Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Rafael Diaz, Graduate Program Director
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is a 30-credit hour non-thesis degree program. It is designed to prepare cyber security technology leaders.
Graduates will develop skills and competencies in technical aspects of cyber security and will be prepared to assume responsibility for the management of cybersecurity projects and coordination of cyber operation teams. It also provides preparation for students desiring to purse doctoral studies or teach cybersecurity courses in 2- and 4-year colleges and universities.
The program is offered in online format and with the option for local students to attend classes on campus. The required core courses focus on the fundamental knowledge of cybersecurity, covering advanced cybersecurity principles, techniques, and operations, as well as advanced topics in law, policy, management and leadership in cybersecurity. Students will have opportunities to choose five restricted electives to learn about different aspects of cybersecurity. The capstone course provides opportunities to synthesize and apply the knowledge and skills to solve real-world cybersecurity problems.
Financial Aid
Sources of financial aid available to students include
- Research and teaching assistantships and
- Loans.
Admission
Application Procedures
The completed application for the Master of Science Cybersecurity program will include the following items:
- Official copies of transcripts from all colleges/universities attended.
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with applicant's professional and/or academic background.
- A current resume.
- A statement of professional goals and academic objectives.
- A completed application form.
- Receipt of the application fee. Checks should be made payable to Old Dominion University
- TOEFL test scores, sent directly from the ETS to ODU International Graduate Admission Office must accompany international applications for applicants with a degree issued outside of the United States.
Applications to Old Dominion University can be completed on-line at http://www.odu.edu/admission/graduate.
The applicant is responsible to ensure that all application materials are received and the application is complete in all respects.
Curriculum Requirements
This program consists of four core courses (12 credit hours), five electives (15 credit hours), and one capstone course (3 credit hours). The four core courses focus on the fundamental knowledge of cybersecurity, covering advanced cybersecurity principles, techniques, and operations, as well as advanced topics in law, policy, management and leadership in cybersecurity.
The five electives provide students with opportunities to learn about different aspects of cybersecurity, e.g., in information systems, network systems, mobile and wireless systems, operating systems, and cyber-physical systems. Courses are also offered to address such important cybersecurity topics as reverse software engineering, digital forensics, thread modeling, and ethical hacking and penetration testing.
The capstone course brings together students in their final semester of study to synthesize knowledge from their previous coursework and apply it to solve real-world cybersecurity problems. The faculty member who teaches the capstone course will work with industrial and academic partners who will serve as external mentors of the capstone course. Each student in the capstone course will discuss—with both faculty member and mentor—development of her/his master’s project that aims to solve a cybersecurity problem in a real-world business setting.
Cybersecurity Core
Course List | Code | Title | Credit Hours |
| CYSE 600 | Cybersecurity Principles | 3 |
| CYSE 601 | Advanced Cybersecurity Techniques and Operations | 3 |
| or CYSE 602 | Advanced Techniques for Cyber Defense |
| CYSE 603 | Advanced Cybersecurity Law and Policy | 3 |
| CYSE 605 | Leadership and Management in Cybersecurity | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 12 |
Cybersecurity Concentration
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credit Hours |
| 15 |
| Networked Systems Security | |
| Information Assurance for Cybersecurity | |
| Principles and Practice of Cyber Defense | |
| Introduction to Reverse Software Engineering | |
| Data Analytics for Cybersecurity | |
| Cyber Defense Fundamentals | |
| Cyber Physical System Security | |
| Applied Machine Learning in Cybersecurity | |
| Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy | |
| Cyber War | |
| Topics in Cybersecurity * | |
| Tutorial Work in Special Topics in Cybersecurity | |
| Tutorial Work in Special Topics in Cybersecurity | |
| Advanced Digital Forensics | |
| Advanced Cryptography | |
| Mobile and Wireless Security | |
| Advanced Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing | |
| AI Security and Privacy | |
| Advanced Topics in Cybersecurity | |
| Independent Study in Cybersecurity * | |
| Introduction to Homeland Security Logistics | |
| Cyber Systems Engineering | |
| CYSE 698 | Master's Project | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 18 |
Note on CYSE 595, CYSE 596, and CYSE 697
: CYSE 595 can be taken multiple times by a student as long as the CYSE 595 courses have different titles. However, if a student has already taken a CYSE 595 course, which is converted to a regularly numbered course (generally the same title) in a future semester, the student cannot take the converted course any more. The rules of CYSE 595 are also applicable to CYSE 596. CYSE 697 can also be taken multiple times by a student, but the research topics on different CYSE 697 courses need to be different.
