crime Policy
CS 5200	Database Management Systems
CS 5500	Foundations of Software Engineering
CS 5600	Computer Systems
CS 5610	Web Development
CS 5700	Fundamentals of Computer Networking
CS 7580	Special Topics in Software Engineering
CS 7805	Complexity Theory
CY 5065	Cloud Security Practices
CY 5120	Applied Cryptography
CY 5130	Computer System Security
CY 5150	Network Security Practices
CY 5200	Security Risk Management and Assessment
CY 5210	Information System Forensics
CY 5240	Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and Digital Rights
CY 5770	Software Vulnerabilities and Security
CY 6200	Special Topics in IT Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance
CY 6740	Network Security
CY 6760	Wireless and Mobile Systems Security
CY 7790	Special Topics in Security and Privacy
POLS 7341	Security and Resilience Policy
PPUA 6503	Managing People in Public and Nonprofit Sectors

Concentration in Criminology

This optional concentration's required courses may count toward the contextual track, and its elective may count toward the major's elective area.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required
CRIM 6200	Criminology	4
CRIM 6202	The Criminal Justice Process	4
Complete one of the following:		4
CRIM 6262	Evidence-Based Crime Policy
CY 5250	Decision Making for Critical Infrastructure
CRIM elective 1

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

36–44 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

¹

CRIM elective to be approved by director/associate director of MSCY.