Pittsburgh MSISTM: Curriculum
The 16-month MSISTM program is ideally suited to students who want to assume leadership positions in the information security arena. The program enhances a technical education with additional courses in management, information security policy, privacy and other topics essential for the effective development and management of secure information systems. Graduates of the MSISTM program become security experts equipped to manage the growing complexities associated with securing data and networks.
The MSISTM curriculum consists of three main components: the core courses, electives and the curriculum option/seminar. The core courses establish the necessary background and a common competence level, and the elective courses build upon the core. Students can choose from a wide variety of technical and management elective courses according to their interests and career needs.
MSISTM Core Courses - 72 units
(core courses may not be waived)
Management Requirement - 12 units
All students must take:
- 14-786: Information Security Risk Analysis
Prerequisite: Either prior coursework in probability theory or 95-796: Statistics for IT Managers
- 14-788: Information Security Risk Policy and Management
Prerequisite: 95-710: Economic Analysis or equivalent coursework
Networking and Systems Requirement - 24 units
All students must take:
18-345: Introduction to Telecommunication Networks (Fall) |
OR |
14-740: Fundamentals of Telecommunications and Computer Networks (Fall)
Note: This class has a limited enrollment |
OR |
18-756: Packet Switching and
Computer Networks (Fall) |
AND |
15-410: Operating System Design
and Implementation (Fall)
Note: You must take 15-213: Introduction to Computer Systems as a prerequisite to 15-410 |
OR |
18-842: Distributed Systems (Spring)
Note: You must take either 18-342: Fundamentals of Embedded Systems or 15-410: Operating System Design and Implementation as a prerequisite to 18-842 |
Security Requirement - 36 units
All students must take:
18-730: Introduction to Computer Security (Fall) |
AND |
18-731: Network
Security (Spring)
OR
18-733: Applied Cryptology (Spring)
OR
18-732: Secure Software Systems (Fall)
OR
14-735: Secure Software Engineering (Fall) |
AND |
One additional graduate-level security course
from another department (CS, ECE, EPP, Heinz, Tepper)
Note: Course must be approved by the MSISTM program advisor
|
Restricted Electives - 48 units
Restricted electives form the area of a student's specialization. This portion of the curriculum is made up of 48 units. Of the 48 required units, 12 units must be a course in ECE or CS numbered 300 or above. The remaining 36 units can be fulfilled by any courses in the Heinz School or the Tepper School or any courses in ECE, EPP or CS numbered 300 or above. 15-213: Introduction to Computer Systems can now also be counted as a restricted elective, but only if it is taken as a prerequisite to 15-410: Operating System Design and Implementation.
Restricted electives may not be taken pass/fail.
Curriculum Specialization/Seminar - 36 units
Curriculum specialization must be chosen by the end of the first Spring semester. Students choose either a Professional Track or Research Track:
-
Professional Track: Either 1.) a set of courses that will equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in industry; 2.) a supervised practicum that will provide students with industry experience while gaining significant knowledge; or 3.) a development-based project that allows students to build up knowledge and skills in delivering successful solutions for industry.
-
Research Track: A master’s thesis that will allow students to delve deep into a problem and create a solution for a research-based project, offering them the opportunity to gain significant knowledge and skills in a particular area.
Research Seminar - 3 units
Research seminars require students to attend presentations that take place during the Fall and Spring semester. Speakers present on current issues in areas of industry and research. Students must take both:
- 14-704: INI Seminar (Fall)
- 14-705: INI Seminar (Spring)
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