Cybersecurity, M.S.

The cybersecurity field is a fast-growing field with expectations of substantial jobs growth over the next decade. As the business world, governments, and individuals become more acutely aware of the threats to their private data, IT assets, and resources (and the need to secure and defend them), the demand for cybersecurity-skilled professionals will continue to increase. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity at New York Institute of Technology is an innovative degree program that will provide professionals with the advanced skills needed to protect and defend information systems from attack.

The curriculum in the program features emerging topics in the field that build upon a solid theoretical foundation combined with practice through classroom coursework, projects, and research. An Industrial Advisory Board composed of industry leaders advises our program, ensuring that the program is relevant to industry needs and requirements. Topics covered in the program include network security, operating systems security, data center security, forensics, cryptography, and cybersecurity laws and policies, to name a few.

This program is offered at the Long Island, New York City, and Vancouver campuses, providing a global view of cybersecurity to professionals in the United States and worldwide.

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is ideally suited for students with engineering and computer science backgrounds who intend to play a leading role in implementation and management of computer and network security systems.

Objectives
Our curriculum articulates several student outcomes. Upon graduation, students are expected to have the ability to:

Identify, formulate, and analyze the patterns and trends of threats as they apply to information systems, including methods, modes of preparation for attack, tactics, logistics, hazards, and vulnerabilities
Critically evaluate various technical/architectural solutions available to limit risk, mitigate the effects of hostile action, and recover from attack
Design, implement, and maintain software tools designed to support network security and systematically integrate these tools within multiple operating systems and platforms
Oversee the information assurance life cycle of an organization, including planning, acquisition, and implementation of secure infrastructures
Ensure compliance with security policy, legislation, and market trends
Utilize mathematical and algorithmic solutions to complex information security problems
Communicate effectively with various audiences
Function effectively as a member of a team

Curriculum
The curriculum is comprised of 30 credits and divided into fundamental and elective courses. Requirements include four fundamental core groups. In addition, students consult with an advisor to choose elective credits, which will be geared to their interests and professional goals.

Thesis Option Master’s Degree¹
Students selecting this option will be required to complete 30 credits, which include six credits of M.S. thesis courses. Full-time students typically take two semesters to complete the thesis course sequence, which entails planning and conducting research and writing a thesis. Depending on the thesis topic, students will gain specialized skills and knowledge to make them better qualified for research and development jobs at companies. The thesis may also lead to advanced degrees beyond the Master of Science. With the approval of a supervising thesis advisor, qualified students pursuing the master’s thesis must:

Enroll in two semesters of INCS 890 M.S. Thesis I and INCS 891 M.S. Thesis II for a maximum of six credits.
Prepare reports and verbally defend a formal thesis in accordance with criteria established by the College of Engineering and Computing Sciences. A formal written thesis will be archived in the university library.²

¹ Not offered at the Vancouver campus.
² All master’s theses must strictly adhere to the Master’s Thesis Policies and Guidelines published by NYIT College of Engineering and Computing Sciences.

Non-Thesis Option Master’s Degree
Students selecting this option will still be required to complete 30 credits. Instead of M.S. thesis courses, students will either take twelve C.S. elective credits or nine C.S. elective credits and three project course credits with the department chair’s or advisor’s permission.

Fellowships and Assistantships
Research fellowships and teaching assistantships are available to qualified candidates. These opportunities are usually for a 10-month period and may include partial remission of tuition and fees.

International F-1 students who successfully complete this degree are eligible for an additional 24-month STEM OPT extension to work in the U.S. in an area directly related to their area of study immediately upon completing the customary 12-month post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Admission Requirements

B.S. degree or its equivalent from an accredited college or university in computer science, engineering, management, information technology, mathematics, criminal justice and other related areas
- If students have a degree in engineering, an accredited program is one that is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET).
- If students have completed degrees in computer science or a closely related field, an accredited program is one taken at a college that is regionally accredited, such as the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
- If students have an international baccalaureate degree or diploma, which is equivalent to three years of undergraduate study in the U.S. in computer science, engineering, or a related area, they may be eligible to be admitted into a bridge option in the intended graduate program.
Minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.85 for full matriculation
- Applicants who do not qualify for full matriculation and have an undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 2.84 may, at the discretion of the director, be given the opportunity to demonstrate qualifications for full matriculation by achieving a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the first four graduate courses. In addition, such students may be required to take one or more parts of the GRE and meet individual departmental requirements. In general, students in this category will not be permitted to continue in the program for more than two semesters unless they have qualified for fully matriculated status, or there are special extenuating circumstances.
Submit GRE scores
- Graduates of foreign universities are required to take the GRE and submit their scores.
- Students with a GPA below 2.85 may, at the discretion of the dean, be asked to take the GRE or other diagnostic tests. Admission will be based upon consideration of test results, previous academic performance, and related employment, if applicable.
Students with an insufficient background for admission into the Cybersecurity program may be required to take up to 32 credits from the list of waivable and prerequisite courses listed below.
- Waivable Courses
  - CSCI 502 Computer Programming I (3 credits)
  - CSCI 503 Computer Organization and Architecture (3 credits)
  - CSCI 504 Computer Programming II (3 credits)
  - CSCI 505 Elements of Discrete Structures (3 credits)
  - CSCI 507 Data Structures (3 credits)
  - CSCI 508 Compiler Design (3 credits)
  - CSCI 509 Operating Systems (3 credits)
- Additional Prerequisite Courses
  - MATH 170 Calculus I (4 credits)
  - MATH 180 Calculus II (4 credits)
  - MATH 310 Linear Algebra (3 credits)

Note: Credits earned for the courses above will not be counted toward the 30 credits required for the degree. Additionally, all 500-level bridge courses earn a pass/fail grade.

Specific Information for Vancouver Applicants

Vancouver applicants must have obtained a score of 570 or higher in TOEFL (88 or higher TOEFL IBT), a score of 6.5 or higher in IELTS (Academic), or a score 58 or higher in PTE (Academic). In addition, applicants must possess a four (4) year bachelor's degree in computer science or related field(or equivalent) from an accredited college or university.

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required for admission
- Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.85 and 2.99 may, at the discretion of the Vancouver Program Dean, be admitted into the program. Reasons for discretionary admission include but are not limited to 1) Submission of official GRE test scores of a minimum of 295, with a minimum percentile rank of 75% in quantitative reasoning 2) Prior work experience 3) Applicants potential to contribute to the diversity of the student body.
Based on the review of the students' background by the Vancouver program dean, students must register in all or some of the non-degree courses listed below. Failure to successfully complete these courses with a P grade will result in a forfeiture of admission to the M.S. program.

Prerequisite Courses:

CSCI 502 Programming I (3 credits)
CSCI 503 Computer Architecture (3 credits)
CSCI 504 Programming II (3 credits)
CSCI 507 Data Structures (3 credits)
CSCI 509 Operating Systems (3 credits)

No Challenge Exam in the above non-degree courses is permitted.

Application Materials

Completed application
$50 nonrefundable application fee
Copies of undergraduate transcripts for all schools attended. All final, official transcripts must be received prior to the start of your first semester.
Copy of college diploma or proof of degree
Official GRE scores, if required (GRE Code: 2561)
International student requirements: English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE), I-20, and transcript evaluation

Transfer Credits

Students may transfer up to nine credits from an accredited graduate program for appropriate courses in which a minimum grade of B was earned.
Pass grades earned during the spring 2020 semester meet this GPA threshold and are transferable to New York Institute of Technology.