Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity - Curriculum

Apply Now for Fall 2025!

Fall 2025 Standard Application Deadline

Feb 1, 2025

Fall 2025 Final Application Deadline

Mar 15, 2025

SPRING 2025 Program Start

Jan 6, 2025

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Curriculum

Our Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity (OMS Cybersecurity) program will give you the knowledge and skills necessary for a thriving career as a cybersecurity expert and leader in a cutting-edge, high-demand field. Featuring the same world-class instruction as our on-campus program, you’ll learn from faculty whose cybersecurity ingenuity and research is sought by the country’s top companies and government experts.

OMS Cybersecurity is a part-time master’s program designed to be completed in two to three years; however, it is flexible enough that you have up to six years.

The degree program consists of courses covering the threats and defenses to information theft, as well as policies and strategies to keep information secure. In addition, you will get to focus on your individual interests via a specialized track (area of concentration). Each track requires an additional six courses — four track-specific courses and two elective courses.

You'll also attain a broad view of the cybersecurity field by choosing an elective class from a track outside your specialty.

Practicum Course

The degree program culminates with a five-credit-hour practicum that enables you to apply previously learned concepts and classroom teachings to a project of significant interest to you. Through the Practicum course, you have the opportunity to apply concepts and classroom teaching to a real-world cybersecurity problem you choose.

Students must complete a minimum of eight courses with a "C" or higher, including Introduction to Security (CS 6035) and Information Security Policies and Strategies (PUBP 6725) prior to the practicum. Additionally, Information Security students must also complete the Information Security Lab (CS 6264 or CS 6265) prior to the practicum.

The practicum course is permit-only and students must complete the Practicum Interest Survey and meet the prerequisite requirements to obtain their registration permit. The Practicum Interest Survey is emailed to potentially eligible students in advance: March for summer practicum, June for fall practicum, and October for Spring practicum.

Visual Snapshot

Our OMS Cybersecurity curriculum grid breaks down the different types of courses and concentrations into digestible components. For more details about each track’s focus, scroll down to the section below.

Areas of Specialization

Each student in the degree program declares an area of specialization within the discipline of cybersecurity. There are three focus areas available: an Information Security track, a Cyber-Physical Systems track, and a Policy track. The summaries below describe each in more detail.

Information Security Track

The Information Security track concentrates on principles and practical techniques for developing safeguards that can help secure computers and networks. Secure software development, identity and access management, network intrusion detection and prevention, and forensics and incident response are some of the areas that are covered in-depth. In addition, a lab course gives students hands-on experience with advanced security analysis tools to discover and mitigate software and network vulnerabilities.

Introduction to Information Security (CS 6035)
A full spectrum of information security: threats, software vulnerabilities, programming for malice, basic cryptography, operating systems protections, network security, privacy, data mining, computer crime.

Information Security Policies and Strategies (PUBP 6725)
This course introduces students to the policy and management aspects of cybersecurity. It is divided into four modules. The first involves basic concepts and definitions regarding policy, governance, and threats; the second deals with cybersecurity management and policy at the organizational level; the third deals with cybersecurity public policy at the national level; and the fourth deals with cyber conflict, policy, and diplomacy at the transnational level. This course situates cybersecurity in the overall Internet ecosystem.

Flexible Core
Flexible core course requirement is a common requirement for all students in the OMS Cybersecurity degree program and is designed to enhance breadth. To meet this, a student must select one required course from a specialization track that is different from the track in which he or she is enrolled.

Applied Cryptography (CS 6260)
Classical goals of cryptography such as data privacy, authenticity and integrity. Design principles of cryptographic primitives such as pseudorandom functions, block ciphers, symmetric encryption schemes, hash functions, message authentication codes (MACs), authenticated encryption, PKI, public-key (asymmetric) encryption, digital signatures, signcryption, secret sharing, key exchange.

Secure Computer Systems (CS 6238)
Design principles of secure systems, authentication, access control and authorization, discretionary and mandatory security policies, secure kernel design, and secure databases.

Network Security (CS 6262)
Design principles of secure network protocols and systems, authentication, integrity, confidentiality, privacy, information hiding, digital watermarking, access control, firewall, intrusion detection and case studies.

Information Security Lab Reversed Engeneering and Binary (CS 6265)
Computer systems and network vulnerabilities, information warfare, network and operating system security techniques, security analysis tools.

Information Security Lab: System and Network Defense (CS 6264)

Special Note

Select two courses from the list.

Advanced Operating Systems (CS 6210)
Computer Networks (CS 6250)
Information Security Lab: System and Network Defense (CS 6264)
Software Development Process (CS 6300)
Database System Concepts & Design (CS 6400)
Advanced Topics in Malware Analysis (CS 6747)
Enterprise Cybersecurity Management (CS 8803)
Malware Analysis and Defense (CS 8813)

Information Security Practicum (CS 6266)
Capstone independent study placing students in a commercial, industrial, academic or government setting where they must solve real-world security problems. This course will have the same learning objectives and will be taught in a coordinated fashion across all specializations.

Power Systems Control and Operation (ECE 6320)
Cyber- Physical Electric Energy Systems (ECE 6347)
Introduction to Cyber – Physical Systems Security (ECE 8813)
Cyber Physical Design and Analysis (8823)

Special Note

Select two courses from the list.

Cyber-Physical Electric Energy Systems (ECE 6323)
Cyber-Physical Design and Analysis (ECE 6747)
Power Systems Control and Operation (ECE 8833)
Side-Channels and Their Role in Cybersecurity (ECE 8843)
Introduction to Cyber - Physical Systems Security (8863)
Advanced Hardware Oriented Security and Trust (8873)

Energy Systems Practicum (ECE 6266)
Capstone independent study placing students in a commercial, industrial, academic or government setting where they must solve real-world security problems. This course will have the same learning objectives and will be taught in a coordinated fashion across all specializations.

Policy Track

The Policy track approaches cybersecurity from the management aspect, including the administrative, market, and public policy tools used to keep cyberspace safe. This concentration focuses on the way IT security is affected by organizational, national, and international policies. Topics covered include security policy frameworks, global internet governance, privacy technologies and law, critical infrastructure policies, cyberspace as a domain for international conflict, and multilateral cyber norm development.

Special Note

Select four courses from the list.

International Security (INTA 6103)
Big Data and Security (INTA 6450)
Privacy for Professionals (MGT 6727)
Information Policy and Management (PUBP 6501)
Information and Communications Technology Policy (PUBP 6502)
Security Incidence Response (PUBP 8803)
Public Policy for the Digital World (PUBP 8813)
Geopolitics of Cybersecurity (PUBP 8823)
Enterprise Cybersecurity (PUBP 8833)

Special Note

Select two additional courses from the list. Courses previously taken cannot be used to satisfy both the Required Courses and Elective Courses requirement.

Modeling Simulation, and Military Gaming (INTA 6742)

Policy Practicum (PUBP 6266)
Capstone independent study placing students in a commercial, industrial, academic or government setting where they must solve real-world security problems. This course will have the same learning objectives and will be taught in a coordinated fashion across all specializations.

Questions?

Want to know how a degree in cybersecurity online can help you advance your career? Want to stay current on important deadlines, updates, and news? Need more details?

Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity - Curriculum

Fall 2025 Standard Application Deadline

Fall 2025 Final Application Deadline

SPRING 2025 Program Start

Curriculum

Information Security Track

Core Courses (9 hours)

Required Courses (12 hours)

Elective Courses (6 hours)

Practicum (5 hours)

Cyber-Physical Systems Track

Core Courses (9 hours)

Required Courses (12 hours)

Elective Courses (6 hours)

Practicum (5 hours)

Policy Track

Core Courses (9 hours)

Required Courses (12 hours)

Elective Courses (6 hours)

Practicum (5 hours)

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Questions?

Want to know how a degree in cybersecurity online can help you advance your career? Want to stay current on important deadlines, updates, and news? Need more details?