Cybersecurity MS Resources

CSEC-603 is a new core class required for all MS students beginning in Fall 2025 and after and all BSMS students with their Requirement Term as 2251 and beyond. For everyone else, it is an advanced elective.

• GCCIS-CSEC-603 Enterprise Security
• GCCIS-CSEC-604 Cryptography and Authentication
• GCCIS-CSEC-742 Computer System Security

• GCCIS-CSEC-720 Deep Learning Security
• GCCIS-CSEC-741 Internet of Things Security
• GCCIS-CSEC-750 Covert Communications
• GCCIS-CSEC-759 Graduate Seminar in Advanced Networking and Distributed Systems Security
• GCCIS-CSEC-759 Graduate Seminar in Advanced Malware Forensics
• GCCIS-CSEC-759 Graduate Seminar in Advanced Software Security
• GCCIS-CSEC-759 Graduate Seminar in Human Factors in Security
• GCCIS-CSEC-769 Emerging Topics in Wireless Security

Choose one of the following options:

CSEC-790 - MS Thesis (6 credits) OR MS Research Elective (3 credits) + MS Advanced Elective (3 credits)

Overview

• Graduate students are not required to complete a co-op for their degree, but it is strongly recommended to strengthen professional experience. Students may complete a maximum of two co-op blocks (Summer, Fall, or Spring). A co-op block is defined by the academic term, not the employer. All co-op positions must be full-time, paid, professional roles directly related to the student’s field of study. Co-op is not credit-bearing and cannot replace coursework or count toward degree credit requirements.

Eligibility Requirements

• Students must be in good academic standing (minimum cumulative or prior-term GPA of 3.0), have completed all assigned bridge courses, and completed at least 15 credits or 5 courses toward their degree provided they are in good academic standing. Academic integrity violations disqualify students from co-op eligibility.

Co-op Approval Process

• Students must receive an offer letter and submit it to the Graduate Program Director for approval prior to accepting a position. The offer letter must include company information, supervisor contact details, job title and description, start and end dates, and compensation. Students must also complete a required co-op orientation through Career Connect before enrollment can occur.

Enrollment Process

• After approval, students must report their co-op through the RIT Co-op website. Enrollment is completed by department staff only. Late approvals may require additional processing time. International students must have their work authorization before beginning work in the US. Students apply for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) after the co-op has been approved by the Graduate Program Director and they have been enrolled in their co-op in the Student Information System (SIS). Instructions for apply for CPT are found on the International Student Services website.

Enrollment Notes

• Co-op enrollment is processed by CSEC office staff and cannot be completed by students. Please contact cybergrad@rit.edu with questions. The approval and enrollment process may take up to one business week and longer during peak periods; frequent emails or phone calls may delay processing. If your co-op does not appear in SIS one week after approval by the Graduate Program Director and the Co-op Office, a single follow up email to cybergrad@rit.edu is appropriate.

• Students should consult the Graduate Program Director and their advisor to determine whether taking a course or working on a capstone while on co-op is appropriate. While on co-op, students’ primary responsibility is to their employer, and co-op participation does not excuse missed deadlines or late work.

Academic Considerations While on Co-op

• Students may enroll in no more than one course while on co-op, though this is not recommended. Students should consult with their advisor to determine feasibility. The employer’s expectations take priority during the co-op term.

Term Registration Rules

• Co-ops spanning multiple academic terms require registration for each applicable term. Partial-term co-ops are generally not permitted except in limited summer-term circumstances. Once a term is registered as co-op, it is considered fully used.

Professional Conduct & Reneging

• Students must honor verbal or written co-op commitments. Accepting another position for the same term after committing to a co-op may result in a permanent failing grade for co-op eligibility and loss of future co-op opportunities.

Post Co-op Responsibilities

• Students and supervisors must complete required evaluations at the end of each co-op block. A departmental post-co-op survey is also required. Failure to complete evaluations will result in an incomplete grade that may convert to a permanent failing grade.
• Students and supervisors must complete all required evaluations at the end of each co-op block.
• Failure to complete required evaluations will result in an Incomplete record, which may convert to a permanent failing outcome. A failing outcome results in loss of eligibility for any future co-op participation.

Maximum Co-op Usage Clarification

• Graduate students are not required to complete a co-op for their degree, but co-op participation is strongly recommended. Students may complete a maximum of two academic-term co-op blocks (Fall and/or Spring).
• Summer co-op enrollment counts toward this maximum when required for student status. Once a term is registered as co-op, it is considered fully used and cannot be reclaimed or split across future terms.

Mid-Semester and Late-Start Co-ops

• Co-ops must align with standard academic terms. Mid-semester co-ops are not permitted during Fall or Spring semesters.
• Limited exceptions for late starts may be considered only during the summer term. Any requests for exceptions must be approved by the Graduate Program Director prior to enrollment.

Drop/Add Deadline Requirement

• For Fall and Spring semester co-ops, students must begin work no later than the end of the university’s drop/add period for the registered term.
• Failure to meet this requirement may result in loss of student status and ineligibility for co-op enrollment.

Summer Co-op Registration Rules

• If a co-op position begins or ends at any point during the summer term, the entire summer term must be registered as co-op and is considered fully used.
• Unused days from a shortened summer co-op may not be carried forward. Summer is the only term in which partial-term co-ops may be considered, subject to approval.

Ineligible Positions – Examples

Positions that are primarily clerical or operational in nature are not eligible for co-op credit, including but not limited to:

• Data entry or administrative support roles
• Routine IT support or computer lab maintenance
• Systems or network administration without a cybersecurity focus
• Basic website setup or front-end web development
• Deployment or use of existing technology without substantive analytical responsibility

Program Scope Note

• This guide applies specifically to students enrolled in the MS Cybersecurity program within the Department of Cybersecurity (CSEC). Policies for other programs may differ.

Following approval by the Graduate Program Director, students are required to report their co-op through the Career Services and Co-op portal and complete all required evaluations. Upon completion, the CSEC department will register the student for CSEC-699 in the Student Information System (SIS).

Students must also complete a required co-op orientation through Career Connect before enrollment can occur.  

After completion of the co-op,the following must be submitted to receive a grade: 

• Employer Evaluation
• Student Work Evaluation 
• Department Feedback Survey 

To ensure the timely and successful publication of student research to ProQuest, please review the following regarding the Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) process.

New Thesis Hold Process (March 2026)

• Criteria for Hold:
  Students will receive a “Thesis” hold in SIS if they have applied for graduation for the current semester and have taken a thesis‑designated course during their graduate career.
• Release of Hold:
  The hold is removed after the thesis is approved for ProQuest publication. Holds are released on a weekly basis.
• Certification:
  Students can confirm their thesis has been published when the hold is removed in SIS or when they receive a confirmation email from the ETD Administrator.
• Diplomas:
  Diplomas will not be mailed to students who still have an active thesis hold.
• Capstones:
  If a student switches to a capstone project and needs a thesis hold removed, please contact gradthesis@rit.edu.

Semester Deadlines for Thesis Completion

To ensure students receive degree certification on time, please note the following deadlines:

• Embargo approvals: Due by the final day of classes for the semester
• ProQuest submission: Due by the second day of finals week
• Review turnaround: Students will receive an approval or revision notice within 2 business days of submission

Resources and Support

For information, templates, and submission guides, visit the Thesis Services InfoGuide. For questions or to request a review of program‑specific templates or guidance, email gradthesis@rit.edu.

Thesis Proposal Approval form

Thesis Final Approval form

Thesis Title Page

Thesis Defense Announcement

Thesis Submission Instructions

Thesis Binding Instructions

Project Proposal form

Project Final Approval form

Capstone Project Defense Announcement

Title Page - Capstone Project

• For MS students in other academic programs wanting to change into the MS in CSEC program, please contact the CSEC Graduate Program Director. Students need to be in good academic standing for the COP request to be approved.
• Please note that all COP requests originate from the home department and are processed by the Cybersecurity Department AFTER the term grades have been posted.