Cybersecurity is an emerging field in the modern era, which is gaining vital importance due to the privacy concerns of computer users.
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Why Choose Mississippi State University?
There are advanced computer security courses that may be taken as part of the Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Operations from Mississippi State University. Courses can be taken as part of a thesis program, a professional project program, or a course-only alternative.
For now, students must attend classes on the campus only. On the current list of the top and most economical master’s degrees, Mississippi State University‘s Cybersecurity program is placed #5. If you are looking for a prestigious option to study cybersecurity this is the one.
Overview of The Program
To get an MS in CYSO, students must finish a 31-credit curriculum in two years. Students must choose between a thesis and a non-thesis alternative as part of their course.
Students will pick suitable core, concentration, and optional courses with the help of a major professor and a steering committee to achieve mastery of the subject they want. At the year-end, this expertise will be judged on the basis of a thorough exam.
Application Procedure and Deadlines
Application for a graduate degree in Computer Science begins with applying through the Graduate School’s Admission Portal of Mississippi State University. Student records, exam results, a statement of intent, and letters of recommendation are all forwarded there.
Admissions deadlines for all programs are February 1 for Fall admission and October 1 for Spring admission.
After the significant deadlines have passed and all documents have been submitted, the students are assessed by the authorities.
The processing time for applications submitted during the holidays or the summer or winter will be longer than the normal time frame of two weeks.
Eligibility Criteria
There are varying requirements for students who desire to pursue graduate study in computer science at Mississippi State University. Coursework, exams, and English proficiency requirements are all part of the program requirements.
In order to pursue a Master’s or Doctorate in Computer Science, a student must be able to:
- Build and evaluate the software for the purpose of their study.
- Knowing the relation between hardware and software is necessary for addition to a basic understanding of mathematics:
- Two semesters of programming with some OO (CSE 2383- Data Structures)
- Data Structures(CSE 6733- Operating Systems I)
- Operating Systems Fundamentals(CSE 3813- Introduction to Formal Languages & Automata or CSE 4833: Introduction to Algorithms)
- Basic Computing Theory
- Mathematics for Computer Science (MA 1723- Cal II, MA 3113- Linear Algebra, or CSE 2813- Discrete Structure)
Prior to being admitted to a degree program at Mississippi State University, these courses must be passed by the students. They must be finished on schedule by students who were approved on a provisional basis with a minimum B grade.
- have a 3.0-4.0 GPA in undergraduate
- complete the GRE with a competitive score
- international students require suitable proof of demonstration of English proficiency skills.
Important points to note: owing to COVID-19, the BCoE has eliminated the GRE requirement for admissions until autumn 2021.
Courses offered:
A student can apply for completion of any compulsory Core or Concentration courses that they have already finished and replace them with a free course chosen by the student and the committee.
CYSO Thesis Option
Minimum 6 credit hours of graduate research must be completed by the student under the supervision of the primary faculty or thesis director. There are 31 graduate credit hours required for the MS with thesis curriculum:
- 10-hours (3 courses + seminar) in the CYSO Core (Seminar & Theory)
- In the Concentration, 15 hours (5 courses)
- Graduate Research: 6 credit hours (CSE 8000)
Core subjects:
The CYSO core teaches students to the fundamentals of computer security, such as passwords, encryption, and authentication and includes the following:
- CSE 8011: Graduate Seminar
- CSE 6243: Information & Computer Security
- CSE 6173: Cryptography
- CSE 6383: Network Security
Concentration subjects:
Concentrations in CYSO enable the students to specialize in operational cyber security or cyber defense, respectively. There are a variety of options for students to specialize in each concentration. These include:
- CYBER OPERATIONS
- Required:
- CSE 6363 Reverse Engineering
- CSE 8753 ECE 8823 Wireless Networks
- Electives:
- 9 hours – 3 courses in Cyber Operation electives
- CYBER DEFENSE
- Required:
- BIS 6113- BIS Security Management
- CSE 6273- Computer Forensics
- Electives:
- 9 hours- 3 courses in Cyber Defense electives
CYSO Non-thesis Option
Students have the option of taking three extra graduate credit hours (6 if the Directed Project is not completed) that are not related to Core or Concentration requirements, as well as electives of their choice. There are 31 graduate credit hours required for the MS without a thesis curriculum:
- 10 hours with 3 courses plus a seminar in the CYSO Core
- 15 hours which amounts to 5 courses in the Concentration
- Optional- 3 hours of Directed Project
- 3–6 hours of Electives one or two courses
All of the core and concentration subjects are the same as are in the thesis option.
