Cybersecurity Engineering, MS (CSE)
The Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity Engineering at Washington University will give students the skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to work in the rapidly growing field of cybersecurity and to design, engineer, and architect cybersecurity technology and systems. Graduates of this program will be equipped with the theoretical and hands-on engineering expertise required to solve complex cybersecurity problems that affect diverse enterprises worldwide.
The program includes a set of core foundational courses that focus on understanding core principles in information security. Students pursuing this degree may also choose from more advanced cybersecurity elective courses that will build deeper integrative knowledge of key concepts within a variety of domains. Work in the program culminates in either a capstone project or a final thesis. The capstone project should focus on a specific set of technical cybersecurity challenges, with the objective of designing an implementable solution to those challenges. The thesis option allows students to plan, execute, and report on an individual project that addresses a substantial problem, covering both practical and scientific aspects. Students planning to pursue a PhD degree after completing the MS in Cybersecurity Engineering degree are particularly encouraged to pick the thesis option.
All students in the MS in Cybersecurity Engineering program must have previously completed (as documented by their undergraduate transcript), successfully tested to place out of, or completed at the start of their program the following courses: CSE 1301 Introduction to Computer Science and CSE 2407 Data Structures and Algorithms (or equivalent courses offered at other institutions).
Core Courses
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 4303 | Introduction to Computer Security | 3 |
| CSE 5203 | Systems Security | 3 |
| Total Units | 6 | |
Program Electives
Choose six of the following courses:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 4103 | Web Privacy and Security | 3 |
| CSE 4202 | Operating Systems Organization | 3 |
| CSE 4304 | Reverse Engineering and Malware Analysis | 3 |
| CSE 4402 | Introduction to Cryptography | 3 |
| CSE 4703 | Introduction to Computer Networks | 3 |
| CSE 5202 | Advanced Operating Systems | 3 |
| CSE 5271 | Data-Driven Privacy and Security | 3 |
| CSE 5402 | Concurrency and Memory Safe System Software Development | 3 |
| CSE 5505 | Adversarial AI | 3 |
| CSE 5619 | Recent Advances in Computer Security and Privacy | 3 |
| CSE 5701 | Network Security | 3 |
Culminating Experience
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| CSE 7998 | Master's Capstone (6 units required, typically completed over the course of two semesters) | 6 |
Thesis/Project
Beginning in Fall 2025, students will register for CSE 7998 Master’s Capstone. CSE 7998 does not count toward the student's 30 required units of coursework to complete the degree until the student has successfully defended the project or thesis. Students in the MS in Cybersecurity Engineering degree must complete all 6 units of CSE 7998 as a single project or thesis. It is not allowed to complete two separate 3-unit projects for a total of 6 units of project work.
A student who successfully defends one of the two options listed above will have a notation added to their transcript to clearly indicate exactly which option (6-unit master’s project or master’s thesis) was completed. Each semester, CSE 7998 will be graded with a letter grade. A grade of a C- or above is required in the first semester of a 6-unit project or thesis to continue the work in the final semester. As a master's project or thesis is considered to have unique content each semester, CSE 7998 is not a retakeable course, and a grade from a previous semester cannot be replaced. Students should refer to the department's Master's Program Handbook for additional details and guidance regarding projects and theses.
The Progress Report
Near the end of the first semester of a two-semester thesis or project, the student will submit a written progress report to the committee. The progress report will be used by the committee to evaluate student progress and to provide an opportunity to give feedback to the student.
Preparing and Submitting the Progress Report
The progress report should include the following:
- A copy of the original scope and duration of the work to be performed (this can be obtained from the original proposal form). Students can contact the Graduate Coordinator to receive a copy of their original proposal form.
- A discussion of any major modifications/changes to the scope of the work to be performed
- An overview of the work that has been completed during the first semester of the thesis or project
- A discussion of the work yet to be completed and a timeline for completion
The progress report should be submitted via email to all members of the committee at least one week prior to the last official day of classes for the given semester.
Outcomes
Once submitted, the committee will confer privately to discuss the student's progress made during the first semester of the thesis or project. The committee will decide on one of three possible outcomes:
- Thesis or project should continue without concern, indicating the student is making consistent progress and is on track to successfully complete the thesis or project on time.
- Thesis or project should continue with concern, indicating the student is making some progress but is falling behind. Without change, the student is not likely to successfully complete the thesis or project.
- Thesis or project should not continue, indicating the student is not making sufficient progress and the project or thesis should be terminated.
The outcome determined by the committee will be communicated to the student by the department’s Graduate Coordinator prior to the official end of the semester. If the outcome is that the thesis or project should not continue, the student will not be enrolled in the second semester’s units.
Process for Termination of a Project or Thesis
Please note, starting in Fall 2024 and onward, master's project/thesis students will not be allowed to have an N grade submitted for a terminated project. Please contact the Graduate Coordinator as soon as possible regarding any questions for terminating a project/thesis. With that in mind, please review the following scenarios:
- For a two-semester project or thesis, during the first semester of the project/thesis:
- If it is terminated before the add/drop deadline, it will have no effect on the student's record.
- If it is terminated after the add/drop deadline but before the Withdrawal deadline, it would leave a W on the student's transcript.
- If it is terminated after the Withdrawal deadline, it could result in a failing letter grade on the student's transcript.
- For a two-semester project or thesis, if the first semester has already been completed:
- If the second semester of the project/thesis is terminated before the add/drop deadline, the second-semester credits of CSE 7998 would be dropped.
- If the second semester of the project/thesis is terminated after the add/drop deadline but before the Withdrawal deadline, the second-semester credits of CSE 7998 would leave a W on the student's transcript.
- If the second semester of the project/thesis is terminated after the Withdrawal deadline, it could result in a failing letter grade on the student's transcript.
General Degree Requirements
- Students who have already taken core or elective courses specified by the program can, with departmental approval, substitute other courses that are suitably technical and appropriate to the degree program. Departmental approval will require justification and will be evaluated with increasing stringency for each additional substitution.
- None of the 30 units may be taken as independent study (i.e., CSE 4000 or CSE 5999).
- All 30 units required for the degree must be taken for a grade (i.e., not Pass/No Pass), and the grade received in each course must be C- or better.
- Per School of Engineering guidelines, students must maintain a grade point average of at least 2.70.