## ##   * Overview
  * Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity—Align program is designed for students
with a BS/BA degree from all backgrounds. During the first semester of year
one, students are expected to take foundational courses in computer science
fundamentals, as well as a course in data structures/discrete mathematics.
During their second semester, students take coursework in foundations of
cybersecurity.
Our Master of Science in Cybersecurity combines a solid understanding of
information security technology with relevant knowledge from law and ethics,
the social sciences, criminology, and management. The MS program is designed
for working professionals and recent graduates who want knowledge they can
apply in workplaces to assess and manage information security risks
effectively.
The cybersecurity program provides graduates with both the theoretical
understanding and technical skills to perform professional cybersecurity
duties. Due to the broad variety of positions that cybersecurity professionals
may hold in the industry, our curriculum is designed to provide enough
flexibility to our students to tailor their own careers appropriately.
The cybersecurity curriculum is intended to provide a comprehensive approach
to cybersecurity, which includes both the technical skills and the contextual
understanding that are fundamental to cybersecurity professions.
## Concentration in Criminology
Cybercrime has evolved into more advanced techniques and sophisticated
structures. Cybersecurity professionals are of vital importance in crime
investigations, and for that reason, they need to have a well-rounded
background and knowledge. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity provides an
interdisciplinary foundation that includes computer science technical courses,
complemented with the contextual knowledge courses required for a proper
holistic approach to cybercrime. The optional concentration in criminology
will offer MSCY students an opportunity to obtain the fundamental principles
and the most important practices that criminal justice professionals use.
* * *
  * Concentrations and course offerings may vary by campus and/or by program modality. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for the course availability each term at your campus or within your program modality.
  * Certain options within the program may be  _required_ at certain campuses or for certain program modalities. Please consult with your advisor or admissions coach for requirements at your campus or for your program modality. 
* * *
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
## Align Bridge Coursework
A grade of B or higher is required in each course.
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Fundamentals|  
[CS 5001](/search/?P=CS%205001 "CS 5001")  
and [CS 5003](/search/?P=CS%205003 "CS 5003")| Intensive Foundations of
Computer Science  
and Recitation for CS 5001| 4  
Discrete Structures|  
[CS 5002](/search/?P=CS%205002 "CS 5002")| Discrete Structures| 4  
Cybersecurity|  
[CY 5001](/search/?P=CY%205001 "CY 5001")| Cybersecurity: Technologies,
Threats, and Defenses| 4  
Additional Align Courses|  
[CY 5003](/search/?P=CY%205003 "CY 5003")| Foundations of Software Security| 4  
## Core Requirements
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Foundations|  
[CY 5010](/search/?P=CY%205010 "CY 5010")| Cybersecurity Principles and
Practices| 4  
Technical Track|  
Complete 8 semester hours from the following:| 8  
[CY 5120](/search/?P=CY%205120 "CY 5120")| Applied Cryptography|  
[CY 5130](/search/?P=CY%205130 "CY 5130")| Computer System Security|  
[CY 5150](/search/?P=CY%205150 "CY 5150")| Network Security Practices|  
[CY 5770](/search/?P=CY%205770 "CY 5770")| Software Vulnerabilities and
Security|  
[CY 6120](/search/?P=CY%206120 "CY 6120")| Software Security Practices|  
[CY 6740](/search/?P=CY%206740 "CY 6740")| Network Security|  
[CY 6760](/search/?P=CY%206760 "CY 6760")| Wireless and Mobile Systems
Security|  
Contextual Track|  
Complete 8 semester hours from the following:| 8  
[CY 5200](/search/?P=CY%205200 "CY 5200")| Security Risk Management and
Assessment|  
[CY 5210](/search/?P=CY%205210 "CY 5210")| Information System Forensics|  
[CY 5240](/search/?P=CY%205240 "CY 5240")| Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and
Digital Rights|  
[CY 5250](/search/?P=CY%205250 "CY 5250")| Decision Making for Critical
Infrastructure|  
[CY 6200](/search/?P=CY%206200 "CY 6200")| Special Topics in IT Security
Governance, Risk, and Compliance|  
Capstone|  
[CY 7900](/search/?P=CY%207900 "CY 7900")| Capstone Project| 4  
## Electives
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Complete 4 semester hours from the following:| 4  
[CRIM 6200](/search/?P=CRIM%206200 "CRIM 6200")| Criminology|  
[CRIM 6202](/search/?P=CRIM%206202 "CRIM 6202")| The Criminal Justice Process|  
[CRIM 6262](/search/?P=CRIM%206262 "CRIM 6262")| Evidence-Based Crime Policy|  
[CS 5200](/search/?P=CS%205200 "CS 5200")| Database Management Systems|  
[CS 5500](/search/?P=CS%205500 "CS 5500")| Foundations of Software
Engineering|  
[CS 5600](/search/?P=CS%205600 "CS 5600")| Computer Systems|  
[CS 5610](/search/?P=CS%205610 "CS 5610")| Web Development|  
[CS 5700](/search/?P=CS%205700 "CS 5700")| Fundamentals of Computer
Networking|  
[CS 6710](/search/?P=CS%206710 "CS 6710")| Wireless Network|  
[CS 7580](/search/?P=CS%207580 "CS 7580")| Special Topics in Software
Engineering|  
[CS 7805](/search/?P=CS%207805 "CS 7805")| Complexity Theory|  
[CY 5061](/search/?P=CY%205061 "CY 5061")| Cloud Security|  
[CY 5120](/search/?P=CY%205120 "CY 5120")| Applied Cryptography|  
[CY 5130](/search/?P=CY%205130 "CY 5130")| Computer System Security|  
[CY 5150](/search/?P=CY%205150 "CY 5150")| Network Security Practices|  
[CY 5200](/search/?P=CY%205200 "CY 5200")| Security Risk Management and
Assessment|  
[CY 5210](/search/?P=CY%205210 "CY 5210")| Information System Forensics|  
[CY 5240](/search/?P=CY%205240 "CY 5240")| Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and
Digital Rights|  
[CY 5770](/search/?P=CY%205770 "CY 5770")| Software Vulnerabilities and
Security|  
[CY 6200](/search/?P=CY%206200 "CY 6200")| Special Topics in IT Security
Governance, Risk, and Compliance|  
[CY 6740](/search/?P=CY%206740 "CY 6740")| Network Security|  
[CY 6760](/search/?P=CY%206760 "CY 6760")| Wireless and Mobile Systems
Security|  
[CY 7790](/search/?P=CY%207790 "CY 7790")| Special Topics in Security and
Privacy|  
[POLS 7341](/search/?P=POLS%207341 "POLS 7341")| Security and Resilience
Policy|  
[PPUA 6503](/search/?P=PPUA%206503 "PPUA 6503")| Managing People in Public and
Nonprofit Sectors|  
## Concentration in Criminology
This optional concentration's required courses may count toward the contextual
track, and its elective may count toward the major's elective area.
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Required|  
[CRIM 6200](/search/?P=CRIM%206200 "CRIM 6200")| Criminology| 4  
[CRIM 6202](/search/?P=CRIM%206202 "CRIM 6202")| The Criminal Justice Process|
4  
Complete one of the following:| 4  
[CRIM 6262](/search/?P=CRIM%206262 "CRIM 6262")| Evidence-Based Crime Policy|  
[CY 5250](/search/?P=CY%205250 "CY 5250")| Decision Making for Critical
Infrastructure|  
CRIM elective 1|  
## Program Credit/GPA Requirements
36–44 total semester hours required  
Minimum 3.000 GPA required
1
CRIM elective to be approved by director/associate director of MSCY.