Defend Against Cyber Attacks with a Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields, and demand for these professionals is rising.  Employers are already struggling to fill upwards of 200,000 cybersecurity jobs, and this shortfall is expected to reach 1.8 million globally by 2022.

This is especially crucial given the vast amounts of sensitive data being stored in the digital universe—everything from social security numbers to financial records, and even matters of national security—all of which needs to be secure from malicious interests.

Protecting this sensitive information is a vital task that requires expert skills in cybersecurity and cyber defense.  A Master’s degree in Cybersecurity from NYU Tandon School of Engineering can give you the skills to be a cybersecurity expert defending the data and systems of companies and countries against attack.

The MS Cybersecurity gives students a firm foundation in key knowledge areas of cybersecurity, including:

• Computer and network security
• Digital forensics
• Cryptography
• Biometrics
• Information systems

“The online Cybersecurity master’s program covers one of the most highly sought after, in-demand careers of your time.  It will provide you the technical knowledge and fundamentals to be adaptable and agile, staying at the forefront of cyber threats,” said Nasir Memon, professor of computer science and engineering, and associate dean of online learning at NYU Tandon.

This degree will enable graduates to enter many new careers in cybersecurity as industry and government continues emphasizing safe data and information systems. Graduates will be ready to work as security product developers, security application programmers, security analysts, penetration testers, vulnerability analysts and security architects.

Engineering the Future of Cybersecurity

The cybersecurity community at NYU Tandon’s School of Engineering is focussed on creating a vibrant information assurance program guided by the core belief that securing a system requires a marriage of good science and engineering. The online degree admission requirements are the same as those for the on-campus program, including a strong knowledge in mathematics, specifically calculus; a working knowledge of a high-level general-purpose programming language such as C++, an understanding of data structures – and, of course, an interest in cybersecurity.

The online format of the MS Cybersecurity from NYU means it is flexible for working engineers who want to pursue their education around their full-time job.

Online students are not required to attend any lectures on campus, making it possible for engineers across the country to pursue this degree.  All lectures can be attended live online through the NYUClass education platform, which also features video and text chat options for students to interact with their professors and their peers.  All lecture content is recorded and made available for students to review at their convenience.

“Our online program offers a combination of real-time class meetings and recorded lectures that can be accessed 24/7, and repeatedly, offering both flexibility and an added study aid for individuals who want extra review opportunities,” said Memon.  Webinars, forums, messaging and chat rooms enable students to participate in peer discussions and collaborations with other online students as well as on-campus students who are taking online courses.

“NYU Tandon also has a virtual laboratory, which provides online students with a secure environment for testing, training and research.  This platform also hosts competitions created by industry for the NYU Cyber Security Awareness Week conference, which attracts thousands of students annually to test their skills,” Memon added.  NYU also operates the Information Systems and Internet Security laboratory, founded by the National Science Foundation, as well as a remotely accessible virtual lab called VITAL, which serves as a shared, central facility for a consortium of universities across New York City.

The university offers a number of creative resources for students to hone their skills, which take the form of cybersecurity labs including:

• Game Innovation Lab
• Offensive Security, Incident Response and Internet Security (OSIRIS) Lab
• Online Social Networks and Privacy Lab
• Secure and Reliable Hardware Lab
• Secure Systems Lab

Online students are eligible for tuition scholarships through two NYU programs:

Society Co-Sponsor Scholarship Program

This program offers a 15 percent tuition benefit on each online course for members of professional associations and societies.

Corporate Partners Scholarship

Students who are employed by one of NYU’s corporate members are eligible for a 20 percent corporate tuition scholarship.

Customize Your Degree to Meet Your Goals

NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering is one of nine graduate schools in the U.S. designated as one of the NSA’s Centers of Academic Excellence (CAE).  “We’ve been designated an NSA Center of Excellence in Information Assurance, a Center of Excellence in Research and a Center of Excellence in Cyber Operations,” said Memon. “Our curriculum meets the Nationals Training Standards set by the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS).”

Pursuant to this, the MS Cybersecurity covers a wide and detailed curriculum, covering computer science, security and an NSA CAE Cyber Operations specialization.  The degree also offers research project and thesis options.

For students who are otherwise qualified, but do not have a working knowledge of a general programming language or background in data structures and computer science, “NYU Tandon offers a novel Cybersecurity Bridge course for working professionals, which gives you the needed pre-requisites in 26 weeks,” said Memon.  Students can then enter the MS Cybersecurity degree program with all the skills they need.

The broad range of course options means students may custom structure their degrees.  The program requires completion of 30 total credits, and online students have up to five years to complete their degree requirements. Courses require 5-10 hours per week to complete, lending flexibility to students who want to pursue their degree while still working, or to accommodate other obligations.

“Industry collaborations also ensure that students are provided with the necessary tools to be at the forefront of cyber threats.  In addition to getting feedback from our partners, we provide opportunities in the form of mentorships, speaker engagements, knowledge sharing sessions and more, so our students learn not only from their peers, but from our partners,” Memon said.

Curriculum and Course Options

Computer Science Core Courses (9 Credits)

• Introduction to Operating Systems CS-GY 6233 (3 Credits)
• Computer Networking CS-GY 6843 (3 Credits)
• Design and Analysis of Algorithms I CS-GY 6033 (3 Credits)

Any of the courses above may be replaced if you have taken a similar class.

Security Core Courses (12 Credits)

• Information, Security and Privacy CS-GY 6813
• Network Security CS-GY 6823
• Applied Cryptography CS-GY 6903
• Application Security CS-GY 9163

Most of the required security core courses above have a project component.

Electives - Select Three (9 Credits)

• Design and Analysis of Algorithms II CS-GY 6043
• Computer Architecture I CS-GY 6133
• Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis CS-GY 6573
• Information Systems Security Engineering and Management CS-GY 6803
• Digital Forensics CS-GY 6963
• Biometrics CS-GY 9093
• Advanced Project in Computer Science CS-GY 9963
• MS Thesis in Computer Science CS-GY 997X

Students may choose other security-related courses from the School of Engineering or from New York University, including courses in psychology, law, and sociology departments. Selected courses must be approved by the Program Committee.

Research Project (Optional)

The MS in Cybersecurity program offers a semester-long advanced project elective (CS 9963) in the area of cybersecurity to introduce students to exciting research in the field, and which can be used as a stepping stone to pursue a PhD degree. Students who choose this option will work under the guidance of a research professor and gain invaluable research experience.

Master's Thesis (Optional)

In addition to the above semester-long research experience, the MS Cybersecurity program also offers research-oriented a master's thesis option. If you select this option, you will need to take 6 credits of CS 9973 working with a faculty advisor on a research problem in cybersecurity. This is in lieu of 2 out of the 3 required electives.

NSA Cyber Operation Specialization

Students who wish to receive an acknowledgment that they have completed the NSA Cyber Operation Program must successfully complete the following courses:

• Design and Analysis of Algorithms I CS-GY 6033
• Introduction to Operating Systems CS-GY 6233
• Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis CS-GY 6573
• Information Systems Security Engineering and Management CS-GY 6803
• Information, Security and Privacy CS-GY 6813
• Network Security CS-GY 6823
• Computer Networking CS-GY 6843
• Applied Cryptography CS-GY 6903
• Application Security CS-GY 9163
• Mobile Security CS-GY 9223

NYU Tandon School of Engineering has sponsored this post.  All opinions are mine.  –Meghan Brown