Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
Graduate study in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity is accessible both to students who have completed undergraduate Computer Science or Management Information Science majors or minors and to those with baccalaureate degrees in technical fields with the equivalent of a Computer Science or Management Information Science minor in formal coursework or professional experience. Applicants who do not possess the appropriate academic, technical, or experiential backgrounds may be required to take stem work courses to ensure a minimum standard of technical competence. Stem work decisions are made on an individual basis by the department chair.
Additional information: Reference the Program Landing Page for additional information, such as cost, delivery format, contact information, or to schedule a visit.
Applicants seeking admission to the graduate program in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:
- Graduate Application
- Application fee
- Official transcript from the baccalaureate degree granting institution
- Up-to-date Resume
- Two letters of recommendation that address the applicant's qualification for graduate study
Admission preference is given to applicants with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Stem Requirement
At the minimum, students are expected to present a background comparable to that provided in the following courses as described in the Undergraduate Catalog of Sam Houston State University:
Prerequisite Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| COSC 2327 | Intro to Computer Networks | 3 |
| COSC 3318 | Data Base Management Systems | 3 |
| MATH 1420 | Calculus I | 4 |
| STAT 3379 | Statistical Methds in Practice | 3 |
Students who have not fulfilled the prerequisites in formal coursework are required to take one or more of the graduate stem courses, in addition to the 30 semester credit hours required in the MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity.
Graduate Stem Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Stem Course Requirements | ||
| COSC 5301 | Quantitative Foundations of CS | 3 |
| COSC 5302 | Computer Science Core Topics | 3 |
The Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity program has a total of 30 semester credit hours. Students will be required to complete a written comprehensive examination in core subjects where they received a grade of B or lower, before graduation. Students also may be required to supplement their written responses in an oral examination. Students must be enrolled the semester in which they take comprehensive examinations.
The department chair assigns a committee to each student at the time the student registers for DFSC 6347. The advisory committee consists of graduate faculty from the Department of Computer Science. Once enrolled in DFSC 6347, a student must be continually enrolled in each major semester until graduation.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity | ||
| Specified Courses | ||
| COSC 5325 | Operating System Security | 3 |
| COSC 5335 | Database Security | 3 |
| DFSC 5310 | Princple& Policy-Info Assuranc | 3 |
| DFSC 5315 | Network and Cyber Security | 3 |
| DFSC 5336 | Business Continuity Management | 3 |
| DFSC 6347 | Directed Mgt & Development Prj 1 | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select four graduate courses in DFSC or any approved COSC graduate courses 2 | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 30 | |
- 1
Once enrolled in DFSC 6347, the student must enroll in this course until graduation.
- 2
COSC 5301 and COSC 5302 do not count towards the degree plan.
Stem Requirement
At the minimum, students are expected to present a background comparable to that provided in the following courses as described in the Undergraduate Catalog of Sam Houston State University:
Prerequisite courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Courses | ||
| COSC 2327 | Intro to Computer Networks | 3 |
| COSC 3318 | Data Base Management Systems | 3 |
| MATH 1420 | Calculus I | 4 |
| STAT 3379 | Statistical Methds in Practice | 3 |
Students who have not fulfilled the prerequisites in formal coursework are required to take one or more of the graduate stem courses, in addition to the 30 semester credit hours required in the MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity.
Graduate Stem Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Graduate Stem Course Requirements | ||
| COSC 5301 | Quantitative Foundations of CS | 3 |
| COSC 5302 | Computer Science Core Topics | 3 |
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) marketable skills initiative is part of the state’s 60x30TX plan and was designed to help students articulate their skills to employers. Marketable skills are those skills valued by employers and/or graduate programs that can be applied in a variety of work or education settings and may include interpersonal, cognitive, and applied skill areas.
The MS in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity is designed to provide graduates with the following marketable skills:
-
Establish and operate an investigator’s lab, and process digital evidence.
-
Develop plans to safeguard digital files against unauthorized modification and destruction.
-
Create plans and implement strategies for preventing attacks to a network
-
Analyze/asses risk and identify vulnerabilities in an organizations network
-
Acquire the professional competency and cybersecurity expertise necessary for roles and responsibilities in business, industry, and governmental positions.
