Online Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Analytics

We are now accepting applications for our summer and fall semester start dates. For more details on application deadlines and start dates, refer to the academic calendar.

Program Description

The online Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Analytics is designed to equip students with advanced skills in protecting digital infrastructure and data. This program blends technical cybersecurity principles with analytical techniques. Areas of focus include threat detection, data analytics, network security, and risk management. Students learn to analyze complex cybersecurity data, enabling them to identify patterns, predict potential threats, and devise defense strategies. 

The program emphasizes the development of problem-solving and decision-making skills necessary for high-level cybersecurity roles. By combining hands-on technical training with analytical approaches, this degree prepares graduates for the rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape. Graduates complete the program well-suited for roles in threat analysis, security policy development, and cybersecurity in various sectors including government, finance, and technology.

GW is federally designated as a National Center of Excellence for Cyber Defense Research. The GW Cyber Security and Privacy Research Institute (CSPRI) is the home for major information assurance and cybersecurity scholarship programs funded by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation.

Curriculum

Learn More About the Courses

CSCI 6016 Applied Network Defense: Computer security: protection aspects of the Internet. Cryptographic tools to provide security, such as shared key encryption (DES, 3DES, RC and more), public key encryption, key exchange, and digital signature. Internet protocols and applications.  (3 credit hours)

ECE 6132 Secure Cloud Computing: A comprehensive guide to security concerns and best practices for cloud computing and cloud services. Topics discussed include cloud computing architectures, risk issues and legal topics, data security, internal and external clouds, information security frameworks and operational guidelines.(3 credit hours)

EMSE 6540 Management of Information and Systems Security: Information security techniques and countermeasures in defense fundamentals; critical infrastructure protection; network defense–firewall systems and IDS, VPNs, cryptographic and internet security protocols and cyber security, information assurance. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6543 Managing the Protection of Information Assets and Systems: Advanced topics in protection of information assets and systems, including authentication, asset control, security models and kernels, physical security, personnel security, operational security, administrative security, security configuration management, and resource control. Prerequisite: EMSE 6540. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6544 Auditing, Monitoring and Intrusion Detection for Information Security Managers: Methods for detecting problems with unauthorized activity in information systems and management challenges associated with those activities. Prerequisite: EMSE 6540. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6560 Open-Source Intelligence Analysis: Data analytics tools and develop decision support frameworks to identify threats, evaluate capability of actors to exploit vulnerabilities, and evaluate the risk of damage. Overview of strategies for mining/aggregating data across multiple sources. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6767 Applied Data Analytics: Applied and practical data analytics. High-level theory, with primary focus on practical application of a broad set of statistical techniques needed to support an empirical foundation for systems engineering and engineering management. A variety of practical visualization and statistical analysis techniques. Leveraging Minitab and Excel to examine raw data to arrive at insightful conclusions. (3 credit hours) 

EMSE 6769 Applied Machine Learning for Engineers: Theory and practice of machine learning, leveraging open source frameworks to explore the ideas, algorithms, and techniques. (3 credit hours)

SEAS 6410 Security Data Visualization: Visualization aspect of security data, including study of data analytics and scaling up information security, security metrics and security monitoring techniques focusing on industry applications. Tools for security data visualization and analytics. Prerequisite: EMSE 6767. (3 credit hours)

SEAS 6414 Python Applications in Cybersecurity Analytics: Introduction to programming with Python with applications in Cyber Analytics including automating data cleaning, machine learning, text mining, time series analysis, anomaly detection, DoS attack detection, and spam detection. (3 credit hours)

 

Academic Calendar

Our classes meet one night a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays) for nine weeks from 6:30 to 9:50 PM Eastern time.  Students enroll in four 9-week sessions. There is also an optional fifth summer session (classes meet twice a week for five weeks). Students may begin their studies in any of the five sessions. Please see below for the dates of our upcoming sessions.

Session Dates Application Deadlines
Summer 2024 week of 5/20/24 – week of 6/17/24 5/1/2024
Fall 1 2024 week of 8/12/24 – week of 10/7/24 7//31/2024
Fall 2 2024 week of 10/14/24 – week of 12/9/24 9/30/2024
Spring 1 2025 week of 1/6/25 – week of 3/3/25 12/13/2024
Spring 2 2025 week of 3/10/25 – week of 5/5/25 2/20/2025


The course order is determined by advisors based on student progress toward completion of the curriculum. Course details will be provided to students via email approximately one month prior to the start of classes.

Tuition

Tuition is $1,195 per credit hour for the 2023-2024 academic year. Tuition is billed at the beginning of each semester for the courses registered during that semester. A non-refundable tuition deposit of $495 is required when the applicant accepts admission. This deposit is applied to tuition and due the first semester. Our online graduate degree programs in engineering require no additional fees. We provide eBooks and software at no additional cost.

 

Admissions Process

Review the Admissions Requirements 

Ideal candidates for the programs will meet the following requirements:

  • Hold a bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
  • Minimum grade point average of B- (2.7 on a 4.0 scale) or higher.
    • Applicants with less than a 2.7 GPA may also apply. Upon a holistic review of application materials, a conditional acceptance may be given to applicants with less than a 2.7 GPA.
  • Grade of C or better in one course in college-level calculus and one course in college-level statistics. Applicants who do not meet this requirement in full but are otherwise qualified may be conditionally admitted and required to take an additional 3-credit hour course, EMSE 4197 — Special Topics: Quantitative Methods in Engineering Management, during the first year of graduate study.
  • If you’re applying from outside the U.S., please see international student admissions information for additional requirements.

Note: GW considers a candidate’s entire background when reaching an admissions decision. Applicants who do not meet all the requirements may still be eligible for admission. Their records will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. 

Apply for Admission and Submit Supporting Documents

Apply for Admission
 There is no application fee for any GW online engineering program.

Complete application packets include: 

  • Resume or C.V.: Upload your up-to-date resume or C.V.
  • Statement of Purpose: In an essay of 250 words or less, describe your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Also, discuss any other related qualifications not already mentioned, such as collegiate, professional, or community activities.
  • Official Transcripts: Official transcripts are required from all institutions where a degree was earned. Transcripts should be sent to [email protected] (if sent electronically), or via mail to:
    Online Engineering Programs
    The George Washington University
    170 Newport Center Drive
    Suite 260
    Newport Beach, CA 92660
     
  • Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) letters of recommendation are required from professional references. Begin this process by filling out this letter of recommendation form. Within this form you will share the email address of the individual providing your recommendation. Once you complete your required section, Docusign will send that individual a link to the letter of recommendation form. A letter of recommendation is only considered official when sent directly from the individual providing the recommendation through DocuSign. Submissions directly from applicants will not be accepted.
  • GRE Scores: GRE scores are not required but if available, should be submitted to enhance your application.
Remain Engaged in the Admissions Process

You will receive emails from us updating you as your application goes through the admissions process.

 

Register for the next Information Session

Live via Zoom
Wed. April 10th, 7:00 pm Eastern

Register and Join the Webinar

 

 

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