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Cyber and Information Security, Master of Science (M.S.)

St. John’s 30-credit master’s degree in Cyber and Information Security accelerates your career and transforms your world view through an immersive learning experience that connects you with the brightest minds in the field and state-of-the-art learning resources.

Why Cyber and Information Security?

Cybersecurity is a field that is accelerating rapidly. As more cybersecurity attacks occur, the demand for professionals adept in preventing and protecting against these attacks rises.

With a Master of Science degree in Cyber and Information Security, you enter a thriving career field with the proper skills and theoretical knowledge to set you apart. Our expansive curriculum was designed to elevate any person with an interest in computer science, data science, or information technology.

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Degree Type
MS
Area of Interest
Computing & Technology
Associated Colleges or Schools
Program Location
  • Queens Campus
  • Online
Required Credit Hours
30
Associated Centers or Institutes

Contact Us

We are here to answer your questions about the Cyber and Information Security program and admission process. 
Please contact:
Justin Goldberg
Graduate Assistant Dean
ccpsgrad@stjohns.edu

Program Director
Dr. Suzanna Schmeelk
 

Profile photo for Suzanna Schmeelk

Admission Requirements

All applicants must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or the international equivalent before enrollment at the graduate level. In addition to the application formand non-refundable application fee, candidates should submit the following:  

  • Statement of professional goals and resume, which can be uploaded as part of the application for admission.  
  • Official transcripts from all undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools attended. 
  • One letter of recommendation obtained from a professional or academic reference.  
  • Official TOEFL, IELTS, PTE or Duolingo scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English.  
  • Students with international credits must submit a course-by-course foreign credit evaluation with GPA calculation from a NACES member.

*Base-level knowledge of programming and networking is required. This knowledge can be demonstrated with certifications, bootcamps, or online certificates, given the content is equivalent to approximately 40 hours of coursework on similar topics. St. John’s University offers conditional admission where you can make up for these deficiencies by taking two prerequisite courses: CUS 620 Programming I and NET 510 Networks: Forms and Functions.

For additional information, please contact:
Office of Graduate Admission
gradhelp@stjohns.edu
718-990-1601

Secure Your Future in Cybersecurity

DoD Career Service Academy logo - Scholarship. Service, Security

The US Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Service Academy offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students in cybersecurity to receive financial support and hands-on experience through structured internships with the US Department of Defense. Eligible students can receive up to $32,000 in funding, including allowances for books, room and board, and more!

The application opens on November 1, 2024, and the deadline is February 1, 2025.

Fact Sheet 

Coursework and Program Details

  • CYB 611 Foundations in Cybersecurity (3 credits)
  • CYB 615 Protection of Digital Infrastructure (Network Security) (3 credits)
  • CYB 621 Cybersecurity Laws, Regulations and Best Practices (3 credits)
  • CYB 625 Principles of Secure Scripting and Cryptography (3 credits)
 

9 credits from one of the following: Cyber Security, Data and Analytics, and IT Enterprise

Cyber Security

  • CYB 711 Intrusion Detection and analysis (3 credits)
  • CYB 715 Penetration testing and ethical hacking (3 credits)
  • DFR 711 Cyber-Forensic and Malware Analysis (3 credits)

Data and Analytics 

  • CUS 510 Database Management Systems (3 credits)
  • CUS 680 Distributed Big Data Analytics (3 credits)
  • CUS 610 Data Mining and Predictive Modeling I (3 credits)

IT Enterprise

  • IT 711 Enterprise Architecture and IT Governance (3 credits)
  • IT 715 System Analysis and Process Re-engineering (3 credits)
  • IT 721 IT Project Management and Agile Methodologies (3 credits)
  • Capstone Option: CYB 790 Master’s Capstone Project (3 credits) and one additional elective course (3 credits)
     
  • Master’s Thesis Option: a) CYB 795 Thesis I (3 credits) plus CYB 796 Thesis II (3 credits)*

*Students who do not meet prerequisites may need to take additional courses toward the 30-credit degree if they choose the thesis option.

The extensive elective disciplines are expanding and currently Includee graduate coursework in Homeland Security, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Technology, and Digital Forensics.

Homeland Security

  • HLS 102 Intelligence for Homeland Security: Organizational & Policy Challenges
  • HLS 103 Critical Infrastructure: Vulnerability Analysis and Protection
  • HLS 108 (becoming HLS 505) Enterprise Risk Management
  • HLS 301 Police and Homeland Security Leadership
  • HLS 302 U.S. Constitution and Homeland Protection
  • HLS 303 Issues in Global Security
  • HLS 305 Seminar in Global Terrorism
  • HLS 306 Policy Formation and Analysis.
  • HLS 307 Leadership Issues in Critical Incident Management
  • HLS 312 Court Administration and Leadership
  • 3 credits chosen from HLS 100 series electives or HLS 300 series electives
  • Other HLS Electives offered per the Program Director's approval

Computer Science and Data Science

  • CUS 510 Database System Design and Data Warehousing
  • CUS 610 Data mining and Predictive Modeling
  • CUS 680 Distributed Big Data Analytics
  • CUS 752 Machine Learning
  • CUS 620 Introduction to Programming for Analytics
  • (Prerequisite option) NET 510 Networks: Forms & Functions

Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology

  • CYB 798 Cyber Security Internship
  • CYB 711 Intrusion Detection and Analysis
  • CYB 715 Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking
  • DFR 711 Cyber-Forensic and Malware Analysis
  • IT 711 Enterprise Architecture and IT Governance
  • IT 715 System Analysis and Process Re-engineering
  • IT 721 IT Project Management and Agile Methodologies
Required PC Specs for Asynchronous Students
CPU: Intel or AMD CPU (2011 or later) - 64-bit x86/AMD64 CPU with a minimum of 4 cores. (CPUs with at least 6 to 12 cores are recommended). Newer Apple computers with Apple Silicon (e.g., M1, M2, M3, or Mx CPUs) are NOT supported and NOT compatible with the required software needed for this program.
System Memory: 16GB RAM (32GB or 64GB preferred).
System Storage: 512GB free space on internal SSD HD (1TB or greater preferred). External SSDs will NOT be supported.
Virtualization: Enabled in EUFI or BIOS (usually called VT-x or Intel Virtualization Technology for Intel-based CPUs; for AMD CPUs, it is often labeled as AMD-V or SVM (Secure Virtual Machine)).
Host Machine Operating Systems:
Windows 10 or 11
Windows Server 2012, 2016, or 2019
Ubuntu, Red Hat, Debian, Fedora, CentOS, Mint, or openSUSE Linux
MacOS 12, 13, or 14 - ONLY with a supported Intel-based CPU.
Admin Access: Full Admin access and control of the PC. Do NOT attempt to use a school/company/work-owned computer that is used in any Production or Development environment!
Licensed Software:
VMware Workstation Pro 17 or newer. Alternate hypervisors, such as Oracle Virtual Box or MS Hyper-V will NOT be supported.
VMware Fusion Pro 13 or newer - ONLY with a supported macOS AND Intel-based CPU.
Unsupported CPUs:
Intel Atom processors based on the 2011 “Bonnell” micro-architecture (e.g., Atom Z670/Z650; Atom N570)
Systems using Intel Atom processors based on the 2012 “Saltwell” micro-architecture (e.g., Atom S1200, Atom D2700/D2500, Atom N2800/N2600).
Systems using AMD processors based on the “Llano” and “Bobcat” micro-architectures (e.g., code-named “Hondo”, “Ontario”, “Zacate”, “Llano”).
Supported CPUs:
Intel processors based on the 2010 “Westmere” micro-architecture (e.g., Xeon 5600, Xeon 3600, Core i7-970, Core i7-980, Core i7-990).

Enrollment and Graduation Data

YearEnrollmentDegrees Conferred
20241710
202396
2022158
202115 
20209 

**This data is based on new Graduate students who started the MS in Cyber and Information Security program in the following Fall semesters and graduated within two years.

What sets St. John’s Cyber Security System program apart from others

#8

Top Cyber Security Colleges

St. John’s was recently ranked #8 by Spiceworks as one of the top cyber security colleges in the United States outranking many other well-known schools.

#8

Cybersecurity Guide's Best Programs for 2025

Our Master’s in Cyber and Information Security program has been ranked #8 in Cybersecurity Guide's Best Programs for 2025.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the M.S. Cyber and Information Security program should, within a few years of graduation: 

  • Build sound Cyber Security processes, research skills, and tools into and across the digital acquisition lifecycle.
  • Practice Cyber Security professionally and with specific team technical leadership and stakeholder interdisciplinary communications skills while considering ethical and societal responsibilities.
  • Attain technical roles or advanced graduate research in securing complex system.

Student Outcomes (Program-Level Learning Outcomes)

Graduates of the program will have the ability to:

  • Analyze a complex problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to elaborate solutions to it.
  • Design, implement, and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of requirements in the context of the program’s discipline.
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts.
  • Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing practice based on legal and ethical principles.
  • Function effectively as a member and leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline.
Joel Ndimkora  ’22MS

 

“This program challenges your analytical mind and provides you with the right toolset to be successful in today’s cyber career field and provides leverage for advancement in IT management.”  

-Joel Ndimkora ’22MS

Degree Requirements

When attending full-time, you may be able to earn your M.S. in as little as one year. Our program also offers flexibility to attend part-time and earn your degree in approximately two years as you continue working.

The Cyber and Information Security program aims to prepare you with the required qualifications to become Information Security Analysts, Information Technology Security Architects, and Data Security Analysts.

Our program offers a learning path flexibility with

  • Hybrid courses with teaching both online and in-person.
  • The ability for career changers or those with no undergraduate computer science background to use electives to acquire the required credits in programming and networking science.
  • Capstone or thesis option. You can choose between a capstone project and one additional elective or a 6 credit thesis.

The M.S. degree program requires you to complete 30 credits according to the following degree requirements. You must complete:

  • core courses (12 credits)
  • specialization (9 credits)
  • elective course (3 credits)
  • option of either capstone with additional elective (6 credits) or thesis (6 credits)
Grace LaMalva

The Cyber and Information Security M.S. Program helped me flourish from a young, and eager student to a confident, and daring professional.
-Grace LaMalva, '22MS (Read Grace's full story on page 28 in St. John's Magazine


What sets St. John’s Cyber and Information Security program apart

NSA Designation

As of Feb 15, 2024 the M.S. program in Cyber and Information Security at  St. John’s University is validated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA) as a Program of Study (PoS) in Cybersecurity through academic year 2029.

Graphic of laptop with icons of a lock

Cyber Security Center of Academic Excellence

This University-wide center has been created with the vision to provide current and future St. John’s students with cybersecurity program guidance and general information, as well as to promote collaboration and interaction with other students, faculty, and programs within St. John’s University and the cybersecurity community as a whole.

Students studying homeland security at St. John's University, Queens campus computer lab

Sanford Family Cyber Lab

The Cyber Security Lab provides you with the opportunity to learn, apply, and practice cyber security. You work with software and employ techniques for intrusion detection, vulnerability mitigation, network perimeter defense, incident response, network forensics investigation, and malware analysis. The lab is used for both digital and hands-on forensic analysis and uses 2D and 3D cameras and visualizers to capture the hands-on activities and rebroadcast them “live” across the classroom and online.

Three students working on computers in SJU Cyber Security Lab

Information Security vs Cyber Security

In the digital world we live in today, the terms “information security” and “cybersecurity” are often used interchangeably. However, despite their similarities, the two concepts have a few key differences that are important to understand.

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Talks Cyber Security at St. John’s University

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Talks Cyber Security at St. John’s University

St. John’s University welcomed U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for a tour of the innovative Sanford Family Cyber Security Lab at the Queens, NY, Campus and a wide-ranging discussion of cybersecurity issues and career opportunities for students.

Life at St. John’s

St. John’s University offers a number of unique opportunities. Based in Queens, NY, you have access to a diverse student body and faculty with a wealth of experience. St. John’s also offers state-of-the-art learning resources, including our newly constructed cybersecurity lab.

Our program supports the core Vincentian values of compassion and service in providing you with technical skills that can be used to combat poverty, disease, crime, as well as provide solutions in health care.

Marc Zirillo

 

“The M.S. Cyber and Information Security degree program has helped me develop the analytical skills needed for advancement in my career.” -Marc Zirillo ’22MS

Scholarships

With support from the Clare Boothe Luce Fund, St. John's University has established the Clare Boothe Luce Fellowship to benefit recipients at the beginning of their graduate studies, when funds for independent research are rarely available. The objective of this program is to encourage women to prepare for careers in teaching and research in science and technological fields in which they have historically been underrepresented.  Learn more about the Clare Boothe Luce Graduate Fellowship.

The Common Application for the CELS Summer Research Fellowship Program, RISG Community Engaged Internship, and ANCHOR Summer Fellowship research programs are open.
Eligibility: Click here to determine your eligibility and the requirements and to apply online.
Application Deadline: Friday, February 14, 2025

Program Research, Events, and Seminars

St. John’s University leads the way in innovation in this field by staying ahead of the emerging trends and incorporating these trends into our curriculum. Our faculty and students are involved in some of the most cutting-edge research and featured in prominent publications worldwide.

Explore upcoming events and seminars featuring top industry professionals and networking opportunities for students. 

Coming Spring 2025: TechDuals! Participate in a debate that will allow you to build a community, increase your skill sets, and network with industry professionals! More details to come soon!

Academic Year: 2024 - 2025

Cybersecurity in a Global Context
Study Cybersecurity in Rome, Italy, during the Spring 2025 semester!
Click here to learn more!

February 19 - 21, 2025
IEEE-HKN Pathways to Industry Conference
Don't miss this 3-day virtual event that prepares students to enter the workforce and advises young professionals on how to advance in their careers. Register for the conference and choose which sessions you want to attend: Come to one, two or all sessions. Registration fee covers all learning sessions, networking, and dedicated recruitment fair hours!
Click here to learn more!

Monday, December 9th, 2024
Short-Term Study Abroad Information Session
Dr. Suzanna Schmeelk and Professor Denise Dragos discuss the exciting details of the Cybersecurity in a Global Context Short-Term Study Abroad Program.
Click here to learn more!

Thursday, December 5th, 2024
Career Pathways in Cybersecurity with EC-Council
Learn about the steps you need to take to achieve your desired career goal in Cybersecurity!
Click here to learn more and here to view a PowerPoint of the talk!

Monday, November 25th, 2024
i on Hunger Food Packing Event
Protiviti and St. John's are partnering with Rise Against Hunger to pack meals for those in need. 
Click here to learn more!

Friday, November 15th, 2024
AI in Mathematics Education
Mathematical understanding is fundamental in the understanding of critical cybersecurity mitigations and underlying system design (e.g. cryptography, risk, and intrusion detection, among many other elements).
Click here to learn more and register!

  • United States and Territories 3rd-Party COVID-19 mHealth Contact Tracing: What are  Security and Privacy Risks. International Journal of Internet of Things and Cyber-Assurance” - International Journal of Information Technology, Control and Automation 2023 | Dr. Suzanna  Schmeelk, Shannon Roth, Christopher Shaw, Mughees Tariq, Julia Rooney, Emily Lackraj, Khalil  Wood, John Kamen, Prof. Denise Dragos
  • “Personalized Outsourced Privacy-Preserving Database Updates for Crowd-Sensed Dynamic  Spectrum Access” - IEEE MELECON22 interdisciplinary international flagship conference | Dr.  Erald Troja, Dr. Nikhil Yadav, student Laura M. Truong '22 CCPS
  • “MobSF: Mobile Health Care Android Applications Through The Lens of Open Source Static  Analysis” - 2020 IEEE MIT Undergraduate Research Technology Conference (URTC) | G.  LaMalva and Dr.S. Schmeelk
  • “Machine Learning Architecture for Signature-Based IoT Intrusion Detection in Smart Energy  Grids” - IEEE MELECON22 interdisciplinary international flagship conference | Dr. Yadav, Dr.  Troja, and Ms. Laura Truong
  • Schmeelk S, Dogo MS, Peng Y, Patra BG. Classifying Cyber-Risky Clinical Notes by Employing Natural Language Processing. Proc Annu Hawaii Int Conf Syst Sci. 2022;2022:4140-4146. doi: 10.24251/hicss.2022.505. Epub 2022 Jan 4. PMID: 35528964; PMCID: PMC9076271.
  • “Python Cryptographic Secure Scripting Concerns: A Study of Three Vulnerabilities” - Advances  in Information and Communication. FICC 2023 | LaMalva, G., Dr. Schmeelk, S., Dinesh, D.
  • “Ambient Intelligence Security Checks: Identifying Integrity Vulnerabilities in Industry  Scripts” - Intelligent Systems and Applications. IntelliSys 2022 | Dr.  Schmeelk, Shannon Roth, Julia Rooney, Mughees Tariq, Khalil Wood, John Kamen, Prof. Denise DragosSchmeelk, S. et al
  • “Locating the Perpetrator: Industry Perspectives of Cellebrite Education and Roles of GIS Data  in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics” - Intelligent Computing. Lecture Notes in Networks and  Systems, 2021  | Prof. Dragos and Dr. Schmeelk
  • “Defending android applications availability” - IEEE 28th Annual Software Technology  Conference (2017) | Dr.S. S. Schmeelk and Dr. A.A. Aho
  • “Android Malware Static Analysis Techniques” - Proceedings of the 10th Annual Cyber and  Information Security Research Conference (CISR '15) | Dr. S. Schmeelk and Dr. A. Aho

Academic Year: 2023-24 

Wednesday, April 24th, 2024
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Talks Cyber Security at St. John’s University
Click here to read the article!

Monday, April 8th, 2024
Am I AI? 
Click here to view our flyer!

Saturday, March 16th, 2024
AI Hackathon Event
Click here to view our flyer!

Cybersecurity in a Global Context
Study Cybersecurity in Rome Italy, during the Spring 2024 semester!
Click here to learn more!

Monday, November 13th, 2023
Generative AI and Cybersecurity
Click here to view our flyer!

Monday, September 11th, 2023
CyRM: Mastering the Management of Cybersecurity Risk
Click here to view our flyer!

Academic Year: 2022-23  

Saturday, May 27th to Sunday, May 28th, 2023
TechTogether NY
Click here to view our flyer!

Monday, April  24, 2023 
Cybersecurity in a Global Context 
Click here to view our flyer! 

Friday, April 14, 2023 
IPv6 and Its Impact on Cybersecurity, Emerging Technologies, and the Future of Internet 
Speaker: Charles Sun
Click here to view our flyer! 

Tuesday, February, 14, 2023 
Producing Secure Software in Large Scale Agile Environments 
Speaker: Professor Fernando Almeida
Click here to view our flyer! 

Academic Year: 2021-22 

Monday, November 14th, 2022
Tactical Advantages for Healthcare Cybersecurity
Speaker: Brian Tschinkel, VP/CISO Weill Cornell Medical College
Click here to view our flyer!

Thursday, September 29, 2022
Building a CyberSecure Workplace: What are We Doing Wrong 
Speaker: Joel D. Offenberg 
Click here to view our flyer! 

Monday, April 11, 2022 
Who Tracks the Trackers? 
Speaker: Dr. Dane Brown
Click here to view our flyer! 

Tuesday, November 9, 2021  
A Case Against the Smart Things 
Speaker: TJ O'Connor 
Click here to view our flyer! 

Monday, October 18, 2021 
CSIRT and Threat Intelligence/Threat Management 
Speaker: Anish Bachu
Click here to view our flyer! 

Wednesday, September 8, 2021 
The Internet of ‘Insecured’ Things 
Speaker: Tyson Brooks
Click here to view our flyer!

Cybersecurity Industry Advisory Board

Our program advisory board includes alumni and experts in the field of cybersecurity in various positions including faculty, Chief Information Officers, Certified Information Systems Security Officer, and directors for top organizations including , Mandelbaum Salsburg, New Jersey courts, the Open Worldwide Application Security Project, the Protiviti Computer Security Incident Response Team, Reed Elsevier, the Respond Software Industry, Trellix, and Vectra AI.

Meet Our Faculty

Profile photo for Geoffrey N. Dick
  • Associate Professor

Department

Computer Science, Mathematics and Science
Profile photo for Denise M. Dragos
  • Associate Professor

Department

Computer Science, Mathematics and Science
Profile photo for Suzanna Schmeelk
  • Associate Professor

Department

Computer Science, Mathematics and Science
Profile photo for Erald Troja
  • Associate Professor

Department

Computer Science, Mathematics and Science

Cyber Security Job Postings for St. John's University Students

Associate Inventory Control Specialist at Millennium Health

Employer: Millennium Health Expires: 08/18/2025 Millennium Health LLC is an accredited specialty laboratory with more than a decade of experience in medication monitoring and drug testing services, helping clinicians monitor the use and misuse of prescription medications and illicit drugs.

Automation Engineer at Avient Corporation

Employer: Avient Corporation Expires: 05/01/2025 Job SummaryThis position supports Plant Manufacturing and Technical Operations while maintaining a strong focus on continual Process Improvement and Optimization.

Information Technology Specialist 2 (Information Security) at NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES)

Employer: NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) Expires: 02/27/2025 The incumbent will report to the Office of Counter Terrorism's (OCT) - Critical Infrastructure Unit.Duties include but are not limited to:• Perform cyber security and homeland security analysis which includes, but is not limited to, analysis of terrorist tactics and trends; infrastructure security

Junior System Safety Engineer at BAE Systems, Inc.

Employer: BAE Systems, Inc. - Intelligence & Security Expires: 03/14/2025 Job Description BAE Systems is looking for a qualified Junior System Safety Engineer to join our team for an exciting opportunity supporting work on a unique government contract. The contract assists in acquisition and technical sustainment engineering and will augment government resources.

Radar Signal Processing Engineer at Leidos

Employer: Leidos Expires: 03/18/2025 The Sensor Innovation Portfolio within the Defense Sector is seeking a talented Radar Signal Processing Engineer to join a diverse team to create unique solutions for complex sensor and radar orientated problems.

Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach at HigherEchelon

Employer: HigherEchelon Expires: 08/17/2025 Seeking a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach to support the U.S.Army. We are looking for dedicated individuals to join our team as Certified Strength & Conditioning Coaches to support the U.S. Army's Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) initiative.

Facts and Questions

Office of Graduate Admission

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Michelle Bae
Graduate Admission Representative
baem@stjohns.edu

 

 

Karen Mangan headshot

Karen Mangan
Graduate Admission Representative
mangank@stjohns.edu

 

 

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Sasha Velez
Graduate Admission Counselor
velezs@stjohns.edu
718-990-2025

Contact Us

Suzanna Schmeelk

Associate Professor

718-990-6111

Interested in Computing & Technology , but not sure if Cyber and Information Security, Master of Science (M.S.) is right for you?