Program of Study
A specialization in computer security is available within the master’s degree program of the Computer Science (CS) Department.
Students enrolled in this specialization will receive the Master of Science degree in Computer Science, with a notation on their transcript “Specialization in Computer Security.” The program is focused on preparing students for both industrial positions and Ph.D. study related to computer security.
WPI’s cyber-security programs place the science and engineering of security within the broader holistic frameworks of institutions and society. The specialization in Computer Science prepares students to approach technical computer security problems in the context of users and organizations. The M.S. specialization in computer security strives to produce students who
- can assess which security-related threats to address in a computing problem
- understand technical security vulnerabilities and technologies at least two different abstraction levels within computing systems
- appreciate behavioral and human factors in creating feasible security systems
Admission Requirements
The program is conducted at an advanced technical level and requires, in addition to the WPI admissions requirements, a solid background in computer science (CS). Normally a B.S. degree in CS is expected; however, applicants with comparable backgrounds, together with expertise gained through work experience, will also be considered. Interested students should apply to the CS master’s degree program. Admission decisions are made by the CS department.
Computer Science Bins: Courses as required to satisfy the breadth requirements (“bins”) for the CS M.S. degree. Details appear in the CS M.S. degree requirements.
Electives: Any courses allowable within the requirements for CS M.S. degrees, including thesis credits.
Thesis Approval: If a student applies thesis credits towards a degree bearing the computer security specialization, his or her thesis topic must be approved as security-related by one of the core specialization faculty. Theses need not be advised by core specialization faculty; in such cases, the reader should be one of the core specialization faculty.
Important Note
Since the security specialization is within the master’s programs of the Computer Science Department, students in this specialization must also satisfy all requirements of the computer science master’s program. There is a limit to the number of courses outside of Computer Science that students may apply towards their Computer Science master’s degree.