Master of Science in Information Systems & Computer Security (ISCS)
*Subject to Revision
Mission
This program prepares highly-qualified professionals with both Cyberseucrity and Data Science expertise. The Information Systems and Computer Security (ISCS) Master of Science program at 精东AV is designed to fill the current and future needs for Information Assurance professionals to support the nation鈥檚 information infrastructure. 聽Information Assurance has become a critical issue for businesses as they encounter problems from external network attacks as well as internal issues due to lax control systems and compliance requirements.
Rationale
Protection of America鈥檚 critical infrastructure is an emerging national priority. Due to its implication for national security, there is great need to produce professionals trained in both Information Systems and Information Security for securing information and systems in industrial and governmental organizations. Current Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) trends point to an increase in need of people qualified in data science disciplines. These disciplines include big-data analytics, machine learning, and predictive modeling, among others. The proposed program is a multidisciplinary, 30 credit hour graduate degree program designed to produce a comprehensively educated professional in cybersecurity and data science.
Objectives
Truly gaining value from technology requires an understanding of how technology interacts with business processes, strategy, and policy. The CBIS鈥檚 Information Systems and Computer Security (ISCS) curriculum is unique in the sense that it integrates both the business and computer science disciplines into a coherent area of study. Students learn how to use methods and tools to make strategic decisions about information security issues, including identity theft and other forms of electronic fraud, computer viruses, hacking attacks, and even cyber warfare.
TU鈥檚 MSISCS program allows student to take courses tailored to their individual backgrounds. Students with experience in the law, social sciences, or business can strengthen their technical skills, while those with backgrounds in information technology can increase their business acumen and expand their understanding of information security as it relates to protection of individuals, companies, and other organizations.
While all students learn about the key issues in information security and business processes, electives let individuals customize their program to meet their own professional goals and those of their employer. The required project or thesis lets each student apply their knowledge and training by tackling a specific and current information security issue.
During this journey of discovery, the student will be educated in 精东AV鈥檚 interdisciplinary tradition of innovation and investigation. The student will be trained as analytical problem solver adding value to organizations and society through the intelligent application of information systems and security management.
Program Description
The Master of Science in Information Systems and Computer Security (MS-ISCS) is an interdisciplinary program offered under a cooperative arrangement with various departments including Accounting, Economics, Finance; Management, and Computer Science. Students graduating from the major will help to fill the need for well-educated Information Systems and Security management specialists in the government, private sector, and academia.
The program objectives, identified as being critical to the accomplishment of this mission are:
- Impart and enhance knowledge about information systems security
- Expand and develop ability to secure and manage complex business systems
- Instill and nurture social awareness, and the ability to function in a team
- Instill and nurture a sense of ethics
- Develop an understanding of strategic and policy issues
The program offers two options: Cybersecurity option and Data Science option
The program is broadly based and uses courses in the aforementioned departments. The program will consist of 24 course credits with 6 credits of research work for a Master of Science with thesis (30 hours). A non-thesis Master of Science will consist of 30 credits of courses (30 hours). The courses are divided into three categories: core, required, and electives.聽
A student鈥檚 Program of Study Committee, in consultation with the student, determines the elective courses to be taken and the acceptability of transfer credits. The major professor will be selected from the discipline where the student is admitted.
The basic prerequisite for admission to this program is a baccalaureate degree in computer science, management information systems, accounting, finance, management, Information Technology, or a closely related field. The GRE or GMAT examination is required. Potential students with baccalaureate degrees in other related fields will be considered on an individual basis, possibly with provisional admission contingent upon the completion of deficiency courses.
Curriculum
The curriculum of the graduate program in Information Systems & Computer Security is as follows:
Cybersecurity Option
Core Courses (15 Credits)
- ISCS 504,聽3 credits,聽Data Networks and Cloud Computing
- ISCS 506,聽3 credits,聽Database Systems
- ISCS 510,聽3 credits,聽Statistics with R
- ISCS 530,聽3 credits,聽Information Security
- ISCS 531,聽3 credits,聽Network Security and Management
Required Courses (9 Credits)
- ISCS 505,聽3 credits,聽Introduction to Cybersecurity
- ISCS 532,聽3 credits,聽Information Security Policy and Risk
- ISCS 536,聽3 credits,聽Mobile Security
Electives (6 Credits for Non-Thesis Option)
(2 courses from the list)
- ISCS 534,聽3 credits,聽Software Security
- ISCS 537,聽3 credits,聽Computer Forensics
- ISCS 538,聽3 credits,聽Web Application Security
- ISCS 539,聽3 credits,聽Data Analytics
- ISCS 540,聽3 credits,聽Big Data Analytics
- ISCS 550,聽3 credits,聽Data Mining & Machine Learning
- ISCS 560,聽3 credits,聽Internet of Things
- ISCS 580,聽3 credits,聽Special Topics
Department Lists
- Any other approved 500 level ISCS courses
Thesis
- ISCS 600,聽6 credits,聽ISCS Thesis
Data Science Option
Core Courses (15 Credits)
- ISCS 504,聽3 credits,聽Data Networks and Cloud Computing
- ISCS 506,聽3 credits,聽Database Systems
- ISCS 510,聽3 credits,聽Statistics with R
- ISCS 530,聽3 credits,聽Information Security
- ISCS 531,聽3 credits,聽Network Security and Management
Required Courses (9 Credits)
- ISCS 539,聽3 credits,聽Data Analytics
- ISCS 540,聽3 credits,聽Big Data Analytics
- ISCS 550,聽3 credits,聽Data Mining & Machine Learning
Electives (6 Credits for Non-Thesis Option)
(2 courses from the list)
- ISCS 505,聽3 credits,聽Introduction to Cybersecurity
- ISCS 532,聽3 credits,聽Information Security Policy and Risk
- ISCS 534,聽3 credits,聽Software Security
- ISCS 536,聽3 credits,聽Mobile Security
- ISCS 537,聽3 credits,聽Computer Forensics
- ISCS 538,聽3 credits,聽Web Application Security
- ISCS 560,聽3 credits,聽Internet of Things
- ISCS 580,聽3 credits,聽Special Topics
Department Lists
- Any other approved 500 level ISCS courses
Thesis
- ISCS 600,聽6 credits,聽ISCS Thesis
Degree Requirements
The MS-ISCS degree requires you to demonstrate proficiency in Information Systems, Information Security, IT Strategy, Data Science, and fundamental skills.
MS-ISCS Degree Requirements:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or closely related field聽
- GPA of 3.0 or better at an undergraduate level
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE) /Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT) 聽
- Statement of Purpose and three letters of recommendation
MS-ISCS Degree Requirements for International Students:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or closely related area
- GPA of 3.0 or better at an undergraduate level
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE) / Graduate Management Aptitude Test (GMAT)
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- Statement of Purpose and three letters of recommendation
Helpful Information
- Cybersecurity Option
- Data Science Option
- Graduate School webpage (Graduate admission information)聽