Cybersecurity, M.S.

Master’s Degree Requirements (Online and On Campus)

To satisfy the requirements for the Cybersecurity M.S. program, the student must complete 30 credits, as listed below, with an overall average of B. In addition, a B average is required across all the required Cybersecurity core courses and the capstone course.

Cybersecurity Core

The following Cybersecurity core courses (12 credits) are required. An average grade of B is required across all the Cybersecurity core courses.

CS-GY 6813 Information, Security and Privacy 3 Credits
CS-GY 6823 Network Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 6903 Applied Cryptography 3 Credits
CS-GY 9163 Application Security 3 Credits

Depth Electives

Students must choose 3 (9 credits) of the following courses.

CS-GY 6573 Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis 3 Credits
CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management 3 Credits
CS-GY 6963 Digital Forensics 3 Credits
CS-GY 9223 Cloud Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 9223 Mobile Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 9223 Offensive Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 9223 Operational Technology Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 9963 Advanced Project in Computer Science 3 Credits

Note:

Other Cybersecurity courses may be chosen with the Academic Advisor’s approval.

Breadth Electives

Students must select 3 (9 credits) of the following Computer Science courses.

CS-GY 6003 Foundations of Computer Science 3 Credits
CS-GY 6033 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I 3 Credits
CS-GY 6083 Principles of Database Systems 3 Credits
CS-GY 6233 Introduction to Operating Systems 3 Credits
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking 3 Credits
CS-GY 6923 Machine Learning 3 Credits

Note:

Other Computer Science courses may be chosen with the Academic Advisor’s approval.

Capstone Project Requirement

All Cybersecurity students are required to complete a capstone project that showcases a culmination of skills and knowledge learned throughout the program. There are two options to meet this requirement:

Capstone Option 1: Students may take CS-GY 9963 Advanced Project in Computer Science and complete a project under the direction of faculty.

Capstone Option 2: If students do not complete an Advanced Project, then their capstone project will be either from CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management or CS-GY 9163 Application Security , whichever course is taken last.*

It is recommended that students take their capstone course in their final semester.

*Students admitted between Fall 2021 and Spring 2023 have the option of counting CS-GY 6903 Applied Cryptography as the capstone course, since this course was a capstone option prior to Fall 2023.

Cybersecurity Concentrations

The Cybersecurity Concentrations allow students to focus their degree in specific branches of cybersecurity. By taking certain courses in the normal 30 credit requirements, students may concentrate their degree in Cyber Defense or Cyber Operations.

Cyber Defense Concentration

For the Cyber Defense Concentration, students must take these specific courses:

CS-GY 6233 Introduction to Operating Systems 3 Credits
CS-GY 6573 Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis 3 Credits
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking 3 Credits

Cyber Operations Concentration

For the Cyber Operations Concentration, students must take these specific courses:

CS-GY 6233 Introduction to Operating Systems 3 Credits
CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management 3 Credits
CS-GY 6813 Information, Security and Privacy 3 Credits
CS-GY 6823 Network Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking 3 Credits
CS-GY 6903 Applied Cryptography 3 Credits
CS-GY 9163 Application Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 9223 Mobile Security 3 Credits
CS-GY 9223 Offensive Security 3 Credits
And one of the following:
CS-GY 6963 Digital Forensics 3 Credits
Or
CS-GY 9223 Cloud Security 3 Credits
Or
CS-GY 9223 Operational Technology Security 3 Credits

Sample Study Plans

The particular courses that a student takes during the program will vary according to the student’s interests and background, course offerings and whether the student studies full-time or part-time. The following are examples of courses a typical student might take. These are just samples meant to help in planning the courses for the degree. Individual study plans may differ depending on when courses are offered.

Sample Plan 1

Here is a example of a study plan for a typical full-time on-campus student, completing the program in 2 years.

Fall 1	Credits	Spring 1	Credits
CS-GY 6813 Information, Security and Privacy (core)	3	CS-GY 6823 Network Security (core)	3
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking (breadth elective)	3	CS-GY 6083 Principles of Database Systems (breadth elective)	3
CS-GY 6033 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I (breadth elective)	3	CS-GY 6573 Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis (depth elective)	3
Fall 2	Credits	Spring 2	Credits
CS-GY 9163 Application Security (core)	3	CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management (capstone + depth elective)	3
CS-GY 9223 Mobile Security (depth elective)	3
CS-GY 6903 Applied Cryptography (core)	3

Sample Plan 2

Here is sample study plan for a typical full-time online student, completing the program in 1.5 years.

Fall 1	Credits	Spring 1	Credits
CS-GY 6813 Information, Security and Privacy (core)	3	CS-GY 6823 Network Security (core)	3
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking (breadth elective)	3	CS-GY 6083 Principles of Database Systems (breadth elective)	3
CS-GY 6033 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I (breadth elective)	3	CS-GY 6573 Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis (depth elective)	3
Summer	Credits
CS-GY 9223 Mobile Security (depth elective)	3
Fall 2	Credits
CS-GY 9163 Application Security (core)	3
CS-GY 6903 Applied Cryptography (core)	3
CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management (capstone + depth elective)	3

Sample Plan 3

Here is a sample plan for a part-time online student, completing the program in 2.5 years.

Fall 1	Credits	Spring 1	Credits
CS-GY 6813 Information, Security and Privacy (core)	3	CS-GY 6033 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I (breadth elective)	3
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking (breadth elective)	3
Summer 1	Credits
CS-GY 6823 Network Security (core)	3
Fall 2	Credits	Spring 2	Credits
CS-GY 9163 Application Security (core)	3	CS-GY 6083 Principles of Database Systems (breadth elective)	3
CS-GY 6573 Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis (depth elective)	3
Summer 2	Credits
CS-GY 9223 Mobile Security (depth elective)	3
Fall 3	Credits
CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management (capstone + depth elective)	3
CS-GY 6903 Applied Cryptography (core)	3