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2019-2021 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Master of Science in Cyber Security
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Program description
The Master of Science in Cyber Security degree program is designed to provide a strong foundation and detailed technical knowledge in information security, computer security, network security, software security as well as an appreciation of the social, policy, ethical and legal aspects of security and privacy. A natural continuation of studies is offered for students who have received a baccalaureate in computer science, information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information systems, mathematics, software engineering, or a related technical area, and are interested in furthering their knowledge in Cyber Security. The program offers two tracks: a research track and a professional track.
Admission terms and application deadlines
Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Oakland University Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.
- February 15 (early), April 15 (regular), July 15 (late) for fall semester
- October 1 (early) and November 15 (regular) for winter semester
- March 1 (regular) for summer semester
- International applicants
Application requirements
To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:
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- Additional department application requirements
- Requirements for recommendations:
- Two recommendation forms must be from faculty members of the undergraduate major department or professionals in the field who can evaluate the scholarly achievement and potential of the applicant. These recommendations form an important part of the admission credentials.
- Applicants must submit official scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if they graduated from an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting agency of the USA. The department may choose to waive the GRE requirement if at least one of the following special circumstances is met:
- Applicant’s last degree is from a U.S. institution accredited by a regional accrediting agency.
- Applicant’s overall GPA from last degree is at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicant has worked in the USA for at least two years in the engineering profession.
- To request a waiver, applicants must submit a Request to Waive GRE form to the Graduate School as part of the application packet. The request for waiver is subject to the approval of the Graduate Admissions Committee
- Bachelor of Science in computer science, information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information systems, mathematics, software engineering, or equivalent. Applicants from other disciplines would be considered after successfully completing appropriate prerequisite courses.
- Admission to master’s program is selective; applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or better for regular admission.
- If the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is between 2.7 and 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and at least a 3.0 grade point average in technical courses related to Cyber Security, admission with limited standing may be offered. For applicants graduated from an institution not accredited by a regional accrediting agency of the USA, a 70% or better percentile score of the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section is required.
- Applicants from institutions with which Oakland University has an articulation agreement containing alternative admission criteria will be admitted according to the criteria in that agreement
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Admission review and assessment
Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University Graduate School, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.
Related links
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Prerequisite courses
The advanced level prerequisite courses CSE 5005, 5006, and 5007 are fast track courses designed to prepare students who have strong academic or professional records in related fields. These courses prepare students for graduate studies within minimal time. Note that the prerequisite courses do not count towards the credits needed to obtain a graduate degree.
Degree requirements
The Master of Science in Cyber Security degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 32 credits in an approved program of study.
1. Research track (32 credits)
The research track requires 32 credits including 2 to 8 credits of thesis to graduate. The structure of credits is as follows:
a. Foundation requirements (12 credits)
Must complete 12 credits of the following Foundation Group courses:
Foundation Group courses
b. Core requirement (4 credits)
Must complete 4 credits of the following Core course:
c. Depth requirement
Depth Group courses
d. Electives
Students on a research track must complete a thesis for 8 credits.
Elective Group courses
2. Professional track (32 credits)
The professional track requires 32 credits of graduate coursework. The structure of credits is as follows.
a. Foundation requirements (12 credits)
Must complete 12 credits of the following Foundation Group courses:
Foundation Group courses
b. Core requirement (4 credits)
Must complete 4 credits of the following Core course:
c. Depth requirement
Depth Group courses
d. Electives
Elective Group courses
Satisfactory academic progress
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress for all financial aid recipients each semester.
Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.
Good academic standing
All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.
Good academic standing is a requirement for:
- Holding a Graduate Assistantship
- Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
- Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
- Going on a leave of absence
- Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.
Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.
Department requirements: The minimum satisfactory grade for graduate work is B. Credit for completion of a course in the Master of Science program will be given for grades of B- or above but no more than two grades may be B-. Graduate credit will not be awarded for grades below B-. To repeat a course, a student must have the permission of the graduate committee of the school.
All grades received as a graduate student are used in computing the GPA except that, if a course has been repeated, the most recent grade is used in the calculation of the GPA. A graduate student is placed on academic probation if the student’s overall GPA drops below 3.0 or if the student receives more than one grade below 3.0, including the original grade(s) of any repeated course(s). A graduate student receiving a grade less than 3.0 while on probation is subject to dismissal. A graduate student receiving more than two grades below 3.0 is subject to dismissal whether or not the student was put on probation previously.
In all programs the minimum grade point requirement is an average of at least 3.0. If a student’s GPA is less than 3.0 after having attempted 16 credits, the student will be recommended for dismissal from the program.
Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.
Related program information
Plan of study
All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.
Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)
Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.
Course approval
Approval by the master’s degree adviser and the department chair is required for independent study, engineering projects, a master’s thesis or special topics courses that are used toward the degree. In addition, approval of the faculty administering the independent study, advising the thesis or project or teaching the special topics course must be obtained before registering for these credits. No more than 8 thesis or project credits may be used toward the degree requirements.
Transfer credit
Students transferring from other institutions are allowed to transfer a maximum of 9 credits of graduate coursework with the approval of the department.
Workload and scheduling
Full-time students must register for 8 to 12 credits per semester. Graduate assistants must be full-time students and commit 20 hours per week toward their research or teaching assistantship assignment. Graduate assistants normally register for only 8 credits per semester; however, a 12-credit load can be taken with the approval of the chair of their department.
For the convenience of part-time students employed in industry, most courses are arranged in late afternoon and early evening. However, these students should be aware of the very real demands of graduate studies and should keep outside work commitments and their academic load in balance.
Master’s adviser
The progress of each regular student toward the Master of Science degree is directed by the student’s adviser, a faculty member of the School of Engineering and Computer Science who is assigned at the time of admission. Incoming students seeking the degree are urged to discuss their proposed concentration area with their adviser or other faculty members in that area. Students who wish to change their adviser can do so with the approval of the chair of their department.
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