Cybersecurity, M.S.

3 Credits Information, Security and Privacy CS-GY6813

This course introduces Information Systems Security and covers cryptography, capability and access control mechanisms, authentication models, security models, operating systems security, malicious code, security-policy formation and enforcement, vulnerability analysis, evaluating secure systems.
Prerequisite: Competency in Application Development in UNIX and Windows Environments, Graduate status. *Online version available.

» Learn More from Justin Cappos

    Course Offered: Fall and Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Network Security CS-GY6823

This course begins by covering attacks and threats in computer networks, including network mapping, port scanning, sniffing, DoS, DDoS, reflection attacks, attacks on DNS and leveraging P2P deployments for attacks. The course continues with cryptography topics most relevant to secure networking protocols. Topics covered are block ciphers, stream ciphers, public key cryptography, RSA, Diffie Hellman, certification authorities, digital signatures and message integrity. After surveying basic cryptographic techniques, the course examines several secure networking protocols, including PGP, SSL, IPsec and wireless security protocols. The course examines operational security, including firewalls and intrusion-detection systems. Students read recent research papers on network security and participate in an important lab component that includes packet sniffing, network mapping, firewalls, SSL and IPsec.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and EL-GY 5363:* Online version available.

    Course Offered: Fall and Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Applied Cryptography CS-GY6903

This course examines Modern Cryptography from a both theoretical and applied perspective, with emphasis on “provable security” and “application case studies”. The course looks particularly at cryptographic primitives that are building blocks of various cryptographic applications. The course studies notions of security for a given cryptographic primitive, its various constructions and respective security analysis based on the security notion. The cryptographic primitives covered include pseudorandom functions, symmetric encryption (block ciphers), hash functions and random oracles, message authentication codes, asymmetric encryption, digital signatures and authenticated key exchange. The course covers how to build provably secure cryptographic protocols (e.g., secure message transmission, identification schemes, secure function evaluation, etc.), and various number-theoretic assumptions upon which cryptography is based. Also covered: implementation issues (e.g., key lengths, key management, standards, etc.) and, as application case studies, a number of real-life scenarios currently using solutions from modern cryptography.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

    Course Offered: Fall and Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Application Security CS-GY9163

This course addresses the design and implementation of secure applications. Concentration is on writing software programs that make it difficult for intruders to exploit security holes. The course emphasizes writing secure distributed programs in Java. The security ramifications of class, field and method visibility are emphasized.
Prerequisite: Gradute standing

    Course Offered: Fall and Spring » Sample Syllabus

The required security core courses will typically have a project component.

Students must choose three of the following.

3 Credits Introduction to Operating Systems CS-GY6233

This course introduces basic issues in operating systems. Topics: Threads, processes, concurrency, memory management, I/O Control and case studies.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

    Course Offered: Summer » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Computer Networking CS-GY6843

This course takes a top-down approach to computer networking. After an overview of computer networks and the Internet, the course covers the application layer, transport layer, network layer and link layers. Topics at the application layer include client-server architectures, P2P architectures, DNS and HTTP and Web applications. Topics at the transport layer include multiplexing, connectionless transport and UDP, principles or reliable data transfer, connection-oriented transport and TCP and TCP congestion control. Topics at the network layer include forwarding, router architecture, the IP protocol and routing protocols including OSPF and BGP. Topics at the link layer include multiple-access protocols, ALOHA, CSMA/CD, Ethernet, CSMA/CA, wireless 802.11 networks and linklayer switches. The course includes simple quantitative delay and throughput modeling, socket programming and network application development and Ethereal labs.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and CS-UY 2134.

    Course Offered: Fall and Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Design and Analysis of Algorithms I CS-GY6033

This course reviews basic data structures and mathematical tools. Topics: Data structures, priority queues, binary search trees, balanced search trees. Btrees. Algorithm design and analysis techniques illustrated in searching and sorting: heapsort, quicksort, sorting in linear time, medians and order statistics. Design and analysis techniques: dynamic programming, greedy algorithms. Graph algorithms: elementary graph algorithms (breadth first search, depth first search, topological sort, connected components, strongly connected components), minimum spanning tree, shortest path. String algorithms. Geometric algorithms. Linear programming. Brief introduction to NP completeness.
Prerequisites: Graduate Standing, CS-GY 5403 and CS-GY 6003.

    Course Offered: Fall and Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Principles of Database Systems CS-GY6083

This course broadly introduces database systems, including the relational data model, query languages, database design, index and file structures, query processing and optimization, concurrency and recovery, transaction management and database design. Students acquire hands-on experience in working with database systems and in building web-accessible database applications.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing, CS-GY 6003 or equivalent, familiarity with basic data structures and operating system principles.

    Course Offered: Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Machine Learning CS-GY6923

This course is an introduction to the field of machine learning, covering fundamental techniques for classification, regression, dimensionality reduction, clustering, and model selection. A broad range of algorithms will be covered, such as linear and logistic regression, neural networks, deep learning, support vector machines, tree-based methods, expectation maximization, and principal components analysis. The course will include hands-on exercises with real data from different application areas (e.g. text, audio, images). Students will learn to train and validate machine learning models and analyze their performance.
Prerequisite: Graduate status with undergraduate level probability theory

    Course Offered: Fall (starting in 2021) » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Foundations of Computer Science CS-GY6003

This course covers logic, sets, functions, relations, asymptotic notation, proof techniques, induction, combinatorics, discrete probability, recurrences, graphs, trees, mathematical models of computation and undecidability.
Corequisite: Graduate Standing.

    Course Offered: Summer » Sample Syllabus

   Other CS electives approved by Advisor.

You may choose security-related courses from the School of Engineering or from New York University, including courses in psychology, law, and sociology departments. Selected courses must be approved by the Program Committee. All the following courses have been pre-approved; others must be approved by the Program Committee.

3 Credits Digital Forensics CS-GY6963

This course introduces information-technology professionals to the application of forensic science principles and practices for collecting, preserving, examining, analyzing and presenting digital evidence. The course includes selected topics from the legal, forensic and information-technology domains and uses lecture, laboratory and written projects to illustrate these topics.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing. *Online version available.

    Course Offered: Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Information Systems Security Engineering and Management CS-GY6803

This course presents a system and management view of information security: what it is, what drives the requirements for information security, how to integrate it into the systems-design process and life-cycle security management of information systems. A second goal is to cover basic federal policies on government information security and methodologies. Topics include information-security risk management, security policies, security in the systems-engineering process, laws related to information security and management of operational systems.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and CS-UY 392 or equivalent: *Online version available.

    Course Offered: Summer » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis CS-GY6573

This advanced course in computer and network security focuses on penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. It introduces methodologies, techniques and tools to analyze and identify vulnerabilities in stand-alone and networked applications.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and CS-GY 6823

    Course Offered: Spring » Sample Syllabus

3 Credits Advanced Project in Computer Science CS-GY9963

This course permits the student to perform research in computer science with a narrower scope than a master’s thesis. Acceptance of a student by a faculty adviser is required before registration. A project report and an oral examination on it are required.
Prerequisite: Graduate status.

    Course Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer » Sample Syllabus

   Offensive Security*

   Mobile Security*

   * = Selected Topics in CS CS-GY9223                                 3 Credits

    Course Offered: Summer(starting in 2021) » Sample Syllabus

   Other CS electives approved by Advisor

In each student's last year in the program the student will designate a project from one or more courses taken in the program pathway. The students will submit the project along with the faculty sponsor to their advisor for approval before the project enhancement and dissemination is complete. The student will enhance the work done in the project including a dissemination of the project and results in the form of a paper or presentation. The project dissemination will be archived by the program administration. Students can choose to do the enhancement of the project.

One goal of the MS program in Cybersecurity is to introduce students to the exciting research in the area of cybersecurity, which you can use as a stepping stone to pursue a PhD degree. To this end, we offer a semester-long advanced project (CS 9963) in the area of cybersecurity as an elective. If you choose this option you will work under the guidance of a research professor and gain invaluable research experience.

In addition to the above semester-long research experience, the program also offers research-oriented MS students to take up the master's thesis option. If you select this option, you will need to take 6 credits of CS 9973 working with a faculty advisor on some research problem in cybersecurity in lieu of 2 out of the 3 required electives.

The research need not be original, but should adequately demonstrate your proficiency in the subject material. An oral defense of the master's thesis with at least 3 professors in attendance is required. The 6 credits of master's thesis must span over a period of exactly 2 consecutive semesters. Whenever relevant, 3.00 credits of CS 9963 may be used as 3.00 credits of CS 9973, subject to the approval of your faculty adviser(s).

Cyber Ops Specialization

NOTE: Please refer to the Course Catalog to view course descriptions by course number if information is not listed above.

3 Credits Information, Security and Privacy CS-GY6813

This course introduces Information Systems Security and covers cryptography, capability and access control mechanisms, authentication models, security models, operating systems security, malicious code, security-policy formation and enforcement, vulnerability analysis, evaluating secure systems.
Prerequisite: Competency in Application Development in UNIX and Windows Environments, Graduate status. *Online version available.

3 Credits Network Security CS-GY6823

This course begins by covering attacks and threats in computer networks, including network mapping, port scanning, sniffing, DoS, DDoS, reflection attacks, attacks on DNS and leveraging P2P deployments for attacks. The course continues with cryptography topics most relevant to secure networking protocols. Topics covered are block ciphers, stream ciphers, public key cryptography, RSA, Diffie Hellman, certification authorities, digital signatures and message integrity. After surveying basic cryptographic techniques, the course examines several secure networking protocols, including PGP, SSL, IPsec and wireless security protocols. The course examines operational security, including firewalls and intrusion-detection systems. Students read recent research papers on network security and participate in an important lab component that includes packet sniffing, network mapping, firewalls, SSL and IPsec.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and EL-GY 5363:* Online version available.

3 Credits Application Security CS-GY9163

This course addresses the design and implementation of secure applications. Concentration is on writing software programs that make it difficult for intruders to exploit security holes. The course emphasizes writing secure distributed programs in Java. The security ramifications of class, field and method visibility are emphasized.
Prerequisite: Gradute standing

3 Credits Applied Cryptography CS-GY6903

This course examines Modern Cryptography from a both theoretical and applied perspective, with emphasis on “provable security” and “application case studies”. The course looks particularly at cryptographic primitives that are building blocks of various cryptographic applications. The course studies notions of security for a given cryptographic primitive, its various constructions and respective security analysis based on the security notion. The cryptographic primitives covered include pseudorandom functions, symmetric encryption (block ciphers), hash functions and random oracles, message authentication codes, asymmetric encryption, digital signatures and authenticated key exchange. The course covers how to build provably secure cryptographic protocols (e.g., secure message transmission, identification schemes, secure function evaluation, etc.), and various number-theoretic assumptions upon which cryptography is based. Also covered: implementation issues (e.g., key lengths, key management, standards, etc.) and, as application case studies, a number of real-life scenarios currently using solutions from modern cryptography.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

3 Credits Computer Networking CS-GY6843

This course takes a top-down approach to computer networking. After an overview of computer networks and the Internet, the course covers the application layer, transport layer, network layer and link layers. Topics at the application layer include client-server architectures, P2P architectures, DNS and HTTP and Web applications. Topics at the transport layer include multiplexing, connectionless transport and UDP, principles or reliable data transfer, connection-oriented transport and TCP and TCP congestion control. Topics at the network layer include forwarding, router architecture, the IP protocol and routing protocols including OSPF and BGP. Topics at the link layer include multiple-access protocols, ALOHA, CSMA/CD, Ethernet, CSMA/CA, wireless 802.11 networks and linklayer switches. The course includes simple quantitative delay and throughput modeling, socket programming and network application development and Ethereal labs.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and CS-UY 2134.

3 Credits Introduction to Operating Systems CS-GY6233

This course introduces basic issues in operating systems. Topics: Threads, processes, concurrency, memory management, I/O Control and case studies.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

3 Credits Information Systems Security Engineering and Management CS-GY6803

This course presents a system and management view of information security: what it is, what drives the requirements for information security, how to integrate it into the systems-design process and life-cycle security management of information systems. A second goal is to cover basic federal policies on government information security and methodologies. Topics include information-security risk management, security policies, security in the systems-engineering process, laws related to information security and management of operational systems.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and CS-UY 392 or equivalent: *Online version available.

   Offensive Security*

   Mobile Security*

   * = Selected Topics in CS CS-GY9223                                 3 Credits

3 Credits Information, Security and Privacy CS-GY6813

This course introduces Information Systems Security and covers cryptography, capability and access control mechanisms, authentication models, security models, operating systems security, malicious code, security-policy formation and enforcement, vulnerability analysis, evaluating secure systems.
Prerequisite: Competency in Application Development in UNIX and Windows Environments, Graduate status. *Online version available.

3 Credits Network Security CS-GY6823

This course begins by covering attacks and threats in computer networks, including network mapping, port scanning, sniffing, DoS, DDoS, reflection attacks, attacks on DNS and leveraging P2P deployments for attacks. The course continues with cryptography topics most relevant to secure networking protocols. Topics covered are block ciphers, stream ciphers, public key cryptography, RSA, Diffie Hellman, certification authorities, digital signatures and message integrity. After surveying basic cryptographic techniques, the course examines several secure networking protocols, including PGP, SSL, IPsec and wireless security protocols. The course examines operational security, including firewalls and intrusion-detection systems. Students read recent research papers on network security and participate in an important lab component that includes packet sniffing, network mapping, firewalls, SSL and IPsec.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and EL-GY 5363:* Online version available.

3 Credits Application Security CS-GY9163

This course addresses the design and implementation of secure applications. Concentration is on writing software programs that make it difficult for intruders to exploit security holes. The course emphasizes writing secure distributed programs in Java. The security ramifications of class, field and method visibility are emphasized.
Prerequisite: Gradute standing

3 Credits Applied Cryptography CS-GY6903

This course examines Modern Cryptography from a both theoretical and applied perspective, with emphasis on “provable security” and “application case studies”. The course looks particularly at cryptographic primitives that are building blocks of various cryptographic applications. The course studies notions of security for a given cryptographic primitive, its various constructions and respective security analysis based on the security notion. The cryptographic primitives covered include pseudorandom functions, symmetric encryption (block ciphers), hash functions and random oracles, message authentication codes, asymmetric encryption, digital signatures and authenticated key exchange. The course covers how to build provably secure cryptographic protocols (e.g., secure message transmission, identification schemes, secure function evaluation, etc.), and various number-theoretic assumptions upon which cryptography is based. Also covered: implementation issues (e.g., key lengths, key management, standards, etc.) and, as application case studies, a number of real-life scenarios currently using solutions from modern cryptography.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

3 Credits Computer Networking CS-GY6843

This course takes a top-down approach to computer networking. After an overview of computer networks and the Internet, the course covers the application layer, transport layer, network layer and link layers. Topics at the application layer include client-server architectures, P2P architectures, DNS and HTTP and Web applications. Topics at the transport layer include multiplexing, connectionless transport and UDP, principles or reliable data transfer, connection-oriented transport and TCP and TCP congestion control. Topics at the network layer include forwarding, router architecture, the IP protocol and routing protocols including OSPF and BGP. Topics at the link layer include multiple-access protocols, ALOHA, CSMA/CD, Ethernet, CSMA/CA, wireless 802.11 networks and linklayer switches. The course includes simple quantitative delay and throughput modeling, socket programming and network application development and Ethereal labs.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing and CS-UY 2134.

3 Credits Introduction to Operating Systems CS-GY6233

This course introduces basic issues in operating systems. Topics: Threads, processes, concurrency, memory management, I/O Control and case studies.
Prerequisite: Graduate standing.

3 Credits Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Analysis CS-GY6573

This advanced course in computer and network security focuses on penetration testing and vulnerability analysis. It introduces methodologies, techniques and tools to analyze and identify vulnerabilities in stand-alone and networked applications.
Prerequisites: Graduate standing and CS-GY 6823

Students must show equivalency of all of the following in previous academic work.

3 Credits Introduction to Programming and Problem Solving CS-GY5303

This course introduces discrete mathematics, computers and programming; Running C/C++ programs under Unix; algorithmic language; pseudo code; problem solving and program structure. Topics include constants, variable, data types, assignments, arithmetic expressions, input and output; object-oriented and top-down design and procedures, selection and loops; functions; enumerated; arrays, structs and searching and sorting.
Prerequisite: Graduate status: *Online version available.

3 Credits Data Structures and Algorithms CS-GY5403

This course introduces data structures. Topics include program specifications and design; abstract data types; stacks, queues; dynamic storage allocation; sequential and linked implementation of stacks and queues; searching methods, sequential and binary; binary trees and general trees; hashing; computational complexity; sorting algorithms: selection sort, heap sort, mergesort and quicksort; comparison of sorting techniques and analysis.
Prerequisite: Graduate Standing, CS-GY 5303 *Online version available.

You need a superior undergraduate record from an accredited institution in order to be considered for entrance into the program. Preferably, you should have an undergraduate degree in computer science, mathematics, science, or engineering. However, applicants with a minor in CS, relevant technical experience, or with degrees in other fields are considered individually for admission.

Click on the applicable link below to jump to the section requirements that pertain to your situation:

• Students with a minor in Computer Science. Students with significant technical experience in cyber security and software development.
• All other degrees

Admission with advanced standing is accepted in accordance with the School of Engineering regulations published in the bulletin. A maximum of 9 credits may be applied to the master's degree from previous graduate work with a grade of B or better at an acceptable institution.

NYU Tandon's NYU Cyber Fellows program is an affordable part-time and full-time online M.S. in Cybersecurity with a curriculum designed in cooperation with elite corporate partners. It offers scholarships of as much as 75 percent of tuition to U.S. residents.

For more details visit NYU Cyber Fellows.

We recognize that due to COVID-19 restrictions some applicants may experience difficulty in taking the GRE test and, in response, we are committed to being flexible. For the Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 terms, the GRE is not required for all NYU Tandon Online MS programs. For more information, see the GRE/GMAT Requirements page.

If you come from a non-engineering background you can prepare to apply for the Cybersecurity Master’s Degree in one of the following two ways:

Option One: NYU Tandon Bridge

The 100% online NYU Tandon Bridge course prepares students without a Cybersecurity degree or other related experience to apply for select NYU Tandon Master’s Degree programs. In the course, students will learn computer science fundamentals and programming with C++. Students’ performance in the Bridge will count toward their Master’s degree application decisions. The Bridge is a non-credit certificate course, and those who complete the Bridge with a final grade of C or above will earn a Certificate of Completion, and those who earn a B+ or above will receive a Certificate of Completion with Distinction. Note: regardless of performance, successful completion of the Bridge course does not guarantee admission to any academic program.

The NYU Tandon Bridge course is taught by faculty members of the Computer Science department at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, aided by NYU Tandon Graduate student teaching assistants. Students will participate in interactive online modules, live webinars, assignments, and tests.

NYU Tandon Bridge

Option Two: Take both MicroBachelors

There are two MicroBachelors courses on edX that are equivalent to a preparatory pathway for this program.

• MicroBachelors Program in Computer Science Fundamentals
• MicroBachelors Program in Programming & Data Structures

Students need to earn and apply for the undergraduate credits for the Programming and Data Structures MicroBachelors from one of the credit-granting partners to show successful completion of the material.

Applications for transfer credits must be submitted for consideration before the end of the first semester of matriculation. Courses with grades below B are not eligible for transfer. Transfer credits for courses taken after matriculation at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering are rarely accepted and must be approved by the student’s academic department and by the Office of Graduate Academics before the course is taken. Grades for transferred credits or courses are not recorded and are not included in GPA calculations.