Program Overview

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Cyber Security Engineering, BS

Overview

Cyber Security Engineering focuses on the development of cyber-resilient systems, encompassing the protection of both physical and digital assets, including computer and network systems. It demands a proactive approach, where cyber security is integrated into the engineering design of physical systems from the outset of development. This discipline is a critical quantitative methodology applied across a wide range of industries, including transportation, energy, healthcare, infrastructure, finance, government (federal, state, and local), and defense. The program emphasizes the cyber security engineering of integrated cyber-physical systems. This degree provides a strong foundation in cyber security engineering and is best suited for students with a solid background in mathematics and science.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates earning the Bachelor of Science degree in Cyber Security Engineering at George Mason University are expected within three to five years after graduation to be professionals who:

1. Establish themselves in a successful cyber security engineering career in industry, government, or academia
2. Communicate and perform ethically and effectively as members or leaders of multi-disciplinary teams on mission/business outcomes
3. Maintain current knowledge of evolving threats, risks and technology through continuing education, professional conferences, graduate school and on-the-job experiences
4. Have the ability to obtain and maintain professional licensing.

Accreditation

The bachelor of science in cyber security engineering program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET, under the commission’s General Criteria and Program Criteria for Cybersecurity and Similarly Named Engineering Programs.

Policies

For policies governing all undergraduate degrees, see AP.5 Undergraduate Policies.

Plan of Study

All Cybersecurity Engineering students are assigned an academic advisor. With their advisor's guidance, each student must develop a plan of study outlining their course schedule for the degree program. This plan must be reviewed, updated, and signed by the advisor at least once per year.

Change of Major

See Change of Major for more information.

Grade Requirements

Students in the Cyber Security Engineering, BS program must complete all mathematics, science, and CEC courses with a grade of C or better.

Termination from the Major Policy

No math, science, or College of Engineering and Computing course that is required for the major may be attempted more than three times. Those students who do not successfully complete such a course within three attempts will be terminated from the major. Undeclared students in the College of Engineering and Computing who do not successfully complete a course required for a College of Engineering and Computing major within three attempts will also be terminated.

In addition, students in the College of Engineering and Computing with evidence of continued failure to make adequate progress toward declaring or completing a College of Engineering and Computing major will be terminated from the school. Adequate progress is determined by the major program. For more information, see AP.5.2.4 Termination from the Major.

Once a student has attempted one of these courses twice unsuccessfully, the third attempt must be no later than the next semester of enrollment, excluding summers. Failure to take the course at that time will result in termination from the major. A third attempt of a College of Engineering and Computing course requires support by the student's major department as well as permission by the department offering the course. This permission is not guaranteed. If the student is unable to take the course when required, the student may request an extension to a future semester; extensions require approval of the student's advisor, their department, and the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs. The deadline for extension requests is the add deadline for the semester in which the course is required.

Students who have been terminated from a College of Engineering and Computing major may not register for a College of Engineering and Computing course without permission of the department offering the course. This applies to all undergraduate courses offered by the College of Engineering and Computing except IT 104 Introduction to Computing (Mason Core) and STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core).

A student may not declare any major in the College of Engineering and Computing if the student has previously met the termination criteria for that major at any time, regardless of what the student's major was at the time the courses were taken.

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 126

Cyber Security Engineering Core

• CYSE 101: Introduction to Cyber Security Engineering (3 credits)
• CYSE 130: Introduction to Computing for Digital Systems Engineering (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• CYSE 211: Operating Systems and Lab (3 credits)
• CYSE 230: Computer Networking (3 credits)
• CYSE 304: Cyber Security in Logic Design and Digital Systems (3 credits)
• CYSE 411: Secure Software Engineering (3 credits)
• CYSE 421: Industrial Control Systems Security (3 credits)
• CYSE 425: Secure RF Communications (3 credits)
• CYSE 430: Critical Infrastructure Protection (3 credits)
• CYSE 445: System Security and Resilience (3 credits)
• CYSE 450: Cyber Vulnerability Lab (1 credit)
• CYSE 476: Cryptography Fundamentals (3 credits)
• CYSE 491: Engineering Senior Seminar (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• CYSE 492: Senior Advanced Design Project I (3 credits)
• CYSE 493: Senior Advanced Design Project II (Mason Core) (3 credits)

Technical Electives

• Select 9 credits from the following approved technical courses:
  • CYSE 341: Machine Learning Applied to Cyber Security Engineering
  • CYSE 395: Cyber Security Engineering Internship
  • CYSE 424: Embedded and Real Time Systems
  • CYSE 442: Generative AI Technologies in Cyber Security Engineering
  • CYSE 460: Power Systems and Smart Grid Security
  • CYSE 462: Mobile Devices and Network Security
  • CYSE 465: Transportation Systems Design
  • CYSE 466: Introduction to Unmanned Aerial Systems Security
  • CYSE 467: GPS Security
  • CYSE 470: Human Factors and Cyber Security Engineering
  • CYSE 477: Intrusion Detection
  • CYSE 478: Cyber Security Audit and Compliance
  • CYSE 479: Methods of User Authentication
  • CYSE 480: Reverse Software Engineering
  • CYSE 499: Special Topics in Cyber Security Engineering
  • CYSE 570: Fundamentals of Operating Systems
  • CYSE 580: Hardware and Cyber Physical Systems
  • CYSE 587: Cyber Security Systems Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

• ECE 301: Digital Electronics 1 (3 credits)

Systems Engineering

• SYST 205: Systems Engineering Principles (3 credits)

Mathematics and Statistics

• MATH 113: Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) (4-6 credits)
• MATH 114: Analytic Geometry and Calculus II (4 credits)
• MATH 125: Discrete Mathematics I (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• MATH 203: Linear Algebra (3 credits)
• MATH 213: Analytic Geometry and Calculus III (3 credits)
• MATH 214: Elementary Differential Equations (3 credits)
• STAT 344: Probability and Statistics for Engineers and Scientists I (3 credits)

Natural Sciences

• PHYS 160: University Physics I (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• PHYS 161: University Physics I Laboratory (Mason Core) (1 credit)
• PHYS 260: University Physics II (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• PHYS 261: University Physics II Laboratory (Mason Core) (1 credit)

Computing

• CS 112: Introduction to Computer Programming (Mason Core) (4 credits)
• SYST 230: Object-oriented Modeling and Design (4 credits)
• CS 222: Computer Programming for Engineers (3 credits)

Engineering

• ENGR 107: Introduction to Engineering (2 credits)

Oral Communication and Economics

• COMM 100: Public Speaking (Mason Core) (3 credits)
• ECON 103: Contemporary Microeconomic Principles (Mason Core) (3 credits)

Remaining Mason Core

• Students must complete all Mason Core requirements not fulfilled by major requirements.

Bachelor of Science in Cyber Security Engineering Sample Plan of Study

Detailed four year plans and degree planning checklists can be found at [insert link].

Accelerated Master's Programs

Cyber Security Engineering, BS/Computer Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BS in Cyber Security Engineering and an MS in Computer Engineering in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 150 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits with an overall GPA of 3.0.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form: 3.0 overall GPA, successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation), and completing the application for graduation.
• Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
  • Advanced standing courses: Students may take up to 6 credits of graduate-level courses that will count as advanced standing (i.e., overlap between the BS/MS program) from the list below:
    • ECE 505: Hardware Security (3 credits)
    • ECE 508: Internet of Things (3 credits)
    • ECE 511: Computer Architecture (3 credits)
    • ECE 512: Computer Architecture Security (3 credits)
    • ECE 542: Computer Network Architectures and Protocols (3 credits)
    • ECE 554: Machine Learning for Embedded Systems (3 credits)
  • Reserve credit courses: Additional courses (up to 6 credits) may be selected from the above list as credits to be put on reserve to be later applied to the graduate program.

Cyber Security Engineering, BS/Cyber Security Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a BS in Cyber Security Engineering and an MS in Cyber Security Engineering in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 144 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits with an overall GPA of 3.5.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form: 3.0 overall GPA, successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation), and completing the application for graduation.
• Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
  • Advanced standing courses: Students may take up to 12 credits of graduate-level courses that will count as advanced standing (i.e., overlap between the BS/MS program) from the list below:
    • CYSE 521: Industrial Control Systems Security (3 credits)
    • CYSE 570: Fundamentals of Operating Systems (3 credits)
    • CYSE 580: Hardware and Cyber Physical Systems (3 credits)
    • CYSE 587: Cyber Security Systems Engineering (3 credits)

Cyber Security Engineering, BS/Digital Forensics, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified students in the Cyber Security Engineering, BS have the option of obtaining an accelerated Digital Forensics, MS.
• Admission Requirements: Students in the Cyber Security Engineering, BS program may apply for this option if they have earned 60 undergraduate credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.25.
• Accelerated Option Requirements: Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for the BS and MS programs, with 6 credits overlapping.
• Degree Conferral: Students must apply the semester before they expect to complete the BS requirements to have the BS degree conferred. In addition, at the beginning of the student's final undergraduate semester, students must complete a Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Transition form that is submitted to the Office of the University Registrar and the CEC Graduate Admissions Office. At the completion of MS requirements, a master's degree is conferred.

Cyber Security Engineering, BS/Operations Research, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a Cyber Security Engineering, BS and an Operations Research, MS in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 144 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Cyber Security Engineering, BS students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.3, and completion of all MATH and PHYS requirements.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: The criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Operations Research, MS program. Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the Operations Research, MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form: An overall GPA of at least 3.0, successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
• Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
  • Advanced Standing course: Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for both the BS and MS programs. Up to four courses (12 credits) of approved master’s level courses taken as part of the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree.

Cyber Security Engineering, BS/Systems Engineering, Accelerated MS

• Overview: Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a Cyber Security Engineering, BS and a Systems Engineering, MS in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 144 credits.
• Admission Requirements: Cyber Security Engineering, BS students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits with an overall GPA of at least 3.3, and completion of all MATH and PHYS requirements.
• Accelerated Master's Admission Requirements: The criteria for admission are identical to criteria for admission to the Systems Engineering, MS program. Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the Systems Engineering, MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form: An overall GPA of at least 3.0, successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.
• Accelerated Pathway Requirements: To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:
  • Advanced Standing course: Students must complete all credits that satisfy requirements for both the BS and MS programs. Up to four courses (12 credits) of approved master’s level courses taken as part of the undergraduate degree may be applied to the graduate degree.