Master’s (MS) in Computer Security and Privacy

Who is the MS in Computer Security and Privacy for?

Drexel’s College of Computing & Informatics' Master of Science in Computer Security and Privacy is designed for students who want to pursue technical careers in the field of cybersecurity. This degree prepares you for deeply technical careers in industry and government in the growing field of computer security and privacy. It is also a degree that can serve as a pre-requisite for admission to a PhD program in security and privacy. This program features a comprehensive education that will serve as a solid theoretical and technological foundation for those seeking careers in security and privacy. Drexel University is a National Security Agency (NSA) Center of Excellence. 

Fast Facts

Computer Security and Privacy Program Overview

Drexel CCI’s Master of Science in Computer Security and Privacy aims to educate students in the science, technology, and policy that are essential to protecting information technology and data. The degree will establish the computer science and software engineering system fundamentals needed by the modern security expert, in addition to how these fundamentals, when combined with expert courses in computer security and privacy, lead to a well-rounded education in the domain of computer security and privacy.

This program covers the three primary objectives of cybersecurity: 1) Confidentiality; 2) Integrity; and 3) Availability. 

Confidentiality deals with the secrecy of exchanged information during network communications as well as the preservation of privacy between the parties involved in the communication. 

Integrity deals with the guarantee that the exchanged information was not modified during the communication. 

Availability deals with ensuring that all software involved in the communication do not have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by adversaries leading to unauthorized behaviors including denial of service and malware infection.

Our program has specialized courses that deal with all three of the primary objectives of cybersecurity. Specifically, we have courses in cryptography, network security, and privacy that deal with Confidentiality and Integrity; as well as a series of courses in security engineering, software engineering, operating systems, and computer networks that deal with Availability. Another distinguishing characteristic of our program is its emphasis on machine learning and deep learning courses, which are increasingly becoming the foundation for many security applications such as email spam detection, malware detection, fraud alerting, privacy and threat detection.

Request More Information

Be in touch with us to get answers to all your questions! We can connect you with a Recruitment Specialist, one of our Graduate Dean’s Ambassadors, or a faculty member to help. Contact our graduate recruitment team at cciinfo@drexel.edu and we’ll get back to you soon.

Curriculum

IMPORTANT NOTE: Drexel operates on the quarter, not semester, system, offering classes during four 10-week terms throughout the year. (You are not required to take classes every quarter, but full-time students must complete the degree in 3 years.)

Our master’s degrees are 45 credits (15 courses) which is equivalent to 30-33-credit degrees at other universities. The benefit of the quarter system is that students receive instruction in more topic areas than through the semester system and have more freedom to personalize their curriculum using electives.

Traditional Curriculum

CCI's Master’s Degree in Computer Security and Privacy consists of:

• Four Foundation courses – some or all of which will be required for students without a Computer Science or Software Engineering background
• Four required courses in computer science
• Seven required courses in software engineering
• Seven electives (choose up to four) that enable you to specialize and gain in-depth knowledge according to your individual interests and career goals. Note: If you are required to take any of the Foundation courses, that will limit the number of electives you can choose.

Modular Certificate Curriculum

This curriculum allows the student to select several certificates in order to 1.) gain a foundation in ComuterSecirity and Privacy principles and practice and 2.) focus in-depth on specific skills and knowledge through certificates, customized to your needs and professional goals. 

Following the modular certificate option enables you to earn marketable credentials — skills set-based certificates — on your way to completing the master’s degree, and it lets you complete a certificate, step away from the program if you need to, and return to seamlessly pick up where you left off.

In the modular certificate option, you will select:

• Required core certificate(s)
• One or two Major Electives
• Optionally one Flexible Elective

In addition, you may need to take a small number of additional courses in order to complete the degree requirements.

There are a number of possible certificate combinations, and you will work with your adviser and the faculty to create the sequence that best fits your needs and background.

The following certificates can be used to create the MS in Computer Security and Privacy:

Core

• Computer Security & Privacy

Major Electives

• Computational Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Computer Science Theory & Practice
• Software Architecture

Flexible Electives (optionally choose one)

• Applied Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Big Data Analytics
• Computer Science Foundations
• Data Science Foundations
• Healthcare Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Research and Design
• Human-Computer Interaction and User Experience Theory and Frontiers
• Machine Learning for Data Science
• Software Management

Full-time, on-campus students who are accepted for fall and winter term admissions can also choose a Graduate Co-op option. Please visit the Steinbright Career Development Center to learn more about cooperative education and its benefits.

Please visit Drexel’s Course Catalog for a full description of each required course and elective for this program. You can also find a sample Plan of Study for the degree.

Computer Security and Privacy and the Career Outlook

Computer security and privacy, or cybersecurity, like all disciplines within the computer and information sciences, has a very healthy employment outlook. Read more about this field and the places you can go with this master’s degree here.

Admissions Requirements

• A completed application for the online format or on-campus format.
• A four-year bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent international institution. Please note: Those without a prior degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related STEM degree may have to take additional prerequisites before pursuing advanced computer science courses.
• A GPA of 3.0 or higher, in a completed degree program, bachelor’s degree or above.
• Official final transcripts from ALL Colleges/Universities attended. Please note: For students who have attended an institution outside of the US, it is highly recommended to submit a NACES approved course-by-course transcript evaluation (i.e., WES) for expedited review of your application. This approved evaluation will take the place of the transcript requirement to complete your application. 
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores (must be five years old or less) are not required but recommended for international students and domestic students below a 3.0 GPA. 
• One letter of recommendation is required. Two are recommended (academic, professional, or both).
• Essay/Statement of Purpose.
• Current Resume.
• Pre-requisites for all graduate level programs: computer requirements and skills.
• Additional requirements for International Students.

Please visit our Graduate Admissions section for application deadlines.

Finances

Tuition

Please visit Drexel’s official Graduate Tuition & Fees webpage. Note that this master’s degree requires 45 quarter credits.

Scholarships

There are a variety of sources of financial aid and scholarships to help you fund your master’s degree — explore them here.

Get in Touch

Our Recruitment Specialists are here to walk you through the sometimes confusing world of financing your graduate education. Get in touch with us now by filling out this form.

Schedule a Visit or Register for an Online Information Session

Learn more about the College of Computing & Informatics experience through an online information session or an in-person visit. Contact our recruitment team to schedule your visit today by contacting us at cciinfo@drexel.edu!