COURSE CURRICULUM

Master of Science in Computer Information Sciences with a concentration in Cybersecurity is structured to build strong theoretical foundations while progressively developing advanced technical and applied security skills. In the first year, students begin in the fall with computing systems architecture and data structures and algorithms, establishing core knowledge in system design and computational problem solving. The spring semester introduces data engineering and mining alongside principles of cybersecurity and cyber warfare, integrating data-centric techniques with security concepts. During the summer, students study theory of computation and participate in an ethical hacking development lab, strengthening analytical reasoning and hands-on offensive security skills. In the second year, the fall semester focuses on big data architectures and cyber risk assessment and management, emphasizing secure, scalable systems and organizational risk analysis. The spring semester includes an elective or a course in current topics in cybersecurity, along with research methodology and writing, preparing students for applied or research-oriented work. In the final summer, students complete an elective or special topics course in cybersecurity and culminate the program with an applied project in computer information sciences or a graduate thesis. This structured progression prepares graduates for advanced cybersecurity roles and further academic pursuits.