Cybersecurity, M.S.

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Master’s Degree Requirements

Core Electives and Requirements

To satisfy the requirements for the Cybersecurity MS 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 core courses, as indicated below.

Computer Science Core Courses

CS-GY 6233 Introduction to Operating Systems 3 Credits
CS-GY 6843 Computer Networking 3 Credits
CS-GY 6033 Design and Analysis of Algorithms I 3 Credits

Security Core Courses

Most of the required Security Core courses have a project component.

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

Electives (3 courses)

Students may choose security-related courses from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering or from other schools of New York University, including courses in the psychology, law and sociology departments. Selected courses must be approved by the Program Committee. All of the following courses are preapproved; others must be approved by the Program Committee.

CS-GY 6573 Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis 3 Credits
CS-GY 6803 Information Systems Security Engineering and Management 3 Credits
CS-GY 9093 Biometrics 3 Credits
CS-GY 6963 Digital Forensics 3 Credits
CS-GY 9963 Advanced Project in Computer Science 3 Credits
CS-GY 6043 Design and Analysis of Algorithms II 3 Credits
CS-GY 6133 Computer Architecture I 3 Credits
CS-GY 6003 Foundations of Computer Science 3 Credits

Footnotes

* Any required Computer Science core courses may be replaced if the student has taken a similar class.

Research Project (Optional)

One goal of the MS in Cybersecurity is to introduce students to exciting research in cybersecurity and to attract some of them to pursue a PhD degree. To this end, NYU Tandon Online offers a semester-long Advanced Project in Computer Science (CS-GY 9963) in cybersecurity (as listed above), as an elective. Students selecting this option are guided by a research professor and gain invaluable research experience.

Preparatory Courses

We offer 3 preparatory bridge courses for students who do not have a working knowledge of a high level, general-purpose programming language or a background in sets, functions, relations, asymptotic notation, proof techniques, induction, combinatorics, discrete probability, recurrences, graphs, trees, mathematical models of computation and undecidability.

CS-GY 5303 Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving 3 Credits
CS-GY 5403 Data Structures and Algorithms 3 Credits
CS-GY 6003 Foundations of Computer Science 3 Credits

Master’s Thesis (optional)

In addition to the above semester-long, research experience for students, the program also offers research-oriented MS students the master’s thesis option. With this option, a student takes 6 credits of CS-GY 997X MS Thesis in Computer Science working with a faculty adviser on a research problem in cybersecurity, in lieu of two out of the three required electives.

The research need not be original, but should demonstrate adequately the student’s proficiency in the subject. An oral defense of the master’s thesis before at least three professors is required. The 6 credits of master’s thesis must span two consecutive semesters. Whenever relevant, 3 credits of CS-GY 9963 may be used as 3 credits of CS-GY 997X , subject to faculty-adviser approval.