Masters Degree in Cybersecurity (Policy) Curriculum

Master of Science in Cybersecurity (32 credits)

The Fall 2024 priority deadline is Feb. 15, 2024 and the Fall 2024 Final Deadline is March 15, 2024.

The GRE general test is required for the M.S. Cybersecurity (Policy) program.

Policy track

All students in the M.S. Cybersecurity degree program, regardless of the units in which they enroll, will be required to complete the following core courses which total 14 credit hours. Learn more about the M.S. Cybersecurity program in the Georgia Tech course catalog or from our program information flyer

Information Sessions

Join students and faculty from the M.S. Cybersecurity to learn more about the program.

Information sessions will be hosted prior to the application deadline and dates for the sessions will appear here when announced.

Please register to join our School of Public Policy communications list.

Admissions Process

Applications are electronic and are handled through the Georgia Tech Graduate Admissions System.

GRE scores can be sent to the university code 5248. GRE, IETLS, and TOEFL scores are received by the Graduate Admissions Office.

Required Core Courses (14 credit hours)

  1. CS 6035 – Introduction to Information Security

    Prerequisites: Graduate standing and basic information technology literacy including familiarity with programming concepts.

    A full spectrum of information security: threats, software vulnerabilities, programming for malice, basic cryptography, operating systems protections, network security, privacy, data mining, and computer crime.
     
  2. PUBP 6725 – Information Security Policies (this course is also cross-listed as CS 6725 and MGT 6725).

    Prerequisites: Graduate standing.

    Understanding cybersecurity from the standpoint of public policy and organizational management. Information security vulnerabilities and risks; legal, cost, privacy, and technology constraints; derivation of organizational strategies; national security, global Internet governance institutions.
     
  3. PUBP/CS 6727 – Information Security Practicum 

    Prerequisites: CS 6035 and PUBP 6725.

    Capstone independent study project placing each student in a commercial, academic or government setting where he or she identifies a major cyber security problem, and explores and evaluates a solution that addresses it with realistic assumptions about the organizational context. The chosen problem must be approved by the course instructor.
  4. CS/ECE 6xxx

    To enhance the breadth of students’ knowledge, each student must take a required 3-hour elective course from a specialization that is different from the one in which he or she is enrolled. See a sample list of electives available from CS and ECE under the section “Electives in other tracks.”

Requirements for the Policy Specialization

Select any four courses:

  1. PUBP 6502 - Information and Communications Policy
  2. MGT 6726 - Privacy, Technology, Policy and Law
  3. PUBP 6111 - Internet and Public Policy
  4. INTA 6014 - Scenario and Path Gaming
  5. INTA 6450 - Big Data and Security
  6. PUBP 6501 - Information Policy and Management
  7. INTA 6103 - International Security
  8. CS 8833 - Security Operations and Incident Response

Two Electives:

Policy track students must take 9 credits of electives. At least 3 credits (one course) must be from the CS or ECE specialization. The two additional courses are free electives that can be taken from any track, including the courses listed in the Policy specialization.

 

Electives from other tracks

  • CS 6260 Applied Cryptography (Prerequisite: CS 6035)
  • CS 6238 Secure Computer Systems (Prerequisites: CS 6035)
  • CS 6262 Network Security (Prerequisites: CS 6035).
  • CS 6265 Information Security Lab (Prerequisites: CS 6238 and CS 6262).
  • CS 6210 Advanced Operating Systems
  • CS 6250 Computer Networks
  • CS 6255 Network Management
  • CS 6365 Introduction to Enterprise Computing
  • CS 6390 Programming Languages
  • CS 6400 Database Systems Concepts and Designs
  • CS 6675 Advanced Internet Computing
     
  • ECEP 8813 Smart Grids
  • ECEP 8813 Introduction to Cyber-Physical Electric Energy Systems
  • ECE 8813 Introduction to Cyber-Physical Systems Security
  • ECE 8803 Computational Aspects of Cyber-Physical Systems
  • ECE 6615 Sensor Networks

Learn more about the M.S. Cybersecurity program from the College of Computing.