Cybersecurity, Master of Science
City University of Seattle's Master of Science in Cybersecurity program is a technical management degree providing a balanced socio-technical approach to address the complex interdisciplinary challenges addressing private and public industry sectors across the globe. The MSCY requires students with non-technical backgrounds or degrees to complete several courses in technological fundamentals. MSCY courses integrate experiential, hands-on technical skills and labs required to understand how to perform in workplace teams and manage cybersecurity-oriented projects in the technology-dependent 21st-century society. The MSCY degree is designated as an approved Path of Study by the National Center of Academic Excellence designated by the NSA. All courses are designed by industry subject matter experts, taught by practitioner faculty, and updated annually to reflect the changing socio-technological landscape.
TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP: SECURING A COMPLEX TECHNOLOGICAL LANDSCAPE
This holistic approach, based on the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the DoD CIO Workforce Framework, combines academic rigor and practical relevance to shape the next generation of cybersecurity leaders capable of advancing the industry. This program develops leaders who can articulate complex cybersecurity issues succinctly and engage constructively with stakeholders at all levels.
Integrated Technical leadership content prepares students to effectively plan and execute technological changes within organizations to secure complex cyber landscapes. Students are equipped to plan, execute, and manage cybersecurity projects. Communication and Influencing skills inform technical and non-technical stakeholders to respond to risk management and resource allocation and achieve project objectives within constraints.
Program Outcomes
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity will prepare students to:
1. Analyze interdisciplinary approaches to secure all levels of organizations’ information systems. (Cybersecurity Knowledge).
2. Apply advanced cybersecurity risk concepts for real-world situations. (Cybersecurity Principles and Practices).
3. Design integrated ethical, policy, and technical strategies for cybersecurity systems. (Critical and Ethical Thinking).
4. Synthesize data to inform actions and support security and risk management decisions. (Quantitative Literacy).
5. Create influential communications to guide and inform stakeholder decision-making processes and operational responses. (Communication).
6. Collaborate effectively, leveraging diverse teams to support resilient, responsive socio-technological security systems. (Collaboration).
Admission Requirements
In addition to City University of Seattle's graduate admission requirements, found under Admissions in the catalog menu, applicants to this program must also meet the following requirements:
- An earned bachelor's degree and evidence of completion of undergraduate courses or their equivalent in:
- Equivalency of 5-quarter hour credits at the intermediate level in at least one computer programming language; and
- Equivalency of 5-quarter hour credits in networking (TCP/IP from physical through applications layers); and
- Equivalency of 5-quarter hour credits of data management including basic database design and SOL/NoSQL Queries; and
- Equivalency of 5-quarter hour credits of operating systems, including OS theory, process management, and memory management; OR
- An earned bachelor's degree and successful completion of CityU's Undergraduate Certificate in Foundations of Systems Development.
Total Required Credits (39-59 Credits)
Preparatory Courses (6 or 20 Credits)
These preparatory course may be required for students entering the MSCY degree program without sufficient related experience. Please see the program admissions criteria in the City University of Seattle catalog for specific information.
Breadth-First Preparatory Courses (6 Credits)
| CS 11A | Technology & Computing Components I | 3 |
| CS 11B | Technology & Computing Components II | 3 |
Depth-First Preparatory Courses (20 Credits)
| IS 201 | Fundamentals of Computing | 5 |
| IS 360 | Database Technologies * | 5 |
| CS 340 | Operating Systems * | 5 |
| CS 330 | Network Communications * | 5 |
Major in Cybersecurity (21 Credits)
| CY 500 | Cybersecurity Overview | 3 |
| CY 505 | Securing Computer Systems | 3 |
| CY 510 | Human and Organizational Security | 3 |
| CY 520 | Ethical, Legal, and Societal Security | 3 |
| CY 545 | Data Privacy and Security | 3 |
| CY 525 | Network and Wireless Security | 3 |
| CY 609 | Software Security | 3 |
Emphasis in Cyber Defense (12 Credits)
Electives (3 Credits)
Students may select one elective course from any other disciplines within the School of Technology & Computing or complete the internship.
Capstone (3 Credits)
| CY 665 | Cybersecurity Capstone * | 3 |