Computer Science, Cybersecurity Concentration (MS in Computer Science)

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Degree Options

There are two options for the Master’s degree:


Non-Thesis Option
CSCI 653Analysis of Algorithms3
Approved graduate level coursework27
Complete at least three courses from the following:
Network Systems and Design
Mobile Application Security
Computer and Network Security
Applied Cybersecurity
Concepts of Computer Security
Systems Security
Topics in Computer Science (with a topic in Cyber Security)
At least 6 credits must be CSCI 6XX (excluding CSCI 653)
No more than 12 credits from courses numbered below 600 may be counted toward the degree.
CSCI 710Research Project2
Total Hours32
Course Restrictions

A student cannot use the following courses to satisfy degree requirements:

Directed Studies
Directed Studies
Colloquium
CSCI courses designated as Computational Operations Research courses (last digit in the course number is an 8)
Directed Thesis Master’s Research
Thesis
Directed Studies
Research
Colloquium
Directed Dissertation Research
Dissertation
No more than one offering of CSCI 690 or CSCI 790 may be applied to the non-thesis option.

Thesis Option
CSCI 653Analysis of Algorithms3
Approved graduate level coursework21
Complete at least three of the following:
Network Systems and Design
Mobile Application Security
Computer and Network Security
Applied Cybersecurity
Concepts of Computer Security
Systems Security
Topics in Computer Science (with a topic in Cyber Security)
At least 6 credits of approved CSCI 6XX coursework (excluding CSCI 653)
No more than 12 credits from courses numbered below 600 may be counted toward the degree.
CSCI 700Thesis6
Total Hours30
Course Restrictions

A student cannot use the following courses to satisfy degree requirements:

Directed Studies
Directed Studies
Colloquium
Readings in Computer Science
CSCI courses designated as Computational Operations Research courses (last digit in the course number is an 8)
Directed Thesis Master’s Research
Research Project
Directed Studies
Research
Colloquium
Readings in Computer Science
Directed Dissertation Research
Dissertation

Comprehensive Exam Requirement

A comprehensive exam is only required of students in the non-thesis option. The comprehensive exam is part of CSCI 710 – Research Project.


Foreign Language Requirement

There is no foreign language requirement.


Satisfactory Progress

To be eligible to graduate, all students must achieve a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all courses undertaken for graduate credit at William & Mary after admission to a degree program. No credit toward a degree will be allowed for a course in which a student receives a grade below C (grade point = 2.0).

All requirements for the master’s degree must be completed within six years from the first term of enrollment in the master’s program, excluding periods of approved leave and military service.  Requests for extensions beyond the six-year limit must be filed following the procedures outlined in Time Limits for Degrees and Extensions in the School of Computing, Data Sciences, and Physics Graduate Catalog.