University General Course Catalog 2022-2023

Nov 24, 2024

University General Course Catalog 2022-2023 ARCHIVED CATALOG: LINKS AND CONTENT ARE OUT OF DATE. CHECK WITH YOUR ADVISOR.

Cybersecurity, M.S.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

The Cybersecurity Center at the University of Nevada, Reno offers an integrated course of study covering the theory, implementation and design of secure cyberspace (i.e., secure communication, computation, information, cyber-physical systems, IoT, hardware and embedded systems) for those seeking the degree of Master of Science in Cybersecurity.

Graduate students seeking this degree of Master of Science will get the opportunity to focus on the specific area of cybersecurity in Computer Science and Engineering and perform research through the Thesis option (Plan A) or the Courses-Only option (Plan B).

Contact Information

Shamik Sengupta, Executive Director, UNR Cybersecurity Center
(775) 784-6953
ssengupta@unr.edu

Mailing Address:
University of Nevada, Reno
Department of Computer Sciences and Engineering, Mail Stop 0171
1664 North Virginia Street
Reno, NV 89557-0330
Department website: http://www.unr.edu/cse/
UNR Cybersecurity Center website: https://www.unr.edu/cybersecurity

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the master’s degree program should have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science and have minimum experience that includes the equivalent of a Computer Science or Computer Engineering minor. Applicants should further meet the following minimum criteria and the materials for admission:

A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
A minimum TOEFL ibt score of 80 (or IELTS score 6.5) for international applicants.
GRE quantitative score of at least 156.
A one-page personal statement describing research interests and career goals.
Two letters of recommendation.

Admission decisions are competitive and satisfaction of the above thresholds does not guarantee an admission. Exceptions to these criteria may be made for applicants who show exceptional qualification.

Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Cybersecurity, M.S. program will have the ability to:

apply engineering and computer science research and theory to advance the art, science, and practice of the discipline.
design and conduct experiments as well as to analyze, interpret, apply, and disseminate the data.
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of research methodology.

I. Program Requirements (30 units)

Masters level students may choose Plan A (Thesis) or Plan B (Courses-Only). The specific requirements of each option are detailed below:

Thesis Option (Plan A)

requires a total of 30 units
24 units of coursework
6 thesis units
at least 12 units of courses must be at the 700-level

Courses Only Option (Plan B)

30 units of coursework
at least 15 units of courses must be at the 700-level

Additionally, for both options,

Up to 3 units of an independent study related to cybersecurity is allowed.

A. Required Courses (15 units)

CS 645 - Internet Security (3 units)
CS 647 - Computer Systems Administration (3 units)
CS 650 - Fundamentals of Integrated Computer Security (3 units)
CS 701 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Cybersecurity (3 units)
CS 702 - Cybersecurity Law and Ethics (3 units)

B. Elective Courses (9-15 units)

CS 653 - Mobile Computing Security and Privacy (3 units)
CS 654 - Reliability and Security of Computing Systems (3 units)
CS 691 - Topics (1 to 3 units) (Topic: Cyber-Physical System Security)
CS 703 - Game Theory for Cybersecurity (3 units)
CS 704 - Digital Forensics (3 units)
CS 705 - Cryptography and Blockchain (3 units)

C. Declaration of Advisor

Students must find an advisor and submit the Declaration of Advisor form (https://www.unr.edu/Documents/graduate-school/Declaration-of-Advisor.pdf) to the Graduate School by the end of their second semester in the program.

D. Thesis Advisory Committee

Students electing the Thesis Option (Plan A) should form an advisory committee within a year of admission to the M.S. program by submitting a program of study. The advisory-examining committee consists of at least three members of the graduate faculty, two representing the area of specialization and one who is the Graduate School Representative.

Students electing the Courses Only Option (Plan B) are not required to assemble an advisory committee. They must seek approval for their program of study and notice of completion from the Cybersecurity Program Director.