Fairfax, USA
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline *
EARLIEST START DATE
Request earliest start date
TUITION FEES
USD 4,897 / per semester **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for International student | Domestic student is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Key Summary
Introduction
Become a cyber superhero. Technology and the sustained flow of information now touch every part of our daily lives. Attacks on our interconnected financial networks, utility systems, and lines of communication, if successful, can be crippling to the pulse of organized society. Concern about the global threat of cyber-terrorism led the Volgenau School of Engineering to design the only degree of its kind in the country. A BS in cyber security engineering focuses on safeguarding existing systems and building resilient new ones.
By integrating areas of expertise (electrical engineering, computer engineering, civil engineering, bioengineering, systems engineering, computer science, and statistics) the program teaches a proactive approach to engineering design of physical systems with cybersecurity incorporated from the beginning.
Students learn in both virtual and physical labs using their strong computational foundation to solve problems. For example, students designed Wi-Fi-based local drone controllers for a lightweight quadcopter and a drone subverter that can hijack the quadcopter and steal the control when someone else is operating it. Students then explore possible security solutions to improve security.
In their final year, students will develop senior capstone projects in conjunction with current industry needs for cyber-resilient systems.
Career Opportunities
Students who earn their degree from the first such program in the U.S. will be uniquely positioned for high-demand careers protecting physical systems from cyber attacks. Graduates will find jobs in government, defense, transportation, telecommunications, or almost any field they choose.
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Total credits: 126
Cyber Security Engineering Core
Core Courses
- CYSE 101 Introduction to Cyber Security Engineering 3
- CYSE 130 Introduction to Computing for Digital Systems Engineering (Mason Core) 3
- CYSE 211 Operating Systems and Lab 3
- CYSE 230 Computer Networking 3
- CYSE 411 Secure Software Engineering 3
- CYSE 421 Industrial Control Systems Security 3
- CYSE 425 Secure RF Communications 3
- CYSE 430 Critical Infrastructure Protection 3
- CYSE 445 System Security and Resilience 3
- CYSE 450 Cyber Vulnerability Lab 1
- CYSE 470 Human Factors and Cyber Security Engineering 3
- CYSE 476 Cryptography Fundamentals 3
- CYSE 491 Engineering Senior Seminar 2
- CYSE 492 Senior Advanced Design Project I 2
- CYSE 493 Senior Advanced Design Project II (Mason Core) 3
Technical Electives
Select 9 credits from the following approved technical courses: 9
- CYSE 424 Embedded and Real-Time Systems
- CYSE 460 Power Systems and Smart Grid Security
- CYSE 462 Mobile Devices and Network Security
- CYSE 465 Transportation Systems Design
- CYSE 467 GPS Security
- CYSE 477 Intrusion Detection
- CYSE 478 Cyber Security Audit and Compliance
- CYSE 479 Methods of User Authentication
- CYSE 480 Reverse Software Engineering
- CYSE 499 Special Topics in Cyber Security Engineering
Total Credits 50
Electrical and Computer Engineering
- ECE 301 Digital Electronics 3
Total Credits 3
Systems Engineering
- SYST 205 Systems Engineering Principles 3
Total Credits 3
Mathematics and Statistics
- MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) 4
- MATH 114 Analytic Geometry and Calculus II 4
- MATH 125 Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) 3
- MATH 203 Linear Algebra 3
- MATH 213 Analytic Geometry and Calculus III 3
- MATH 214 Elementary Differential Equations 3
- STAT 344 Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I 3
Total Credits 23
Natural Sciences
- PHYS 160 University Physics I (Mason Core) 3
- PHYS 161 University Physics I Laboratory (Mason Core) 1
- PHYS 260 University Physics II (Mason Core) 3
- PHYS 261 University Physics II Laboratory (Mason Core) 1
Total Credits 8
Computing
- CS 112 Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core) 4
- SYST 230 Object-oriented Modeling and Design 4
- CS 222 Computer Programming for Engineers 3
Total Credits 11
Engineering
- ENGR 107 Introduction to Engineering (Mason Core) 2
Total Credits 2
Oral Communication and Economics
- COMM 100 Public Speaking (Mason Core) 3 or COMM 101 Fundamentals of Communication (Mason Core)
- ECON 103 Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) 3
Total Credits 6
Remaining Mason Core
Students must complete all Mason Core requirements not fulfilled by major requirements.
- Written Communication 6
- Literature 3
- Arts 3
- Western Civilization/World History 3
- Global Understanding 3
Total Credits 18
Admissions
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English Language Requirements
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