MS in Cybersecurity and Public Policy

Cybersecurity and cybersecurity policy mean different things to different disciplines, and Tufts’ M.S. in Cybersecurity and Public Policy program and faculty embrace an interdisciplinary approach, teaching and producing research through a variety of lenses across departments and schools. Students will have many avenues to become cybersecurity policy experts. This program will not offer nor recommend a single track to graduation – instead, students will be encouraged to pursue their own interests and meet their professional goals.

To name just a few potential focus areas, students could:

• explore algorithms and technologies to secure systems
• study how users interact with computers in order to provide stronger methods of privacy protection
• examine digital approaches to development
• ask how to control—through laws and technology—the growing surveillance society
• analyze the impact that the "borderless" world of the Internet has on sovereignty
• research how changing communications technologies impact law.

Students benefit from select courses offered by the following Tufts schools and departments:

• The Fletcher School  
• Department of Computer Science (School of Engineering) 
• International Relations Program (School of Arts and Sciences)
• Department of Political Science (School of Arts and Sciences)

Many faculty across the Tufts campus have expert interests in cybersecurity and public policy. They study how cyber changes the nature of intelligence and collection, work on understanding its impact on consumer privacy, and build more secure systems. As cybersecurity continues to increase its impact on our daily lives, the faculty’s focus on cybersecurity and policy will continue to increase.

The Cybersecurity and Public Policy program is led by faculty who have expertise in cybersecurity policy, programming infrastructure, and telecommunications policy, currently working on projects within the realms of communications surveillance and securing cyberspace. Students of the program also benefit from the programming at The Edward R. Murrow Center for a Digital World and The Hitachi Center for Technology and International Affairs, both housed within The Fletcher School at Tufts University.

At Tufts, students have the opportunity to experience:

• small class sizes,
• developing a personalized path of study,
• mentorship from professors at the top of their fields, and
• collaborative research that crosses disciplines,
• all just five miles from the high-tech hub of Boston.

Students will fulfill a minimum of 10 courses or 30 credits over the course of 12-16 months, divided between computer science and policy studies. The following courses are required:

• CS 201 / DHP D291: Cyber for Future Policymakers (Every fall, 4 credit hours | This course is recommended for students with a computer science background, though it may be possible to take a different advanced course) Formerly known as Computer Science for Future Presidents
• CS 202 / DHP D292: How Systems Work (Every fall, 4 credit hours | It is anticipated that students with a computer science background will substitute a more advanced computer science course instead)
• CS 203 / DHP D293: How Systems Fail (Every spring, 4 credit hours – link is to policy section)
• CS 183 / DHP P237: Privacy in the Digital Age (Every spring, 3 credit hours)
• DHP P249: International Cyber Conflict: An Introduction to Power and Conflict in Cyberspace (Every spring, 3 credit hours)
• DHP P236 / CS 182 Cyber in the Civilian Sector OR CS 184 / ILO L235: Cyberlaw and Cyberpolicy (Every fall, 3 credit hours)

Students will also complete 3-4 electives from the following lists. At least three electives must be from:

• CS 105: Programming Languages
• CS 111: Operating Systems
• CS 112: Networks and Protocols
• CS 114 Network Security
• CS 115: Database Systems
• CS 116: Introduction to Security (Every fall + spring, online in summer)
• CS 117: Internet-Scale Distributed Systems
• CS 118 Cloud Computing (Every fall)
• CS 121: Software Engineering
• CS 150-AVS: Program Analysis, Verification and Synthesis
• CS 150-X: Human Factors in Computer Security and Privacy
• CS 150-X/DS 153-X/DHP-P264: AI: Algorithms, Ethics, Policy
• CS 150-X Debugging Cloud Computing (spring)
• CS 151-X: Principles of Internet Communication
• CS 155-X: Ethics in Computer Science and Technology
• CS151-X: Computing in Developing Regions
• CS 165: Cryptography
• CS 184 / ILO L235: Cyberlaw and Cyberpolicy (Every fall)
• CS 205: Principles of Data Science in Python (or CS 119: Big Data —but not both)
• CS 119: Big Data (or CS 205: Principles of Data Science in Python —but not both)
• One of 135: Introduction to Machine Learning, CS 137: Deep Neural Networks, CS 138: Reinforcement Learning, CS 152: Natural Language Processing, CS 171: Human-Computer Interaction
• DHP P231: International Communication (Every fall)
• DHP P232: Communications Policy Analysis and Modeling
• DHP P233 Digital Approaches to Development
• DHP P235 Technology and Public Policy
• DHP P236 / CS 182: Cyber in the Civilian Sector (Every fall)
• DHP P238: Technology, Development, and Regulation
• DHP P240: Role of Force in International Politics (Every fall)
• DHP P245: Crisis Management and Complex Emergencies
• DHP D290: Cyber Risk Management
• EIB B242: Innovation Models for Building Inclusive Businesses

The fourth elective may be chosen from the above list or from the one of the following courses:

• CS 122: Parallel Computing
• CS 131: Artificial Intelligence
• CS 135: Introduction to Machine Learning
• CS 133: Human-Robot Interaction
• CS 135: Introduction to Machine Learning
• CS 137: Deep Neural Networks
• CS 138: Reinforcement Learning
• CS 152: Natural Language Processing
• CS 171: Human-Computer Interaction
• CS 181: Compilers
• ILO L200: The International Legal Order
• ILO L201: Public International Law
• ILO L220: International Organizations
• ILO L221: Actors in Global Governance
• ILO L230: International Business Transactions
• ILO L240: Legal and Institutional Aspects of International Trade
• DHP D286: From Authoritarian Regimes to Illiberal Democracies
• DHP H204: Classics of International Relations
• DHP H241: Grand Strategies in History
• DHP P200: International Relations: Theory and Practice
• DHP P205: National Security Decision Making: Theory and Practice
• DHP P217: Global Political Economy
• DHP P244: Modern Terrorism and Counterterrorism
• DHP P295: Introduction to Human Security
• EIB B231: International Business Strategy and Operations
• EIB B232: Work and Employment Relations in the 21st Century
• EIB B252: Corporate Social Responsibility in the Age of Globalization

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Students with an interest in cybersecurity policy and a background in either policy or technology are encouraged to apply. Prospective students should have a solid background in computer science (major, strong minor, or the equivalent) or an undergraduate or advanced degree in economics, international relations, law, political science, or a related field.

Students must have taken an introductory course in computer programming before enrolling in the program. This is not an admissions requirement to be accepted into the program but is an entrance requirement – if a student is accepted into the program before they have taken an introductory course in computer programming, they must take the course before they start the program. The course can include programming in C++, Python, or Java, but should not be Javascript-based. The course needs to teach not only programming, but also introduce algorithmic thinking and data structures.

Deadlines:

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Application Requirements:

• Application Fee
• Resume/CV
• Personal Statement
• Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo if applicable
• Transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE scores not required

Admissions questions:
Office of Graduate Admissions, Tufts University
gradadmissions@tufts.edu, 617-627-3395

Program questions:
Josh Anderson, CSPP Program Administrator
joshua.anderson@tufts.edu