## ##   * Overview
  * Program Requirements
  * Advanced Entry Program Requirements
A research-based, interdisciplinary Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in
Cybersecurity combines a strong security technical foundation with a security
policy and social sciences perspective. It seeks to prepare graduates to
advance the state of the art of security in systems, networks, and the
internet in industry, academia, and government. The interdisciplinary nature
of the program distinguishes it from traditional doctoral degree programs in
computer science, engineering, or social sciences and makes it unique in the
Boston area.
Students who choose the PhD in Cybersecurity program have a strong desire to
pursue academic research solving critical cybersecurity challenges facing
today’s society. The PhD program is a natural path for students in the
college’s [Master of Science in Cybersecurity
](http://www.ccs.neu.edu/graduate/degree-programs/m-s-in-information-
assurance/)program who want to pursue research and students with bachelor’s
degrees and an interest in research-focused careers. Students who pursue
careers in advancing the state of the art of cybersecurity have an opportunity
to gain:
  * A strong technical foundation in cybersecurity and an interdisciplinary perspective based on policy and social science
  * A path to a research-focused career coupled with depth in information assurance research at a leading institution, one of the earliest designees by NSA/DHS as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Research, Information Assurance/Cyber Defense, and Cyber Operations
  * The opportunity to work with and learn from faculty who are recognized internationally for their expertise and contributions in information assurance from Northeastern University’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences, the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and the College of Social Sciences and Humanities
  * Access to research projects at Northeastern’s research centers focused on security:
    * The [Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute](https://cyber.ccis.northeastern.edu/about/): The mission of Northeastern's Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute is to safeguard critical technology. Forging partnerships with experts in industry, government, and academia worldwide, the Institute’s faculty and students develop, protect, and enhance technologies on which the world relies—from mobile devices and “smart” IoT applications to tomorrow’s self-driving cars and delivery drones. Their expertise spans algorithm auditing; cloud security; cryptography; differential privacy; embedded device security; internet-scale security measurements; machine learning; big data; security, malware, and advanced threats; network protocols and security; web and mobile security; and wireless network security.
    * The [International Secure Systems Lab](http://www.iseclab.org/), affiliated with Northeastern, a collaborative effort of European and U.S. researchers focused on web security, malware, and vulnerability analysis; intrusion detection; and other computer security issues.
    * The [ALERT Center](http://www.northeastern.edu/alert/), where Northeastern is the lead institution, a multiuniversity Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence involved in research, education, and technology related to threats from explosives.
The benefits of the Boston area:
  * World-renowned for academic and research excellence, the Boston area is also home to some of the nation’s largest Department of Defense contractors and government and independent labs such as MIT Lincoln Lab, MITRE, and Draper Lab.
## Degree Requirements
The PhD in Cybersecurity degree requires completion of at least 48 semester
semester hours beyond a bachelor’s degree. Students who enter with an
undergraduate degree will typically need four to five years to complete the
program, and they will be awarded a master’s degree en route to the PhD.
## Doctoral Degree Candidacy
A student is considered a PhD degree candidate after completing the core
courses with at least a 3.500 GPA, with no grades lower than a B in the core
courses, and either publishing a paper in a strong conference or journal or
passing an oral exam that is conducted by a committee of three cybersecurity
faculty members and based on paper(s) written by the student.
### Residency
One year of continuous full-time study is required after admission to the PhD
candidacy. During this period, the student will be expected to make
substantial progress in preparing for the comprehensive examination.
### Teaching Requirement
All cybersecurity PhD students must satisfy the teaching requirement in order
to graduate. This requirement is fulfilled when the student works as a
teaching assistant or instructor of record for one semester and during this
semester:
  * Teaches at least three hours of classes
  * Prepares at least one assignment or quiz or equivalent
PhD students are expected to satisfy the teaching requirement some time after
completing their first year and at least one semester prior to scheduling
their PhD defense.
### Dissertation Advising
The doctoral dissertation advising team for each student consists of two
cybersecurity faculty members, one in a technical area. When appropriate, the
second faculty advisor will be from the policy/social science area.
### Dissertation Committee
With the help of the advisor, a student selects the committee, consisting of
at least four members, to be approved by the PhD cybersecurity curriculum
committee. The four members must include the advisor, two internal members,
and an external member.
### Comprehensive Examination
A PhD student must submit a written dissertation proposal and present it to
the dissertation committee. The proposal should identify the research problem,
the research plan, and the potential impact of the research on the field. The
presentation of the proposal will be made in an open forum, and the student
must successfully defend it before the dissertation committee after the public
presentation.
### Dissertation Defense
A PhD student must complete and defend a dissertation that involves original
research in cybersecurity.
### Awarding of Master’s Degrees
Students who enter the PhD in Cybersecurity program with a bachelor’s degree
have the option of earning a master's degree from one of the departments
participating in the program. To do so, they must meet all of the department’s
degree requirements.
* * *
  * 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. 
* * *
## Bachelor’s Degree Entrance
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
## Milestones
Teaching  
Qualifying exam and area exam  
Annual review  
Dissertation proposal  
Dissertation committee  
Dissertation defense
## Core Requirements
A grade of B or higher is required in each core course. A cumulative 3.500
grade-point average is required for the core requirement.
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Foundations|  
[CY 5240](/search/?P=CY%205240 "CY 5240")| Cyberlaw: Privacy, Ethics, and
Digital Rights| 4  
[CY 5770](/search/?P=CY%205770 "CY 5770")| Software Vulnerabilities and
Security| 4  
or [EECE 5641](/search/?P=EECE%205641 "EECE 5641")|  Introduction to Software
Security  
[CY 6740](/search/?P=CY%206740 "CY 6740")| Network Security| 4  
or [EECE 5699](/search/?P=EECE%205699 "EECE 5699")|  Computer Hardware and
System Security  
## Electives and Tracks
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Note: Consult faculty advisor for other acceptable courses.|  
Tracks|  
Select at least two courses from one track:| 8  
_Hardware Security_|  
[CS 6410](/search/?P=CS%206410 "CS 6410")| Compilers|  
[CS 6710](/search/?P=CS%206710 "CS 6710")| Wireless Network|  
[EECE 5666](/search/?P=EECE%205666 "EECE 5666")| Digital Signal Processing|  
[EECE 7352](/search/?P=EECE%207352 "EECE 7352")| Computer Architecture|  
[EECE 7364](/search/?P=EECE%207364 "EECE 7364")| Mobile and Wireless
Networking|  
[EECE 7390](/search/?P=EECE%207390 "EECE 7390")| Computer Hardware Security|  
_Machine Learning_|  
[CS 5700](/search/?P=CS%205700 "CS 5700")| Fundamentals of Computer
Networking|  
[CS 6140](/search/?P=CS%206140 "CS 6140")| Machine Learning|  
[CS 7150](/search/?P=CS%207150 "CS 7150")| Deep Learning|  
[EECE 5644](/search/?P=EECE%205644 "EECE 5644")| Introduction to Machine
Learning and Pattern Recognition|  
[EECE 7397](/search/?P=EECE%207397 "EECE 7397")| Advanced Machine Learning|  
_Network Security_|  
[CS 6710](/search/?P=CS%206710 "CS 6710")| Wireless Network|  
[CY 6740](/search/?P=CY%206740 "CY 6740")| Network Security|  
[CS 7610](/search/?P=CS%207610 "CS 7610")| Foundations of Distributed Systems|  
[CS 7775](/search/?P=CS%207775 "CS 7775")| Seminar in Computer Security|  
[CY 5130](/search/?P=CY%205130 "CY 5130")| Computer System Security|  
[EECE 5155](/search/?P=EECE%205155 "EECE 5155")| Wireless Sensor Networks and
the Internet of Things|  
[EECE 5576](/search/?P=EECE%205576 "EECE 5576")| Wireless Communication
Systems|  
[EECE 7336](/search/?P=EECE%207336 "EECE 7336")| Digital Communications|  
[EECE 7364](/search/?P=EECE%207364 "EECE 7364")| Mobile and Wireless
Networking|  
[EECE 7374](/search/?P=EECE%207374 "EECE 7374")| Fundamentals of Computer
Networks|  
_Systems Security_|  
[CS 6410](/search/?P=CS%206410 "CS 6410")| Compilers|  
[CS 7600](/search/?P=CS%207600 "CS 7600")| Intensive Computer Systems|  
[CS 7610](/search/?P=CS%207610 "CS 7610")| Foundations of Distributed Systems|  
[CY 5130](/search/?P=CY%205130 "CY 5130")| Computer System Security|  
[CY 6740](/search/?P=CY%206740 "CY 6740")| Network Security|  
[CY 6760](/search/?P=CY%206760 "CY 6760")| Wireless and Mobile Systems
Security|  
[EECE 7352](/search/?P=EECE%207352 "EECE 7352")| Computer Architecture|  
_Theory_|  
[CS 7800](/search/?P=CS%207800 "CS 7800")| Advanced Algorithms|  
[CS 7805](/search/?P=CS%207805 "CS 7805")| Complexity Theory|  
[CS 7810](/search/?P=CS%207810 "CS 7810")| Foundations of Cryptography|  
[CS 7870](/search/?P=CS%207870 "CS 7870")| Seminar in Theoretical Computer
Science|  
[EECE 7337](/search/?P=EECE%207337 "EECE 7337")| Information Theory|  
_Usable Security and Privacy_|  
[CS 6350](/search/?P=CS%206350 "CS 6350")| Empirical Research Methods|  
[CS 6760](/search/?P=CS%206760 "CS 6760")| Privacy, Security, and Usability|  
[CS 7340](/search/?P=CS%207340 "CS 7340")| Theory and Methods in Human
Computer Interaction|  
[INSH 6300](/search/?P=INSH%206300 "INSH 6300")| Research Methods in the
Social Sciences|  
[INSH 6302](/search/?P=INSH%206302 "INSH 6302")| Qualitative Methods|  
[INSH 6500](/search/?P=INSH%206500 "INSH 6500")| Statistical Analysis|  
[INSH 7400](/search/?P=INSH%207400 "INSH 7400")| Quantitative Analysis|  
_Cybersecurity Policy_|  
[CRIM 6200](/search/?P=CRIM%206200 "CRIM 6200")| Criminology|  
[CRIM 6262](/search/?P=CRIM%206262 "CRIM 6262")| Evidence-Based Crime Policy|  
[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 5250](/search/?P=CY%205250 "CY 5250")| Decision Making for Critical
Infrastructure|  
[POLS 7341](/search/?P=POLS%207341 "POLS 7341")| Security and Resilience
Policy|  
Electives|  
Selected in consultation with advisor from graduate-level CS and ECE courses
and graduate-level courses offered by the College of Social Sciences and
Humanities, including CRIM, CS, CY, DS, EECE, INSH, MATH and POLS.| 28  
## Dissertation
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
[CY 9990](/search/?P=CY%209990 "CY 9990")| Dissertation Term 1|  
[CY 9991](/search/?P=CY%209991 "CY 9991")| Dissertation Term 2|  
Complete the following (repeatable) course until graduation:|  
[CY 9996](/search/?P=CY%209996 "CY 9996")| Dissertation Continuation|  
## Program Credit/GPA Requirements
48 total semester hours required  
Minimum 3.000 GPA required
* * *
  * 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. 
* * *
## Degree Requirements
Incoming PhD in Cybersecurity students who have already completed a Master of
Science in an adjacent field may petition to the graduate program
administration for advanced entry. Advanced entry petitions are reviewed by
the program administration on a case-by-case basis. Please note that advanced
entry does not waive by itself any part of the PhD coursework requirements. As
a degree conferral requirement, a minimum of 16 semester hours of coursework
beyond the 32 semester hours of the master’s degree is required of advanced
entry PhD students (48 semester hours is required of standard entry PhD
students). A grade of B or higher is required in each course. A cumulative
3.500 GPA is required for the core requirement.
## Doctoral Degree Candidacy
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview ](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text)for admission to candidacy requirements.
## Residency
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text) for residency requirements.
## Teaching Requirement
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text) for teaching requirements.
## Dissertation Advising
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text) for dissertation advising requirements.
## Dissertation Committee
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text) for dissertation committee requirements.
## Comprehensive Examination
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text) for comprehensive examination requirements.
## Dissertation Defense
Refer to the PhD Cybersecurity [overview](/graduate/computer-information-
science/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-bachelors-degree-entrance-
phd/index.html#text) for dissertation defense and completion requirements.
* * *
Complete all courses and requirements listed below unless otherwise indicated.
## Milestones
Teaching  
Qualifying exam and area exam  
Annual review  
Dissertation proposal  
Dissertation committee  
Dissertation defense
## Core Requirement
Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.500 as well as earn a grade of B or
better in each core course.
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
Consult your faculty advisor for approved courses.| 16  
## Dissertation
Course List Code | Title | Hours  
---|---|---  
[CY 9990](/search/?P=CY%209990 "CY 9990")| Dissertation Term 1|  
[CY 9991](/search/?P=CY%209991 "CY 9991")| Dissertation Term 2|  
Complete the following (repeatable) course until graduation:|  
[CY 9996](/search/?P=CY%209996 "CY 9996")| Dissertation Continuation|  
## Program Credit/GPA Requirements
Minimum 16 semester hours required  
Minimum 3.000 GPA required