M.S. in Homeland Security in Cybersecurity

Concentration Overview

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Partnering with the Heavin School of Arts, Sciences and Technology, the John S. Watson School of Public Service's Master of Science degree in Homeland Security, with a concentration in Cybersecurity, provides students with the applied knowledge and skills needed to secure and defend information systems and digital assets. Students will learn important theoretical concepts combined with real-world applications and hands-on experience. Our innovative curriculum is designed with input from an advisory board of cybersecurity experts from industry and government. Courses are taught by scholar-practitioner faculty who are experts in the field of cybersecurity.

Credit Distribution

I. Core Courses (18 Credits)

HLS-5050	Foundations of Homeland Security	3
MPL-5100	Research Methods in Public Service	3
HLS-6110	International Legal and Ethical Issues	3
HLS-6250	Technology and Information Security	3
HLS-6400	Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security	3

NOTE: MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service should be taken within the first 12 credits of the degree.

Students select one of the following

MPL-5200	Program Analysis and Evaluation	3
MNP-5150	Leading Strategic Change in Public Service	3

II. Concentration (12 Credits)

CYB-5100	Cybersecurity Foundations	3
CYB-5200	Network Defense and Security	3
CYB-5600	Cyber Forensics and Investigation	3
CYB-5700	Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response	3

III. Homeland Security Electives (3 Credits)

Select one of the following:

CYB-5800	Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics	3
HLS-5000	Terrorism and Homeland Security in the U.S.	3
HLS-5010	Natural Disasters and Security Planning	3
HLS-5100	Protecting the Homeland: Balancing Security and Liberty	3
HLS-6200	Homeland Security Preparedness: Prevention and Deterrence	3
HLS-6300	Protecting the Homeland: Response and Recovery	3

NOTE: Students who want to earn the Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity while completing the degree can take CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics as their area of study elective.  For additional homeland security elective course options, students should contact an academic advisor.

IV. Capstone in Homeland Security (3 Credits)

MPL-7100

Public Service Capstone

3

Total Credit Hours: 36

 

Degree Timeline

MSHLS.Cybersecurity	Potential Timeline – July
First Graduate Term July start	HLS-5050: Foundations of Homeland Security HLS-6250: Technology and Information Security
Second Graduate Term September	HLS-6110: International Legal and Ethical Issues MNP-5150: Leading Strategic Change in Public Service or MPL-5200: Program Analysis and Evaluation
Third Graduate Term November	HLS-6400: Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service
Fourth Graduate Term January	CYB-5100: Cybersecurity Foundations CYB-5200: Network Defense and Security
Fifth Graduate Term March	CYB-5600: Cyber Forensics and Investigation CYB-5700: Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response
Sixth Graduate Term September	CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics or Elective MPL-7100: Public Service Capstone

 

MSHLS.Cybersecurity	Potential Timeline – September
First Graduate Term September start	HLS-6110: International Legal and Ethical Issues MNP-5150: Leading Strategic Change in Public Service or MPL-5200: Program Analysis and Evaluation
Second Graduate Term November	HLS-5050: Foundations of Homeland Security HLS-6400: Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security
Third Graduate Term January	MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service HLS-6250: Technology and Information Security
Fourth Graduate Term March	CYB-5600: Cyber Forensics and Investigation CYB-5700: Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response
Fifth Graduate Term May	CYB-5100: Cybersecurity Foundations CYB-5200: Network Defense and Security
Sixth Graduate Term November	CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics or Elective MPL-7100: Public Service Capstone

 

MSHLS.Cybersecurity	Potential Timeline – November
First Graduate Term November start	HLS-5050: Foundations of Homeland Security HLS-6400: Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security
Second Graduate Term January	HLS-6250: Technology and Information Security MNP-5150: Leading Strategic Change in Public Service
Third Graduate Term March	HLS-6110: International Legal and Ethical Issues MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service
Fourth Graduate Term May	CYB-5100: Cybersecurity Foundations CYB-5200: Network Defense and Security
Fifth Graduate Term July	CYB-5600: Cyber Forensics and Investigation CYB-5700: Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response
Sixth Graduate Term September	CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics or Elective MPL-7100: Public Service Capstone

 

MSHLS.Cybersecurity	Potential Timeline – January
First Graduate Term January start	HLS-6250: Technology and Information Security MNP-5150: Leading Strategic Change in Public Service
Second Graduate Term March	MPL-5200: Program Analysis and Evaluation HLS-6110: International Legal and Ethical Issues
Third Graduate Term May	HLS-5050: Foundations of Homeland Security MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service
Fourth Graduate Term July	CYB-5100: Cybersecurity Foundations CYB-5200: Network Defense and Security
Fifth Graduate Term September	CYB-5600: Cyber Forensics and Investigation CYB-5700: Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response
Sixth Graduate Term November	CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics or Elective MPL-7100: Public Service Capstone

 

MSHLS.Cybersecurity	Potential Timeline – March
First Graduate Term March start	HLS-6110: International Legal and Ethical Issues MPL-5200: Program Analysis and Evaluation
Second Graduate Term May	HLS-5050: Foundations of Homeland Security HLS-6400: Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security
Third Graduate Term July	MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service HLS-6250: Technology and Information Security
Fourth Graduate Term September	CYB-5100: Cybersecurity Foundations CYB-5200: Network Defense and Security
Fifth Graduate Term November	CYB-5600: Cyber Forensics and Investigation CYB-5700: Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response
Sixth Graduate Term January	CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics or Elective MPL-7100: Public Service Capstone

 

MSHLS.Cybersecurity	Potential Timeline – May
First Graduate Term May start	HLS-5050: Foundations of Homeland Security HLS-6400: Funding and Program Administration for Homeland Security
Second Graduate Term July	MPL-5100: Research Methods in Public Service HLS-6250: Technology and Information Security
Third Graduate Term September	HLS-6100: The Psychology and Sociology of Disaster MNP-5150: Leading Strategic Change in Public Service or MPL-5200: Program Analysis and Evaluation
Fourth Graduate Term November	CYB-5100: Cybersecurity Foundations CYB-5200: Network Defense and Security
Fifth Graduate Term January	CYB-5600: Cyber Forensics and Investigation CYB-5700: Cyber Risk Management and Incident Response
Sixth Graduate Term March	CYB-5800: Cybersecurity Strategy, Governance, and Ethics or Elective MPL-7100: Public Service Capstone