Cybersecurity

Department of Computer Science and Engineering
546 Engineering Center (map)
(248) 370-2200 • Fax (248) 370-4625
http://www.cse.secs.oakland.edu/

Coordinator:
Huirong Fu
528 Engineering Center
(248) 370-4456
fu@oakland.edu

Program description

The Master of Science in Cyber Security degree program is designed to provide a strong foundation and detailed technical knowledge in information security, computer security, network security, software security as well as an appreciation of the social, policy, ethical and legal aspects of security and privacy. A natural continuation of studies is offered for students who have received a baccalaureate in computer science, information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information systems, mathematics, software engineering, or a related technical area, and are interested in furthering their knowledge in Cyber Security. The program offers two tracks: a research track and a professional track.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

• February 15 (early), April 15 (regular), July 15 (late) for fall semester

• October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) for winter semester

• March 1 (regular) for summer semester

• International applicants  

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

1. Graduate application requirements

       

2. Additional department application requirements

• Recommendation for Graduate Admission form:
  Two recommendation forms must be from faculty members of the undergraduate major department or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant. These recommendations form an important part of the admission credentials.

• Applicants must submit official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if they graduated from an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting agency of the USA. The department may choose to waive the GRE requirement if at least one of the following special circumstances is met:

  • Applicant has a degree from a U.S. institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency.

  • Applicant’s overall GPA from last degree is at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

  • Applicant has worked in the USA for at least two years in the engineering profession.

  • To request a waiver, applicants must submit a 

    Request to Waive GRE form to the Graduate School as part of the application packet. The request for waiver is subject to the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee.

• Bachelor of Science in computer science, information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information systems, mathematics, software engineering, or equivalent. Applicants from other disciplines would be considered after successfully completing appropriate prerequisite courses.

• Admission to master’s program is selective; applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better for regular admission.

• If the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is between 2.7 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and at least a 3.0 grade point average in technical courses related to Cyber Security, admission with limited standing may be offered. For applicants graduated from an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting agency of the USA, a 70% or better percentile score of the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section is required.

• Applicants from institutions with which Oakland University has an articulation agreement containing alternative admission criteria will be admitted according to the criteria in that agreement.

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department. 

Degree requirements

The Master of Science in Cyber Security degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 32 credits in an approved program of study.

Course requirements

1. Research track (32 credits)

The research track requires 32 credits including 8 credits of thesis to graduate. The structure of credits is as follows:

a. Foundation requirements (12 credits)

Choose three courses from the following:

• course Mobile and Smart Phone Application Development (4 credits)

• course Cloud Computing (4 credits)

• course Database Systems I (4 credits)

• course Computer Networks (4 credits)

• course Operating Systems I (4 credits)

b. Core requirement (4 credits)

Required course:

• course Information Security (4 credits)

c. Depth requirement (8 credits)

Choose two courses from the following:

• course Mathematics of Cryptology (4 credits)

• course Information Security Practices (4 credits)

• course Wireless and Industrial Networks (4 credits)

• course Software Security (4 credits)

• course Non-Cryptographic Methods for Network Security and Privacy (4 credits)

• course Cyberlaw, Forensics and Electronic Discovery (4 credits)

• CSI 5900 - ST: Mobile Security (4 credits)

• course Network Security (4 credits)

• course IS Privacy (3 credits)

• course Intellectual Property and the Public Domain in the Age of Remix (3 credits)

• course Special Topics in Management Information Systems (3 credits)

d. Electives (8 credits)

Students on a research track must complete a thesis for 8 credits:

• course Independent Study (1 TO 4 credits)

• course Master’s Thesis Research (2 to 8 credits)

• course Research Methodology in Computer Science (2 credits)

• course Research Seminar in Computer Science (2 credits)

• Note: The program will require 16 semester hours of foundation and core courses and 16 semester hours of depth/elective course work for a total of 32 semester hours. Research track students are required to take Master’s Thesis Research plus at least 2 depth courses.

2. Professional track (32 credits)

The professional track requires 32 credits of graduate coursework.  The structure of credits is as follows.

a. Foundation requirements (12 credits)

Choose three courses from the following:

• course Mobile and Smart Phone Application Development (4 credits)

• course Cloud Computing (4 credits)

• course Database Systems I (4 credits)

• course Operating Systems I (4 credits)

b. Core requirement (4 credits)

Required course:

• course Information Security (4 credits)

c. Depth requirement (8 credits)

Choose two courses from the following:

• course Mathematics of Cryptology (4 credits)

• course Information Security Practices (4 credits)

• course Wireless and Industrial Networks (4 credits)

• course Software Security (4 credits)

• course Non-Cryptographic Methods for Network Security and Privacy (4 credits)

• course Cyberlaw, Forensics and Electronic Discovery (4 credits)

• CSI 5900 - ST: Mobile Security (4 credits)

• course Network Security (4 credits)

• course IS Privacy (3 credits)

• course Intellectual Property and the Public Domain in the Age of Remix (3 credits)

• course Special Topics in Management Information Systems (3 credits)

d. Electives (8 credits)

• course Independent Study (1 TO 4 credits)

• course Research Methodology in Computer Science (2 credits)

• course Research Seminar in Computer Science (2 credits)

   

  Note: The program will require 16 semester hours of foundation and core courses and 16 semester hours of depth/elective course work for a total of 32 semester hours. Professional track students are required to take at least 3 depth courses

Satisfactory academic progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.

Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing

All graduate students are expected to remain in good Academic Standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

• Holding a Graduate Assistantship

• Receiving a fellowship or scholarship

• Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree

• Going on a leave of absence

• Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Department requirements:  The minimum satisfactory grade for graduate work is B. Credit for completion of a course in the Master of Science program will be given for grades of B- or above but no more than two grades may be B-. Graduate credit will not be awarded for grades below B-. To repeat a course, a student must have the permission of the graduate committee of the school.

All grades received as a graduate student are used in computing the GPA except that, if a course has been repeated, the most recent grade is used in the calculation of the GPA. A graduate student is placed on academic probation if the student’s overall GPA drops below 3.0 or if the student receives more than one grade below 3.0, including the original grade(s) of any repeated course(s). A graduate student receiving a grade less than 3.0 while on probation is subject to dismissal. A graduate student receiving more than two grades below 3.0 is subject to dismissal whether or not the student was put on probation previously.

In all programs the minimum grade point requirement is an average of at least 3.0. If a student’s GPA is less than 3.0 after having attempted 16 credits, the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.