Cybersecurity, M.S.C.Y.S.

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Bellini College of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing (AI)

Department of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Computing
Major Contacts, Deadlines, and Delivery Information

This major shares a core with the Artificial Intelligence M.S.A.I.

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity trains graduate students with advanced skills and practices related to the design, development, and operation of technologies and processes in secure computing systems, networks, and infrastructures from malicious cyberattacks causing damages and data losses. This program will allow graduates to pursue technical careers in a wide range of areas, including network security design and operation, software security, secure software development, hardware security design, cyberphysical systems security, Internet of Things (IoT) security, and social networks, and other.

Major Research Areas:

Network security, software security, hardware security, cyberphysical systems security, Internet of Things (IoT) security, ethical hacking, forensics, risk management, compliance and regulations, and security policies.

Admissions Information

Must meet University Graduate Admissions and English Proficiency requirements as well as requirements for admission to the major, listed below..

GRE is required except for US domestic applicants with an undergraduate degree from ABET-accredited degree programs, or from a Carnegie R1 university, or for applicants who have successfully completed USF Pathway to Computing (PTC) Graduate Certificate
Three Letters of Recommendation
Statement of Purpose
Resume
PDF of unofficial GRE Scores
PDF of unofficial transcripts
PDF of English proficiency, if needed.
Students applying to this program are expected to have a solid foundation in mathematics and core areas of computer science and/or electrical engineering, computer engineering, such as logic design, computer architecture, data structures, operating systems networks, and algorithms.
Applicants without the required background in computing must complete the Pathway to Computing (PTC) Graduate Certificate prior to taking the rest of the coursework in the curriculum. This certificate helps them acquire the necessary mathematical and computing foundations. Must maintain an overall 3.00 GPA in all referenced graduate certificate coursework. PTC courses cannot be counted as electives toward the degree. (Note: PTC is a program with a different tuition rate.)

Curriculum Requirements

Total Minimum Hours - 30*

Pathway to Computing (PTC) Graduate Certificate - 15 Credit Hours (Note: PTC is a program with a different tuition rate)**

Shared Core Requirements- 6 credit hours
Additional Required Course - 3 credit hours
Electives - 12 credit hours
Non-Thesis Option - Additional 9 credit hours of electives
Thesis Option - Additional 9 credit hours minimum of thesis credits

*Students entering with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field from an accredited institution complete a minimum of 30 credit hours.
**Students entering without a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field from an accredited institution complete a minimum of 45 credit hours, including the Pathway to Computing Graduate Certificate.

Shared Core Requirements (6 Credit Hours)

Successful completion with a letter grade “B” or better of the core graduate-level courses are required:
COP 6536 Advances in Data Structures for IT Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5005 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence Credit Hours: 3

Additional Required Course (3 Credit Hours)

Successful completion with a letter grade “B” or better is required:
EEL 6787 Data Network, Systems, and Security Credit Hours: 3

Electives (12 Credit Hours)

Students in the non-thesis option complete a minimum of 21 credit hours.
Students in the thesis option complete a minimum of 12 credit hours.

With prior permission from the Graduate Director, students can take a maximum of three (3) hours of Independent Study or Internship, a maximum of three (3) hours of one-hour seminar courses, and up to one graduate level course (3 credit hours) outside of the college.

Students must select at least twelve (12) hours from the list of available graduate elective courses in consultation with the Graduate Director or individual advisor.
Non-thesis students need to take a minimum of six (6) credits from the list of electives, as determined by the Graduate Director and documented in the Plan of Work.

Examples of Courses:
EEE 6749 Cryptography and Data Security Credit Hours: 3
EEE 6747 Wireless Mobile Computing and Security Credit Hours: 3
EEE 6875 AI and Security in Cyber Physical Systems Credit Hours: 3
CDA 6328 Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6373 Foundations of Software Security Credit Hours: 3
CAP 6101 Mobile Biometrics Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6214 Privacy-Preserving and Trustworthy Cyber-Infrastructures Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6082 Cloud Computing Credit Hours: 3
CAP 5745 Interactive Data Visualization Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6220 Penetration Testing for IT Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6218 Human Aspects of Cybersecurity Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5107 Machine Learning Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5135 Data Mining Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5205 Deep Learning Credit Hours: 3
CAI 5815 Autonomous Mobile Robots Credit Hours: 3
CAI 6605 Trustworthy AI Systems Credit Hours: 3
CIS 6930 Special Topics Credit Hours: 1-5
taken as:
- Security & Privacy in ML Credit Hours: 3
- Emerging Topics in Net Security Credit hours: 3
- Practical Hardware Security Credit Hours: 3
- Hardware Security Credit Hours: 3
- Wireless & Mobile Computing Credit Hours: 3
- Emerging Topics in Network Security Credit Hours: 3
- Seminar in AI Credit Hours: 1
CIS 6946 Internships/Practicums/Clinical Practice Credit Hours: 0-3
Or other graduate course approved by the Graduate Director

Thesis Option (9 Credit Hours Minimum)

The thesis option requires nine (9) credit hours of thesis in cybersecurity related problems, as determined by the Major Professor and documented in the Plan of Work.

CIS 6971 Thesis: Master’s Credit Hours: 2-19 (9 Credit Hours Minimum for this program)

Non-Thesis Option (9 Credit Hours Minimum)

The non-thesis option requires an additional nine (9) credit hours of graduate level electives for a total of 21 credit hours of electives selected in consultation with the Graduate Director.

Comprehensive Exam

For students taking the thesis option, the requirement for a comprehensive exam is satisfied by the successful completion and defense of the thesis. Non-thesis option students must pass the comprehensive exam in the semester prior to the semester of graduation.

Exit Survey

All students are required to complete the College exit survey.

University of South Florida

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