This graduate-level course provides an in-depth exploration of foundational cybersecurity concepts, covering networking and system fundamentals, basic cryptography, malware profiles, data protection, authentication and authorization mechanisms, Identity and Access Management (IAM), physical security, attacker tactics, defensive strategies, and the human dimensions of cybersecurity.
This course provides students with a practical and theoretical foundation in cybersecurity operations. It covers essential topics such as incident response, threat detection, network monitoring, configuration management, and operational defense techniques. Students will engage in real-world scenarios to gain the skills necessary for managing secure IT operations. Emphasis is placed on integrating cybersecurity principles across all layers of operational environments while preparing students for roles such as security analysts, SOC specialists, and cyber incident responders.
This course introduces students to the theoretical foundations and practical applications of modern cryptography. It begins with classical cipher techniques such as substitution and transposition, followed by modern symmetric encryption methods including DES and AES. Students will explore public-key cryptography schemes like RSA, Diffie-Hellman, and elliptic curve cryptography, along with key cryptographic concepts such as digital signatures, certificates, hash functions, and cryptographic attacks. Mathematical underpinnings and software tools will support applied understanding of cryptographic mechanisms.
Course Code: MSCY 7385 Course Name: Computer Forensics
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course provides advanced knowledge and practical experience in computer forensics and cybercrime investigation. It covers modern forensic tools, techniques, and legal frameworks to identify, preserve, analyze, and present digital evidence. Students will investigate incidents such as cybercrimes, insider threats, and data breaches while learning about forensic imaging, anti-forensics, cyber law, chain of custody, and courtroom presentation. Emphasis is placed on real-world case studies, investigative methodology, and regulatory compliance.
Course Code:
MSCY 7386
Course Name:
Selected Topics in Cybersecurity
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This advanced module explores cutting-edge and emerging cybersecurity topics, offering students both theoretical insights and practical skills essential for analyzing, designing, and implementing complex security solutions in real-world systems. Areas of focus may include database security, big data security, vulnerability analysis, secure software development, or threat intelligence, depending on the student’s needs. The course emphasizes activities and critical evaluation of contemporary challenges underpinned by current research and professional practices.
Course Code:
MSCY 7310
Course Name:
Security Architecture and Design
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This graduate-level course equips students with the essential knowledge and expertise needed to architect and evaluate secure computing systems. Covering logical hardware, operating systems, software security models, and architectural styles, students will analyze strengths and weaknesses as they apply defense-in-depth principles. In this course, learners will perform designing secure software and system architectures aligned with professional, ethical, and industry best practices.
Course Code:
MSCY 7320
Course Name:
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course explores the essential foundations of effective governance, risk management, and compliance in the modern business landscape. This comprehensive course is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complex regulatory environment and laws and ensure the sustainability and success of your organization and compliance to security and privacy standards. It also enables students to acquire the knowledge necessary to support an organization in effectively planning, implementing, managing, monitoring, and maintaining an information security management system (ISMS). utilization of lab-based exercises.
Course Code:
MSCY 7331
Course Name:
Network Defender
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: MSCY 7330 Cybersecurity Concepts
Course Description:
This course provides an in-depth study of network infrastructure security, emphasizing both theoretical principles and practices for defending enterprise environments. Students will explore concepts such as defense-in-depth strategies, firewall and VPN configuration, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), honeypots, and wireless security protocols. They will also examine telecommunications fundamentals, ethical considerations, and secure network design. Through case studies, students will develop the competencies necessary to secure networks against evolving threats and apply industry-standard frameworks to real-world scenarios.
Course Code:
MSCY 7332
Course Name:
Business Continuity
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure organizational resilience in the face of major disruptions such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and terrorist incidents. It emphasizes business impact analysis (BIA), risk assessment, and the development of business continuity and recovery strategies. Students will learn how to design, implement, and maintain a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) based on the ISO 22301 standard, and how to organize effective response teams, document continuity plans, and apply best practices to enhance the system over time.
Course Code:
MSCY 7340
Course Name:
Penetration Testing
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: MSCY 7330 Cybersecurity Concepts
Course Description:
The course penetration testing is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the principles, methodologies, and advanced techniques used in identifying and exploiting security vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and applications. Through a combination of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical exercises, students will gain the skills necessary to assess and enhance the security posture of organizations. This course will prepare students for careers in cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and security consulting.
Course Code: MSCY 7341 Course Name: Cybersecurity Risk Management
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This advanced course equips students with strategic and technical expertise to manage cybersecurity risks at the enterprise level. Building on foundational GRC knowledge, students will employ ISO/IEC 27005:2022 and other frameworks—OCTAVE, EBIOS, MEHARI, CRAMM, NIST—to design, implement, and continuously improve rigorous risk management systems. The course emphasizes practical application via workshops and case studies, focusing on advanced risk treatment strategies, third-party and supply chain risk management, risk appetite and tolerance, KRI metrics, and effective communication with stakeholders to align risk decisions with organizational objectives.
Course Code:
MSCY 7350
Course Name:
Cybersecurity Audit
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the principles, processes, and standards of cybersecurity auditing in the context of Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC). It covers the application of ISO 19011 and ISO/IEC 27007 standards for conducting internal and external audits. Through practical case studies and exercises, students will learn to assess information systems, evaluate control effectiveness, and report on the organization’s alignment with cybersecurity policies, legal requirements, and international standards. Emphasis is placed on audit planning, execution, stakeholder communication, ethical conduct, and the integration of audit findings into broader GRC strategies.
Course Code:
MSCY 7351
Course Name:
Security of Industrial Control Systems
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course introduces students to the core components, architectures, and security challenges of Industrial Control Systems (ICS), including SCADA, PLCs, and associated communication protocols. It provides both theoretical foundations and hands-on exposure to industrial systems, enabling students to analyze ICS components, identify vulnerabilities, and implement security solutions tailored for operational technology (OT) environments. Emphasis is placed on secure communication, automation logic, network protocols, and resilience of critical infrastructure against cyber threats.
Course Code:
MSCY 7360
Course Name:
Capstone Project I
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: MSCY 7331 Object Oriented Programming Network Defender
Course Description:
The capstone I (Part 1 of 2) course is the culmination of your education in cybersecurity, designed to provide you with an opportunity to apply and showcase your knowledge and skills in a real-world context. This capstone course challenges students to tackle complex cybersecurity issues and projects, demonstrating their readiness to enter the professional world of cybersecurity. Throughout the course, you will work individually or in teams to identify, analyze, and address contemporary cybersecurity challenges. These challenges may encompass a wide range of topics, including network security, ethical hacking, incident response, risk assessment, compliance, and emerging threats.
Course Code:
MSCY 7361
Course Name:
Capstone Project II
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: MSCY 7360 Capstone Project I
Course Description:
Capstone II (Part 2 of 2) is the continuation and completion of the cybersecurity capstone project. Building on the research, planning, and analysis conducted in Capstone I, students in this course focus on implementing, testing, and finalizing their proposed cybersecurity solutions. The course emphasizes hands-on execution, technical documentation, performance evaluation, and professional presentation. Working individually or in teams, students will produce a comprehensive final report and deliver a formal presentation demonstrating their applied knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and readiness to address complex cybersecurity challenges in real-world settings.
Course Code:
MSCY 7370
Course Name:
Internet Of Things Security
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course explores the fundamentals and security of Internet of Things (IoT) systems, encompassing hardware, firmware, network communications, operating environments, Edge and Fog Computing, and real‐world deployment. Students will gain both theoretical and practical insight into IoT architectures, protocols, development frameworks, and security challenges, and will design and implement secure IoT components and solutions tailored to the constraints and real time demands of modern devices.
Course Code:
MSCY 7371
Course Name:
Embedded and Real Time Systems Security
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course explores cybersecurity in embedded and real-time systems, which power critical devices and infrastructures. It covers hardware-software architectures, real-time OS behaviors, communication protocols, and vulnerability assessment. Through hands-on design, testing, and monitoring exercises, students learn to implement robust security controls that respect real-time reliability, performance constraints, and ethical responsibilities.
Course Code:
MSCY 7372
Course Name:
Mobile & Wireless Security
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course offers advanced knowledge of mobile and wireless security by exploring security threats, architectures, and defense mechanisms in mobile devices and wireless networks. Students will learn to identify mobile threat models, define and enforce mobile security policies, manage device enrollment and usage, and evaluate vulnerabilities across platforms such as Android and iOS. The course also examines security in wireless sensor and ad hoc networks, focusing on encryption, secure routing, energy-efficient protection mechanisms, and mobile application security development.
Course Code:
MSCY 7380
Course Name:
Artificial Intelligence for Security
Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) techniques in modern cybersecurity practices. Students will examine how AI can enhance threat detection, automate incident response, and support proactive defense strategies. The course covers both theoretical foundations and practical applications, including anomaly detection, phishing identification, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and botnet analysis. Learners will design and implement AI models and tools to solve real-world cybersecurity challenges.
Course Code:
MSCY 7381
Course Name:
Cloud Computing Security
Credit Hours 3
Prerequisites: none
Course Description:
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of cloud computing security. It begins with cloud and virtualization platforms and service models (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS), then delves into security architectures, hypervisors, deployment models (public, private, hybrid), storage and encryption, and legal/privacy concerns. Students will gain both theoretical understanding and practical skills to design and secure virtualized, cloud-based environments.
