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College of Engineering  ›  Information Networking Institute  ›  Academics  ›  Bicoastal Programs: MSMITE and MSIT-IS  ›  MSIT-IS Curriculum 2020-21 (MS32)

M.S. in Information Technology - Information Security (MSIT-IS)

View MS32 Curriculum with Study Options

View MS32 Curriculum with 122-Unit Program

MS32 Curriculum with Study Options

The following curriculum applies to MSIT-IS students who started their INI program in Fall 2020 and selected a study option, and all MSIT-IS students who started in Spring 2021 (MS32 cohort)

Overview of the MSIS Study Options and Degree Requirements

Core Courses [72 units]

NETWORKING CORE (12 UNITS): 

  • Choose One:
    14-740: Fundamentals of Telecommunications and Computer Networks 
    14-760: Advanced Real-World Data Networks
    18-756: Packet Switching and Computer Networks 

SECURITY CORE (12 UNITS): 

  • 14-741: Introduction to Information Security

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT CORE (12 UNITS):

  • Choose one: 
    14-776: Fundamentals of Business and Management
    14-817: Cyber Risk Modeling*
    14-782: Information Security Risk Management I* AND 14-788: Information Security Policy and Management*

    *These course options are in the final approval process within the College. For spring scheduling, students can anticipate they will be approved and in place for Spring 2022.     

MSIT-IS DEGREE-SPECIFIC CORE (36 UNITS):

Practicum [24 units]:

Program Electives [24 Units]

Fulfilled by courses in INI, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), School of Computer Science (SCS), Engineering & Public Policy (EPP), Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) or Integrated Innovation Institute (III), and/or approved courses in the Heinz College or Tepper School. Some exceptions apply.

Academic & Professional Development 1 [3 Units]

  • 14-601: Academic and Professional Development I

Residency Requirement [0 Units]

All students must fulfill a residency requirement for a semester in which they are enrolled at CMU Silicon Valley.

Please note: depending on your study option, you may have additional requirements than those listed above. SEE CHART BELOW 

Academic Advising

Each student is assigned a dedicated faculty academic advisor who can provide advice about developing a plan that best fits your interests, needs and goals. You'll also benefit from enrollment and career advising provided by our academic affairs and student services team. 

Practicum

Working alongside industry sponsors, teams of bicoastal MSIT-IS and MSMITE students at CMU Silicon Valley campus tackle problems, pilot new ideas and develop solutions in a semester-long  practicum project.

VIEW PREVIOUS PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

Choose one of the following four study options within the MSIT-IS degree program.

STUDY OPTIONS

PROGRAM LENGTH

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENT

DISTRIBUTION OF UNITS 
Standard
[123 Units]		 3 Semesters No Internship
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
Applied
[129 Units]		 3 Semesters Required Internship 
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • Internship [3 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • APD 2 [3 Units]
Advanced Studies
[159 Units]		 4 Semesters

No Internship

 
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • Advanced Studies [36 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
Applied Advanced Studies
[165 Units]		 4 Semesters Required Internship 
  • Core [72 Units]
  • Electives [24 Units]
  • Practicum [24 Units]
  • Advanced Studies [36 Units]
  • Internship [3 Units]
  • APD 1 [3 Units]
  • APD 2 [3 Units]

Advanced Studies

If you choose the Advanced or Applied Advanced study option, you will benefit from additional flexibility to shape your academic program over four semesters by pursuing, along with your coursework, one of the following:

  • Master's Thesis: Delve deeply into a problem and create a novel solution for a research-based project, providing the opportunity to gain significant knowledge and skills in a particular area.
  • Area of Concentration: Specialize your skills and gain in-depth knowledge by pursuing a set of courses in a specific area.

Internship

If you choose the Applied or Applied Advanced study option, you will complete a 3-unit internship and gain real-world professional experience in an industry or research setting. 

Academic & Professional Development 2

APD 2 is a 3-unit course designed to prepare students for the required internship by offering a deeper focus on career-related topics for building industry experience.

Only students in the Applied and Applied Advanced Studies programs will take APD 2.

MS32 Curriculum - 122 Units

For students starting the MSIT-IS in Fall 2020 and are continuing in the 122-unit program (MS32).

The 122-unit MSIT-IS curriculum consists of five main components:

Core Courses Establish the necessary background and a common competency level 74 units
Program Electives Build upon the core, providing flexibility and breadth in coursework 24 units
Practicum Capstone experience in which student teams apply their knowledge and skills to solve a real-world problem for industry, government and research sponsors 24 units
Internship All INI students are required to complete a summer internship  0 units
Total  122 units

Core Courses [74 Units]

NETWORKING CORE (12 UNITS): 

  • Choose One:
    14-740: Fundamentals of Telecommunications and Computer Networks 
    14-760: Advanced Real-World Data Networks
    18-756: Packet Switching and Computer Networks 

SECURITY CORE (12 UNITS): 

  • 14-741: Introduction to Information Security

BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT CORE (12 UNITS):

  • 14-776: Fundamentals of Business and Management

MSIT-IS DEGREE-SPECIFIC CORE (36 UNITS):

Please refer to the MSIT-IS Core Courses list on the Course List page.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (2 UNITS):

  • 14-601: INI Academic and Professional Development 1 
  • 14-602: INI Academic and Professional Development 2

Program Electives [24 Units]

Students have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of electives in which they have a special interest. Electives may not be taken as pass/no pass/audit. 

Fulfilled by courses in INI, Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), School of Computer Science (SCS), Engineering & Public Policy (EPP), Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) or Integrated Innovation Institute (III), and/or approved courses in the Heinz College or Tepper School.
Some exceptions apply. 

Practicum [24 Units]

14-798: INI Practicum Project 

Internship [0 Units]

All students must complete an INI-approved internship.

Residency Requirement [0 Units]

All students must fulfill a residency requirement for a semester in which they are enrolled at CMU Silicon Valley.

Academic Advising

Each student is assigned a dedicated faculty academic advisor who can provide advice about developing a plan that best fits your interests, needs and goals. You'll also benefit from enrollment and career advising provided by our academic affairs and student services team.

Disclaimer: 

The INI cannot guarantee that courses will be offered each semester or in a specific semester as advertised on this page. Students must refer to the 'Schedule of Classes' to determine course availability. The INI cannot guarantee that a student will be offered a seat in a specific course. These apply to courses at the INI as well as other departments at Carnegie Mellon. In addition, it is the sole responsibility of the student to read and understand the following information regarding this program and its requirements. Should an individual have any further questions, they are encouraged to contact INI Academic Affairs Office (AAO) at ini-academic@andrew.cmu.edu for assistance.