Program Overview

Department of Computer Science

The Department of Computer Science is located in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Graduate Programs

The department offers several graduate programs, including:

• Master's Programs
  • M.S. in Computer Science
  • M.S. in Cyber Security
    • Admission
    • Courses
    • Admissions Checklist
  • M.S. in Data Science
• Doctoral Program
• Cyber Security Analytics Certificate
• Bridge to Cyber Program
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Class Schedules
• Graduate Catalog
• Assistantships, Fellowships & Financial Aid
• Careers
• Software Resources
• Computer Recommendations
• ACM Student Group
• International Students
• Policy Guidelines for Internship and Full-Time Offers

M.S. in Cyber Security (MSSec)

The Master of Science in Cyber Security program is an interdisciplinary professional/practice graduate program intended to develop skills crucial for competitiveness and success in the areas of computer forensics, information security management, and forensic accounting.

Program Overview

The program has been nationally recognized for its excellence, including being ranked No. 1 in 2023 by Fortune and remaining a Top 10 program in 2025. The National Science Foundation has provided UAB with a grant totaling US $4.6 million to train the next generation of cyber-security professionals with state-of-the-art knowledge and skills in applying machine learning and artificial intelligence to solve real-world cyber-security problems.

Admission Requirements

Students seeking admission to the program should have some formal exposure to the core areas of the program. If you lack requisite backgrounds but meet minimum admission requirements, you may be admitted to the program on a contingency basis and required to take a series of prerequisite courses.

Degree Requirements

You will complete a set of core courses and have the option of choosing a concentration in Cyber Crime Investigation. Please consult the UAB Graduate Catalog for the list of required core and concentration courses.

Research

The M.S. in Cyber Security (MSSec) program involves faculty from both the Department of Computer Science and the J. Frank Barefield, Jr. Department of Criminal Justice, both housed in the College of Arts and Sciences. The program is intended to increase the pipeline of prospective, high-quality, entry- and advanced level employees involved with protecting physical and virtual systems vital to the U.S. and whose incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on national security and the nation's economic system.