Computer Science, Cybersecurity Concentration, M.S.

Director: Vetria Byrd
Email: byrdvl@jmu.edu

Program Description

The graduate program in computer science prepares highly skilled professionals with advanced expertise in creating and maintaining secure and reliable computing systems. This concentration leads to the Master of Science in Computer Science with a Concentration in Cybersecurity.

We are committed to providing a premier cybersecurity education that equips graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to design, implement and maintain secure modern information infrastructures and systems. Students can expect to finish their studies in two to three years, depending on their background and the number of courses they take per semester.

This program is cohort based and is offered 100% online, satisfying all requirements for the Master of Science program. This program is especially appropriate for people with professional interests in cybersecurity. The distance-learning courses are available only to students in the cybersecurity concentration, who will pay a different tuition rate than students taking traditional courses at the university.

Further information can be obtained from our website.

This program is designed to be completed in 2.5 years. Summer courses are required.

Admission Criteria

Admission to the program is competitive. Preference is given to students with undergraduate preparation in computer science or professional experience in computing. Strong students from other disciplines are also encouraged to apply. Students judged to be able to successfully complete the program but lacking background in computing will be required to take up to four additional courses.

Preparatory Courses

Depending on undergraduate background and work experience, students may be required to take one or more of the following preparatory courses. These courses do not satisfy degree requirements for the cybersecurity concentration.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
CS 510	Object Oriented Programming	3
CS 511	Computer Organization	3
CS 512	Data Structures	3
CS 515	Discrete Mathematics	3

Degree Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
CS 523	Ethics, Law and Policy in Cyberspace	3
CS 531	Secure Programming	3
CS 550	Operating Systems	3
CS 559	Computer Security	3
CS 610	Networking and Security	3
CS 627	Cryptography: Algorithms and Applications	3
CS 633	Computer Forensics	3
CS 635	Secure Network Operations	3
CS 660	Advanced Network Security	3
Subtotal		27
Thesis or Non-Thesis Routes
Choose one of the following routes:		6
Thesis Route:
CS 700	Thesis Research (Total of six credit hours of thesis)
Non-Thesis Route:
Approved Electives
Subtotal		6
Total Credits		33