Master of Science - Cybersecurity and Information Assurance - Secure Software Development (optional co-op)

Hardly a day goes by without some news on cyberattacks. As the number of cyberattacks keeps increasing every day, clearly more cybersecurity professionals will be needed to plan, implement, upgrade, maintain, and monitor security measures to protect the information infrastructure, computer networks and systems, and digital data of business organizations and local, state and federal agencies.

This program teaches the fundamentals of operating systems, computer networks, cybersecurity, applied cryptography, penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. With the foundational courses as stepping blocks, students move on to take advanced courses in one of the two key areas of CSIA: network security administration and secure software development, satisfying the requirements of CAE-CDE knowledge units of those focus areas as recognized by NSA and DHS.

In particular, they will learn to establish information security protocols, build firewalls and defend against security intrusions, use encryption and protect information, regulate access to data, establish virus protection systems, implement business continuity and disaster recovery plans, conduct penetration tests and analyze system vulnerabilities, develop secure software, and help resolve information technology (IT) issues related to security.