Master of Science in Cybersecurity
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary program that addresses computer science and electrical and computer engineering topics from a cybersecurity perspective. The program will train the next generation of professionals for careers in industry, government, and academia to safeguard our society and our world. The degree is based on course work. No research, thesis or comprehensive examination is required. MCYS students are normally self-supported, and some enroll on a part-time basis.
About
The MS in Cybersecurity (MCYS) is offered by the departments of Computer Science (CSC) and Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE). The program is offered on campus and online. It provides students with the latest technical knowledge and skills in cybersecurity and privacy principles and the engineering aspects of software and hardware security to build secure systems that are resistant to attack. Vulnerabilities can enable cyber attacks that could lead to critical disruptions in telecommunications, banking, utilities, data storage, transportation, and more.
The program contributes to the economic development of North Carolina by providing a pipeline of experienced cybersecurity-trained professionals to support the development of technology solutions across a range of industries.
Specific educational objectives are comprehensive and are in alignment with the faculty in the North Carolina State University Secure Computing Institute (SCI), of which include:
- Design, develop, and analyze secure and privacy-aware systems
- Secure the critical infrastructure (e.g., network, cloud, telephony, Internet of Things)
- Enhance the security and privacy of end-user technologies (e.g., mobile, web, IoT, blockchain)
Curriculum
Course descriptions and up-to-date requisite information are available on NC State’s Course Catalog. A summary of the curriculum requirements for the Master of Cybersecurity is below:
| Requirements | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Cybersecurity Core or Foundation Electives courses | 12 |
| Cybersecurity Core Electives | 12 |
| CSC 600 Graduate orientation | 1 |
| CSC/ECE 574 Computer and Network Security | 3 |
| CSC 595 Cybersecurity Practicum | 3 |
| Total | 31 |
Completion of the curriculum requires 31 graduate credits. All incoming MCYS students must register for an orientation course: CSC 600 (Computer Science Graduate Orientation).
All students must complete and pass CSC/ECE 574 (Computer and Network Security) and CSC 595 (Cybersecurity Practicum). Additionally 8 courses must be taken from the following list of courses, 4 must be taken from Cybersecurity Core Electives, and the remaining 4 may be taken from Cybersecurity Core Electives or Cybersecurity Foundation Electives.
Cybersecurity Core Electives
CSC/MA 514 (Foundations of Cryptography), CSC 515 (Software Security), CSC 533 (Privacy in the Digital Age), CSC 537 (Systems Attacks and Defenses),
ECE 545 (Cryptographic Engineering and Hardware Security), CSC 705 (Operating Systems Security), CSC 774/ECE 774 (Advanced Network Security), CSC 789 (Cellular and Telecommunications Security).
Special topics courses (CSC 59x or 79x) may not be used to satisfy core elective requirements unless explicitly stated.
Cybersecurity Foundations Electives
CSC 501 (Operating Systems), CSC 510 (Software Engineering), CSC 512 (Compiler Construction), CSC 519 (DevOps: Modern Software Engineering Practices), CSC 522 (Automated Learning and Data Analysis), CSC 547/ECE 547 (Cloud Computing Technology), CSC 554 (Human-Computer Interaction), CSC 570/ECE 570 (Computer Networks), CSC 573/ECE 573 (Internet Protocols), CSC 575/ECE 575 (Introduction to Wireless Networking), CSC 576/ECE 576 (Networking Services: QoS, Signaling, Processes), CSC 577/ECE 577 (Switched Network Management), CSC 707 (Automata, Languages and Computability Theory), CSC 712 (Software Testing and Reliability), CSC 722 (Advanced Topics in Machine Learning), CSC 724 (Advanced Distributed Systems), CSC 773/ECE 773 (Advanced Topics in Internet Protocols)
Special topics courses (CSC 59x or 79x) may not be used to satisfy foundations elective requirements unless explicitly stated.