Computer Science, M.S. - Cybersecurity Accelerated Pathway

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For further information: ComputerScienceGrad@southernct.edu

The M.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Accelerated Pathway concentration provides high-achieving students with an opportunity to finish their graduate degree in one year following the successful completion of a B.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity BS to MS Accelerated Pathway at Southern Connecticut State University. Students selected into this program will receive a strong foundation in computer science and the skills needed to enter the cutting-edge field of cybersecurity.

Application Deadline

Undergraduate Students at Southern Connecticut State University are encouraged to apply for graduate admission no later than the spring semester of their senior year in collaboration with a faculty advisor. All materials should be submitted to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies the Friday prior to the start of spring break. Students will select the M.S. in Computer Science degree and the Cybersecurity Accelerated Pathway Concentration. Please consult the admission requirements below and within the Admissions section of the graduate catalog for more information.

Admission Requirements

Students interested in applying for admissions to the M.S. in Computer Science – Cybersecurity Accelerated Pathway should apply online through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies website: www.southernct.edu/gradadmissions. The applicant’s current SCSU transcript will be automatically added to the application. In addition to the admission requirements of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies found in the Admissions section of the graduate catalog, all applicants must meet the following criteria.

International applicants should refer to the Admission of International Students subsection of the Application and Admissions section of this catalog for the additional application requirements.

Once the School of Graduate and Professional Studies has a completed application fie with all required documents, the Graduate Coordinator of the Computer Science Department will arrange a personal interview with the applicant. During the interview, the candidate will draft a planned program of study in consultation with the Graduate Coordinator which will specify the selected area of concentration, the elective courses, as well as the chose capstone option (thesis or special project).  

The Cybersecurity concentration prepares students with a solid foundation in information assurance strategies and best practices along with the skills necessary to utilize various security tools to monitor networks and systems for security breaches, respond to cyberattacks, and gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cybercrime. Students will also gain experience in the cybersecurity tools and techniques used by hackers. Courses include:

CSC 555 — Principles of Information Security — 3 credits
CSC 558 — Network Security — 3 credits
CSC 568 — Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing — 3 credits
CSC 578 — Secure Systems — 3 credits

Breadth Requirements

6 Credits Required

All students are required to complete a total of two additional non-core courses outside of their area of concentration to broaden their knowledge. These courses must be in Computer Science, and must be at the 520 level or higher.

Capstone Requirements

6 Credits Required

Students select one of two capstone options toward the end of their coursework, namely: the Master's Thesis (CSC 590 and CSC 591) or a Special Project (CSC 590/ CSC 595) (6 credits total). A description of each of these capstone requirements can be found within the Academic Standards section of this catalog.