Mar 28, 2024  
2023 Graduate Catalog 1.1 (WINTER-SPRING) 
    
2023 Graduate Catalog 1.1 (WINTER-SPRING) [ARCHIVED CATALOG - Consult with Your Academic Advisor for Your Catalog Year]

Cybersecurity (M.S.)*


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In today’s information intensive environment, cyber related incidents (such as online fraud, cyber crime, and ransomware) are on the rise. Our national security, personal safety, and economic health are at risk. To address the growing need for professionals with the advanced knowledge to anticipate and repel sophisticated cyber attacks and infiltration attempts on computer systems, Utica University designed the online Master of Science degree program in Cybersecurity.

A leader in economic crime programs for over 20 years, Utica University has designed this innovative new program to combine hands-on education in state-of-the-art cybersecurity and digital forensic practices with coursework on leadership and planning adapted specifically to the cyberspace realm.

Utica’s online M.S. in Cybersecurity offers students advanced education and hands-on experience in cybersecurity operations (red & blue team), critical national infrastructures, cloud infrastructure security, secure software and network design, and investigative principles including:

  • An understanding of the major concepts in cybersecurity, digital forensics, cyber defense (blue team), cloud security, penetration testing (red team), and electronic crime.
  • Ethics and legal issues as applied to cybersecurity operations and policy.
  • A practical knowledge of cybercrime investigations, including methods for investigating modern threats like ransomware and business email compromises.

The faculty have identified several advising specializations, groups of courses within the elective offerings that provide students with a focused path of study. Elective specializations are not formal parts of the curriculum but options within the elective section of the program. Students do not have to focus on a specialization but can, with the consent of their advisor, simply elect to take courses that meet their needs or interests. The specializations identified by the faculty are:

  • Digital Forensics
  • Cyber Operations
  • Cybercrime and Fraud

Student Learning Goals

  • Analyze cyber-attack, tactics, techniques, and procedures and design effective defenses.
  • Evaluate cybersecurity and risk management issues as they relate to securing and defending both information technology and critical national infrastructures.
  • Collect and analyze data in support of threat hunting and incident response efforts.
  • Demonstrate critical thinking, research, and writing skills related to the domain of cybersecurity.

*Utica University has been designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security. This prestigious five-year designation (2019 - 2024) puts Utica University in the elite ranks of colleges and universities with cybersecurity curricula, faculty and facilities that meet or exceed very stringent national criteria

Academic Requirements (30 Credit Hours)


Digital Forensics Specialization Requirements (9 credit hours)


Designed for students interested in collecting and preparing evidence of computer crimes such as fraud, child pornography, and cyber espionage, this specialization emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of the computer forensic tools and techniques used to investigate and analyze computers and digital devices. Coursework focuses on the collection and preservation of digital evidence from a variety of environments including computer networks and live systems.

Cyber Operations Specialization Requirements (9 credit hours)


Designed for students interested in understanding the technical, legal, and ethical aspects of cyber attack and cyber defense operations. Coursework focuses on penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, steganography, data hiding and anonymity, and advanced cyber protection mechanisms.

Cybercrime and Fraud Specialization Requirements (9 Credits)


Designed for students interested in understanding the technical, legal, and ethical aspects of electronic crime, white collar crime and fraud investigation. Coursework focuses on risk and compliance, legal issues, fraud management and advanced techniques for performing fraud analysis.

Multiple Specializations


Students in this program may opt to take multiple specializations under the following conditions:

1.  They must have the approval of their academic advisor and the Program Director.

2.  Courses should be taken in sequential order. Each specialization should be completed before starting the other.

3.  Courses may not be taken in tandem nor can eight week courses be doubled up.

4.  The Capstone project CYB 689 can only be taken upon the completion of the specializations.

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