Requirements for the Master of Science in Cybersecurity
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is designed to be completed in 4 semesters. It takes 8 courses to complete the program and students can take up to 3 courses per semester, but the Department strongly recommends taking no more than 2 courses per semester--especially during one's first term at Brown. We do not currently offer summer term courses in the program, so courses are completed during fall and spring. Course availability varies and there is no guarantee that students will be able to take every course they are interested in.
Students in the program are only pre-approved to take the courses from the standard curriculum during the specific semesters listed below. If you deviate from the standard curriculum without approval from your Director of Graduate Studies, the course you register for may not count towards your degree.
Computer Science Track
| Computer Science Track: | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| CSCI 1860 | Cybersecurity Law and Policy | 1 |
| CSCI 2660 | Computer Systems Security | 1 |
| CSCI 2999A | Cybersecurity Management Within Business, Government, and Non-Profit Organizations | 1 |
| Select Three Track courses: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Computer Systems | ||
| Introduction to Software Engineering | ||
| Introduction to Cryptography and Computer Security (prerequisite: CSCI 1010 Theory of Computation, prerequisite/corequisite: CSCI 1660 Computer Systems Security) | ||
| Applied Cryptography (prerequisite: CSCI 1310 Fundamentals of Computer Systems or CSCI 1330 Computer Systems) | ||
| Software Security and Exploitation (prerequisites: CSCI 1330 Computer Systems, CSCI 1670 Operating Systems) | ||
| Operating Systems (prerequisite: CSCI 1330 Computer Systems) | ||
| Computer Networks (prerequisite: CSCI 1310 Fundamentals of Computer Systems or CSCI 1330 Computer Systems) | ||
| Operating Systems (prerequisite: CSCI 1330 Computer Systems) | ||
| Operating Systems Laboratory (prerequisite: CSCI 1330 Computer Systems) | ||
| Design and Implementation of Programming Languages | ||
| Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies (prerequisite: CSCI 1330 Computer Systems) | ||
| Advanced Topics in Cryptography (prerequisite: CSCI 1510 Introduction to Cryptography and Computer Security) | ||
| Topics in Computer Systems Security (prerequisite: CSCI 1660 Computer Systems Security) | ||
| Topics in Software Security (prerequisite: CSCS 1650 Software Security and Exploitation) | ||
| Select Two Elective Courses: | 2 | |
| Theory of Computation | ||
| Compilers and Program Analysis | ||
| Database Management Systems | ||
| Human Factors in Cybersecurity | ||
| Design and Analysis of Algorithms | ||
| Multiprocessor Synchronization | ||
| Cybersecurity and International Relations | ||
| Computers, Freedom and Privacy | ||
| Cybersecurity Ethics | ||
| Introduction to Robotics | ||
| Privacy and Personal Data Protection | ||
| Reading and Research | ||
This course can be used for a project relevant to policy challenges in cybersecurity. It can count as 1 or 2 courses: shorter projects will count as one course and are completed in one semester; longer projects will count as two courses and are completed in two semesters. | ||
Policy Track
| Policy Track: | ||
| Required Courses: | ||
| CSCI 1360 | Human Factors in Cybersecurity | 1 |
| CSCI 1860 | Cybersecurity Law and Policy | 1 |
| CSCI 1880 | Introduction to Computer Security | 1 |
| CSCI 2999A | Cybersecurity Management Within Business, Government, and Non-Profit Organizations | 1 |
| Select Three Track courses: | 3 | |
| The Basics of Cryptographic Systems | ||
| Cybersecurity and International Relations | ||
| Computers, Freedom and Privacy | ||
| Cybersecurity Ethics | ||
| Contemporary Digital Policy and Politics (Only Available for Synchronous Attendance) (Course With Limited Enrollment) or CSCI 1952X Contemporary Digital Policy and Politics (Asynchronous Version of IAPA 1811) (Course With Limited Enrollment)) | ||
| Privacy and Personal Data Protection | ||
| Topics in Cyber and Digital Policy (Course With Limited Enrollment) | ||
| Select Two Elective Courses: | 2 | |
| Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies | ||
| Engineering Management + Decision Making | ||
| Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization I (This course has a limited number of seats for ScM in Cybersecurity students. The number of seats available varies by semester) | ||
| Globalization Immersion Experience and Entrepreneurship Laboratory (This course has a limited number of seats for ScM in Cybersecurity students. The number of seats available varies by semester) | ||
| Topics in Computer Systems Security (if you have satisfied prerequisites) | ||
| Reading and Research | ||
This course can be used for a project relevant to policy challenges in cybersecurity. It can count as 1 or 2 courses: shorter projects will count as one course and are completed in one semester; longer projects will count as two courses and are completed in two semesters. | ||