Boston University · Department of Computer Science

MS in Computer Science — Cyber Security Concentration

Master'sMSConcentrationOn campus

Overview

A residential eight-course (32-unit) Master of Science in Computer Science with a cyber security specialization from BU's Department of Computer Science. Coursework spans cryptographic methods, data and information security, network security, privacy and system security; a master's project or thesis is optional.

Official program name: MS in Computer Science with Specialization in Cyber Security
Awarded degree: Master of Science · major: Computer Science
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Degree level: Master's
Cybersecurity focus: Cybersecurity concentration — Cyber SecurityA formal cybersecurity concentration, track or specialization inside a broader degree such as computer science or information technology. The awarded degree is the broader one.
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
School: Boston University — Department of Computer Science
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Location: Boston, MA
Specializations: None mapped from official curriculum evidence
Orientation: Technical
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Required credits: eight graduate courses (32 units)
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Duration: Not verified

Why this program is listed

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences MS in Computer Science with a formal cyber security specialization; residential program.

Formal specialization: students take at least two cybersecurity specialization core courses and fill remaining courses with cybersecurity-related electives.

Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

We list cybersecurity bachelor's, master's and research doctorates at institutionally accredited US schools — dedicated degrees and formal concentrations, never certificates or electives-only degrees. Eligibility rules

Format and attendance

Formats, online delivery, campus visits, internships and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the school states it.

Formats offered: On campus
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Internship: Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity: Not verified

Curriculum

Thesis and non-thesis options

Optional master's project or thesis supervised by a faculty member.
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Technical preparation

Prerequisite courses: RequiredStrong background in computer science (algorithms, computer systems, programming languages, theory); applicants missing one or two areas may be admitted with prerequisite courses
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Minimum GPA: RecommendedMinimum 3 — Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (4.0 scale) recommended, not required
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Statement / essay: RequiredPersonal statement
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Recommendation letters: Required2 letters — Two recommendation letters
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Application fee: Required$95 — $95 application fee
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test: OptionalGRE scores are not required; submitted scores are considered.
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadline
March 15 (applications reviewed on a space-available basis afterward)
The school does not print a year with this date.
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Category	Amount	Basis and year
All students — Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's, full-time (12–18 credits per semester)From the school-wide rate table for this level	$36,512	per semester · 2026-2027Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
All students — Graduate School of Arts & Sciences master's, part-timeFrom the school-wide rate table for this level	$2,282	per credit · 2026-2027Calculated tuition$73,024 = 32 credits × $2,282 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Other published fees

Student Services Fee (full-time): $229 per semesterMandatory
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Health & Wellness Fee (full-time): $295 per semesterMandatory
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Scholarships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for its level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; service scholarships require government service after graduation. Scholarships & funding guide

Department of Computer Science MS scholarships Institutional scholarship
$5,000 to $30,000 for full-time study
Eligibility: All admitted students are considered; recipients must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
MET merit scholarships Institutional scholarship
Eligibility: All graduate applicants are automatically considered.
How to apply: Automatic consideration during the application process.
Source: bu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

School-wide awards are listed because they apply at this degree level; eligibility conditions apply.

Accreditation, ABET and CAE

Three different things: the school's institutional accreditation, ABET accreditation of this exact program, and the school's NSA CAE designation.

Institutional accreditation

New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

ABET program accreditation

This program does not appear in ABET's accredited-program database. ABET accreditation is program-specific and optional; the school's other programs or its institutional accreditation do not imply it.

NSA CAE designation (school)

CAE in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) · 2004 - 2028Validated program(s) of study: Master of Science with Concentration in Security (POS-CD)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026
CAE in Cyber Research (CAE-R) · 2008 - 2028Validated program(s) of study: Master of Science with Concentration in Security (POS-CD)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026

A CAE designation belongs to the institution and its validated program of study; it is not accreditation and does not certify every degree. Accreditation & CAE explained

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 11, 2026.

NCAE-C institution directory (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) — Source, verified October 11, 2026
DAPIP — NECHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
bu.edu/academics/grs/programs/computer-science/ms-cyber-security/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
bu.edu/cas/admissions/ma-ms/tuition-mandatory-fees/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 11, 2026
bu.edu/cs/masters/ms-admissions/ — Official admissions page, verified October 11, 2026
bu.edu/cs/masters/ms-admissions/on-campus-admissions/ — Official admissions page, verified October 11, 2026
bu.edu/met/degrees-certificates/ms-computer-information-systems-cybersecurity/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026

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Cybersecurity Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Boston University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.