COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Science in National Cyber Security Studies (NCSS) is a 36-39 unit program designed to prepare students for professional careers in cyber security, intelligence analysis, and national security policy. The program equips students with the skills to identify, assess, and mitigate cyber threats while providing a deep understanding of intelligence analysis and strategic decision-making. The curriculum is divided into core courses, a cyber security field concentration, elective courses, and a culminating experience. Core courses, totaling 18 units, cover national security policy, international security, cyber security and cyber warfare, intelligence assessments, and the theory and history of strategy, giving students a solid foundation in the principles, frameworks, and practices of national security and intelligence. The cyber security field consists of 15 units focused on technical and applied skills, including incident handling, cyber investigation, cyber defense, vulnerability analysis, cybersecurity theory, and policies for database and risk management. Students also select 3 units of electives from a wide range of courses covering international economics, military geography, regional security studies, comparative politics, terrorism, research methods, and strategy, allowing customization to individual interests and career goals. The program culminates with a thesis or comprehensive examination, providing students with the opportunity to synthesize and apply their knowledge in a professional or research-oriented context. Graduates of the NCSS program emerge prepared to enter government, military, law enforcement, or private sector organizations, capable of addressing the technical, analytical, and strategic challenges of modern cyber security and intelligence operations. The program integrates technical expertise, policy understanding, and analytical skills, ensuring that students are ready to contribute to protecting critical infrastructure, conducting intelligence assessments, and supporting national security objectives in an increasingly complex and technologically advanced global environment.