Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering

A Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering degree from Embry-Riddle prepares graduates to either begin or further advance their career in the field of cybersecurity. The program is a cutting-edge degree in a dynamic, growing field. And there’s an accelerated degree option if you happen to be a B.S. in Engineering student looking to earn two degrees simultaneously.

Cybersecurity engineering careers are on the rise in both public and private sectors worldwide. Careers span the financial and healthcare industries, military, government, and corporations ranging in everything from cybersecurity systems to policy and operations.

The Department of Electrical, Computer, Software and Systems Engineering’s (ECSSE) Industry Advisory Board ensures that curriculum and research activities are aligned with what’s going on in the cyberspace engineering industry. So graduates can be assured that they’ll emerge with the skills needed to tackle the most advanced cybersecurity issues.

Program faculty come from diverse technical backgrounds and offer students plenty of one-on-one attention. Throughout the coursework, students get to take advantage of hands-on projects and work together in teams that mirror real-world scenarios.

At ERAU, students are not only connected to a network of fellow students and faculty, who are industry professionals but have the option to get involved with campus activities and organizations. These include the Engineering Design Club, ERAU Mobile Application Development Club, and Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

About Cybersecurity Engineering at the Daytona Beach, FL Campus

Computers and the services provided by them are ubiquitously available. The number of services provided by networked computers is ever increasing along with the increasing penetration of computers into a wide spectrum of products, from microwaves to satellites.

The growing use of computers and their networking and information sharing also brings forth cybersecurity challenges. These issues are of growing importance both nationally and internationally. As the news of a breach can result in severe damage to an organization, cybersecurity considerations take place from the design and implementation of systems all the way to the decommissioning of systems.

Cybersecurity professionals are increasingly in demand in both the public and private sectors. Housed in the Department of Electrical, Computer, Software, and Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering, the M.S. in Cybersecurity Engineering degree program prepares students to address challenges in the development of secure systems as well as maintaining secure operations and decommissioning of these systems.

A typical first year will include core courses such as Computer Security, System Exploitation and Penetration Testing, and Software Security Assessment.

ERAU’s Daytona Beach Campus is home to the Cybersecurity Engineering Laboratory (CybEL), which offers state-of-the-art hardware and software for cybersecurity attack and defense exercises. Here, students can also get involved with research from Embedded Systems Security to Aviation and Aerospace Digital Forensics.

The campus also features a Real-Time Systems Laboratory, a Digital Systems Laboratory, and Software Development Laboratory, for more hands-on experience.

Requirements and Courses

Computers and the services provided by them are ubiquitously available. The number of services provided by networked computers is ever increasing along with the increasing penetration of computers into a wide spectrum of products, from microwaves to satellites. The growing use of computers and their networking and information sharing also bring forth cybersecurity challenges. These issues are of growing importance both nationally and internationally. As the news of a breach can result in severe damage to an organization, cybersecurity considerations take place from the design and implementation of systems all the way to the decommissioning of systems. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering program prepares graduates to address challenges in the development of secure systems and maintaining secure operations as well as decommissioning of these systems. Cybersecurity professionals are increasingly in demand in both the public and private sectors.

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering provides its participants with exceptional learning opportunities and prepares them for careers after the degree. The program is designed such that the engineers and managers currently in the workforce can also enhance their skill set in this increasingly important field.

For applicants inclined toward research and later doctoral studies, the program offers a thesis track. For applicants more interested in entering or returning to the workplace, the program offers a non-thesis track. Based on their background and interests, students applying for the non-thesis option can choose to do a 3-hour graduate capstone project plus electives or take only elective classes and fulfill the 30-hour requirement for the degree program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering program must:

• Have completed an undergraduate degree in an engineering or computer science program or closely related discipline;
• Have superior academic records with a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0;
• Complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE);
• Submit a complete application package before the deadline specified in the University catalog.

International applicants whose primary language is not English must also achieve the minimum score requirement of TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Test System) as required by the University.

Degree Requirements

The master's degree in Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering is granted to students who complete the course work described below. The program consists of 18 credits of core courses and 12 credits of advisor-approved electives. The electives can be completed in one of three modes:

• All courses: 12 credits of advisory-approved electives;
• Courses plus a one-semester capstone: Nine credits of advisory-approved electives, plus the one-semester capstone project leading to a conference paper or technical report equivalent;
• Courses plus a six-credit thesis: Six credits of advisor-approved electives, plus a six-credit research thesis by a publication based on a journal paper, multiple conference papers, or technical report equivalents.

Program Core Requirements

• CS 527 System Exploitation and Penetration Testing
• CS 529 Computer Security
• CS 532 Software Security Assessment
• CS 538 Applied Cryptography
• SE 500 Software Engineering Discipline
• SYS 505 System Safety and Certification