Online M.S. in Cyber Security Curriculum

Explores essential defensive Cyber Security concepts and technologies used by modern organizations. Using security frameworks and documented best practices, we will examine information security risks, threats, and vulnerabilities faced by modern organizations and use actual security tools during the class to help introduce different security threat mitigations, and their limitations.

Core - 3 Credits

Introduction to Cyber Security concepts and topics. The security of socio-technical systems will be studied by examining a range of threats, vulnerabilities and countermeasures. Topics include software security, malware, keylogging, data loss, and privacy. In addition to technical approaches, human factors, economic, legal and ethical issues will be considered. Students will participate in discussions and hands-on projects.

Core - 3 Credits

Design and analysis methods for high assurance information systems. Safety, reliability, and security. Specification of mission critical system properties. Software validation, verification, and certification.

Core - 3 Credits

Technical aspects of computer, network, and information system security. Concepts, principles, models and techniques of access control, authentication, secure communication and audit. Security system design, engineering, and operation. Fundamentals and applications of cryptography.

Core - 3 Credits

Students learn to apply risk metrics to threats from vulnerabilities and exploits. They identify, understand, and apply defensive practices against the major classes of vulnerabilities. They gain knowledge of standard penetration testing methodology and outcomes. Students understand auditing and testing methodologies for common IT elements and perform basic penetration testing.

Elective - 3 Credits

Introduction to the legal, policy, technical, and logical dimensions of information security (computer systems and networks). Selected topics include data security regulation, security breach law, cybersecurity litigation, anti-hacking laws, emerging threats and vulnerabilities, law enforcement and the encryption debate, and cyberwarfare. No technical background is required.

Elective - 3 Credits

The course covers principles of computer networks and network security design and operation. Principles of computer networks: requirements, connectivity levels, layered architectures, and applications. Direct link networks, packet switched networks, IP, and internetworking. Core perimeter security fundamentals and network security components. Layered security and defense in depth. Packet filtering, routers as security devices, intrusion detection systems, IPSec, and VPNs. Incident response, design fundamentals, and security assessments to maintain security posture.

Core - 3 Credits

Accepted best practices and guidelines to secure information systems and networks. Detection of abnormal events, intrusion detection, incident handling, response, and recovery. Security policies, system configuration, integration, and maintenance.

Core - 3 Credits

This course presents a survey of the security vulnerabilities in hardware and cover mitigation techniques. Hardware systems investigated include digital systems, embedded systems, wireless systems, RFID, and programmable digital systems (e.g., FPGAs). Approaches to design and apply security practices and techniques to hardware are covered.

Elective - 3 Credits

This course covers the process, policies, and strategies for developing and maintaining a strong Cyber Security posture within an organization. Effective organizational Cyber Security requires defining each member’s Cyber Security role and aligning leadership, staffing, training, and performance management to achieve these roles. Students in this course will critically examine their own organization’s current system as part of this course.

Elective - 3 Credits