2026-2027 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Requirements for the M.S. in Cybersecurity
The M.S. in Cybersecurity (CYB) at Grand Valley State University is an applied, industry-focused program designed to equip students with practical, hands-on experience and technical expertise, preparing them for high-impact roles in the Cybersecurity domain.
All candidates for the degree must complete a total of 33 credits, including the following:
- Core courses (18 credits)
- Tracks courses (9 credits)
- Electives (0-3 credits)
- Capstone (3 or 6 credits)
Note: (*) Students are limited to 12 credits of courses that are dual-listed.
Core Courses
Students are required to complete the following 6 courses for a total of eighteen credits:
- CYB 500: Linux and Python Scripting for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
- CIS 554: Computer Networks (3 credits)
- CYB 615: Cybersecurity Risk Management (3 credits)
- CYB 616: Cybersecurity Fundamentals (3 credits)
- CYB 617: Digital Forensics and Investigations (3 credits)
- CYB 655: Advanced Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
Tracks
All candidates are required to complete one of the following tracks:
Network and Cloud Security
- CYB 645: Network Security (3 credits)
- *CYB 575: Wireless Network and Security (3 credits)
- CYB 646: Cloud Security (3 credits)
AI in Cybersecurity
- AI 501: Introduction to AI (3 credits)
- *CYB 520 - Trustworthy AI (3 credits)
- CYB 619: AI for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
Human-Centered Computing Security
- HCC 501: Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction (3 credits)
- *HCC 531 - Human AI Interaction (3 credits)
- AI 511 - AI Ethics and Bias (3 credits)
Secure Software
- AI 511 - AI Ethics and Bias (3 credits)
- CIS 518 - Secure Software Engineering (3 credits)
- SE 537 - Software Quality Assurance (3 credits)
Cybersecurity Development Tools
- HCC 503 - User Experience Design (3 credits)
- *HCC 553 - AR/VR Development (3 credits)
- HCC 602 - Design for Creative Learning Experiences (3 credits) OR HCC 601 - HCC Synthesis: Foundations and Trajectories in Social Computing (3 credits)
Data Analytics for Cybersecurity
- CIS 658 - Web Architectures (3 credits)
- CYB 619: AI for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
- CIS 671 - Information Visualization (3 credits)
Elective Courses
One elective course will be required if the project option is chosen to meet the capstone requirement (instead of the thesis option). In this case, three credits of electives may be needed. Any College of Computing 500 or 600 level course can be used as an elective toward the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree. Note: If students have already completed 12 credit hours of 4xx/5xx dual-listed courses, they must not take additional 4xx/5xx dual-listed courses to fulfill the elective course requirement.
Capstone
Each candidate must complete either a three-credit project course (CIS 693), or six total credits of thesis (CIS 695) work. Please contact the graduate program director one semester prior to starting any of these.
OR
Proposed order of coursework using AI in the Cybersecurity track as an example
Year 1
Fall Semester
- CYB 500: Linux and Python Scripting for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
- CIS 554: Computer Networks (3 credits)
- CYB 616: Cybersecurity Fundamentals (3 credits)
Winter Semester
- AI 501 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
- CYB 615: Cybersecurity Risk Management (3 credits)
- CYB 617: Digital Forensics and Investigations (3 credits)
Year 2
Fall Semester
- CYB 619: AI for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
- CYB 655: Advanced Applied Cryptography (3 credits)
- Elective Course (3 Credits)
Winter Semester
- CIS 693 - Master's Project (3 credits)
- *CYB 520: Trustworthy AI (3 credits)