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Academic Catalog 2022-2023

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Cybersecurity, MS

2022-2023 Edition

  • Undergraduate
  • College of Professional Studies Undergraduate
  • Graduate
    • General Admission and Transfer Credit
    • Information for Entering Students
    • Financial Information
    • University-​Wide Academic Policies and Procedures
    • PhD Programs
    • College of Arts, Media and Design
    • D'Amore-​McKim School of Business
    • Khoury College of Computer Sciences
      • Academic Policies and Procedures
      • Computer Science
      • Cybersecurity
        • Cybersecurity, PhD
        • Cybersecurity, MS
        • Cybersecurity, Graduate Certificate
      • Health Informatics
      • Interdisciplinary
    • College of Engineering
    • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
    • School of Law
    • College of Professional Studies
    • College of Science
    • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
    • Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership
    • Additional Programs
    • Faculty
    • Appendix
  • Course Descriptions
  • Catalog Archives
  • Overview
  • Standard Program Requirements
  • Align Program Requirements

Our Master of Science in Cybersecurity combines a solid understanding of information security technology with relevant knowledge from law, the social sciences, criminology, and management. The MS program is designed for working professionals and also 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 and experimental 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 career 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.

The MS 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 object-oriented design, as well as introductions to algorithms and computer systems. 

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 concentration in criminology and criminal justice will offer MSCY students an opportunity to obtain the fundamental principles and the most important practices that criminal justice professionals use.

Gordon Institute of Engineering Leadership

Master's Degree in Cybersecurity with Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership

Students may complete a Master of Science in Cybersecurity in addition to earning a Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership. Students must apply and be admitted to the Gordon Engineering Leadership Program in order to pursue this option. The certificate program requires fulfillment of the 16-semester-hour curriculum required to earn the Graduate Certificate in Engineering Leadership, which includes an industry-based challenge project with multiple mentors. The integrated 36-semester-hour master’s degree and certificate require 24 hours from the Master of Science in Cybersecurity (MS required courses, technical track, and contextual track).

Core Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundations
CY 5001Cyberspace Technology and Applications 14
CY 5010Foundations of Information Assurance4
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
CY 6240
Special Topics in Privacy Law
Capstone
CY 7900Capstone Project4

Electives

Course List
Code Title Hours
Complete 4 semester hours from the following:4
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 6710
Wireless Network
CS 7580
Special Topics in Software Engineering
CS 7805
Complexity Theory
CY 5040
Introduction to Cyberspace Programming 2
CY 5061
Cloud Security
CY 5062
Introduction to IoT Security
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 6120
Software Security Practices
CY 6200
Special Topics in IT Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance
CY 6240
Special Topics in Privacy Law
CY 6720
Machine Learning in Cybersecurity and Privacy
CY 6740
Network Security
CY 6750
Cryptography and Communications Security
CY 6760
Wireless and Mobile Systems Security
CY 7790
Special Topics in Security and Privacy
CRIM 6200
Criminology
CRIM 6202
The Criminal Justice Process
CRIM 6262
Evidence-Based Crime Policy
PPUA 6503
Managing People in Public and Nonprofit Sectors
POLS 7341
Security and Resilience Policy
POLS 7441
Cyberconflict

Concentration in Criminology

This 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
Required8
CRIM 6200
Criminology
CRIM 6202
The Criminal Justice Process
Complete one of the following:4
CRIM 6262
Evidence-Based Crime Policy
CY 5250
Decision Making for Critical Infrastructure
CRIM elective 2

Program Credit/GPA Requirements

32 total semester hours required
Minimum 3.000 GPA required

1

A student who demonstrates prior mastery of the learning outcomes for Cyberspace Technology and Applications (CY 5001) may replace the course with elective coursework to meet the semester hours required for the degree.  See the electives list for options. 

2

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

Align Bridge Coursework

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

Course List
Code Title Hours
Students will be required to complete two or more of the following bridge courses to be determined by faculty mentor.8
Fundamentals
CS 5001
and CS 5003
Intensive Foundations of Computer Science
and Recitation for CS 5001
Discrete Structures
CS 5002
Discrete Structures
Cybersecurity
CY 5001
Cyberspace Technology and Applications
Additional Align Courses
CS 5008
and CS 5009
Data Structures, Algorithms, and Their Applications within Computer Systems
and Recitation for CS 5008

Core Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Foundations
CY 5010Foundations of Information Assurance4
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
CY 6240
Special Topics in Privacy Law
Capstone
CY 7900Capstone Project4

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 6710
Wireless Network
CS 7580
Special Topics in Software Engineering
CS 7805
Complexity Theory
CY 5040
Introduction to Cyberspace Programming 2
CY 5061
Cloud Security
CY 5062
Introduction to IoT Security
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 6120
Software Security Practices
CY 6200
Special Topics in IT Security Governance, Risk, and Compliance
CY 6240
Special Topics in Privacy Law
CY 6720
Machine Learning in Cybersecurity and Privacy
CY 6740
Network Security
CY 6750
Cryptography and Communications Security
CY 6760
Wireless and Mobile Systems Security
POLS 7341
Security and Resilience Policy
POLS 7441
Cyberconflict
PPUA 6503
Managing People in Public and Nonprofit Sectors

Concentration in Criminology

This 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
Required8
CRIM 6200
Criminology
CRIM 6202
The Criminal Justice Process
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.

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