The School of Computer and Cyber Sciences was launched July 2017 and will be housed in the new Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Center for Innovation and Training at Augusta University’s Riverfront Campus, scheduled for completion in 2018. The vision of the School of Computer and Cyber Sciences is to become a world leader in cybersecurity education and standardization of secure hardware and software system design, development, delivery, and use. The school provides high-engagement, state-of-the-art technology education, and research across its disciplines.
The school has full authority to present diplomas to Computer Science, Information Technology, and Information Security Management graduates. It offers a concentration in Cyber Security in conjunction with the Information Technology degree and Cyber Defender/Advanced Cyber Defender certificates that can be earned in tandem with any bachelor’s degree or as a stand-alone for post-baccalaureate students. A Healthcare Information Security certificate is available at the graduate level as either a stand-alone certificate or as part of a graduate program.
In 2016, Augusta University achieved designation as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) from the National Security Agency and US Department of Homeland Security. Currently, less than 250 universities nationwide have a CAE-CD designation.
The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET, abet.org.
The School of Computer and Cyber Sciences also expands on the work done by the Augusta University Cyber Institute in the core areas: Cyber Operations, Health Security, and Data Science.
Augusta University Cyber Institute
The Augusta University Cyber Institute aims to become a national leader in cybersecurity research and outreach. The mission of the Cyber Institute is to enable, support, and champion meaningful innovative inter-disciplinary models of research and education for cyber security with focus on building collaborative partnerships that impact K-12 education, academic, healthcare, government, and business communities.
Learn more at cyber.augusta.edu.
April 2016: Signed Memorandum of Understanding with US Army Cyber Center of Excellence.
September 2016: Held ribbon-cutting for Cyber Institute, located on Summerville campus. The Cyber Institute features a 1,600-square-foot cyber lab with software that creates realistic cyber threat simulations.
January 2017: Construction of Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center announced. Scheduled to be completed in 2018.
March 2017: Started Girls Who Code chapter.
May 2017: The Cyber Institute and Augusta University’s Master of Public Administration program released first local Cyber Workforce Study.
June 2017: Hosted third annual summer GenCyber camps
June 2017: Savannah River National Laboratory announces joint faculty appointment for cyber education research.
July 2017: New School of Computer and Cyber Sciences announced.
August 2017: Three Augusta University students awarded prestigious national Department of Defense Information Assurance Scholarship (IASP). Augusta University only school in Georgia with IASP recipients in 2017.
October 2017: Held fourth annual Cyber Georgia conference. Keynote speaker was Lieutenant General Paul Nakasone, commanding general of the U.S. Army Cyber Command.
January 2018: Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Cyber Security classes offered at Fort Gordon.
Founding Dean: Joanne Sexton
Location: University Hall 127
Phone: 706-729-2370
Prospective students may email cyber@augusta.edu for more information about any of the programs listed below.
Program Description:
The Information Technology (IT) curriculum provides students with a broad foundation of technical skills and understanding. The core curriculum covers both theoretical and applied concepts, including computer programming, networking, cybersecurity, web design, data management and analysis, system analysis and design, IT infrastructure, and project management. The remainder of the curriculum is highly flexible, which allows students to personalize their learning experience to obtain the necessary skills and knowledge needed for their desired career path.
Career Opportunities:
The IT curriculum’s flexibility allows students to obtain the necessary skills requested by IT employers. Students can remain current with emerging technology and pursue careers such as application developers, information security analysts, website developers, database administrators, network architects, systems analysts, and data analysts.
Program Description:
The Information Technology curriculum provides students with a broad foundation of technical abilities and understanding. The concentration in Business, offered in collaboration with the Hull College of Business, provides students with a deeper understanding of core business concepts, functions and processes, including economics, accounting, management and marketing. It is ideal for students seeking to create technology-enabled solutions to critical business challenges.
Career Opportunities:
Today, information technology is the engine for innovation and growth in business. The core business functions form the operational foundation of every private- and public-sector organization, whether retail, manufacturing or service. Graduates with this concentration may be ideally situated for entry into careers such as information systems analysis or development, quality assurance, database administration, business process analysis, and business or marketing analytics.
Program Description:
The Information Technology curriculum provides students with a broad foundation of technical abilities and understanding. Adding a Cybersecurity concentration arms students with specific, core skills needed to be successful in cybersecurity positions, including network defense monitoring, penetration testing, and incidentnce response. This degree has been designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) & Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as meeting their specifications for cyber defense education.
Career Opportunities:
The field of cybersecurity is one of increasing importance to governments and enterprises around the world. Demand for individuals with expertise in this area will continue to grow as society’s dependence on information systems grows and society’s enemies become ever more adept at bypassing information security measures.
Program Description:
The study of computer science spans the range from theory to practice to cutting-edge invention of computing solutions. Computer Science teaches students to be aware of new ideas and technologies and is a foundation that prepares graduates for many different computer careers while permitting them to adapt to new technologies. The Computer Science curriculum covers the principles of key computing technologies such as hardware, operating systems, database systems, networks, graphics, and artificial intelligence. Students will study the logical and mathematical foundations of computing and how to implement problem solutions as programs in a computer language.
Career Opportunities:
Computing technology permeates all works of life and there is a great demand for computing experts that can problem-solve, design, build and manage computing systems. Graduates are able to pursue careers in a variety of industries as software engineers, systems architects and scientific researchers in areas such as artificial intelligence, computer security, computer networks, computer graphics, data science, web and mobile systems.
Program Description:
The Computer Science degree with a Concentration in Cyber Operations provides a specialization in technologies and techniques related to advanced offensive and defensive cyber operations, such as collection, exploitation and response to cyber threats. This concentration prepares students to apply Computer Science theory to the problem of analyzing, designing, implementing and operating secure computing environments. Students will be exposed to malware analysis, reverse engineering, penetration testing, and hardware analysis.
Career Opportunities:
Graduates are needed for careers in national intelligence, military, law enforcement and the private sector to secure and defend computing systems.
Master of Science with a Major in Information Security Management
Program Description:
The Master of Science with a major in Information Security Management is a 30-hour master’s program divided into ten, three credit hour required courses. This program will provide professional grounding in the eight domains of information security as articulated for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Security and Risk Management, Asset Security, Security Engineering, Communications and Network Security, Identity and Access Management, Security Assessment and Testing, Security Operations, and Software Development Security.
Courses are primarily offered online with some in-person options. Courses that meet in-person meet in the evening to accommodate non-traditional students.
Admissions Procedures and Requirements
Please see the Office of Academic Admissions website for specific admissions information:
Link: augusta.edu/admissions/graduate/msism.php
GPA Requirement and Time Limitation
Satisfactory progress toward a degree requires that a student maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 for all courses attempted. A minimum grade of C must be earned for each course and students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the time of graduation. All requirements for the ISM degree must be completed within five consecutive years.
Any student whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 is placed on academic probation. While on probation, the student must earn a minimum of 3.0 each grading period until the cumulative GPA is raised to at least 3.0. Students who fail to earn at least a 3.0 during a semester they are on probation shall be recommended for academic dismissal from The Graduate School.
Where circumstances warrant, a student being considered for dismissal under the provisions of this policy may be permitted to continue as a student on probation. Failure to earn 3.0 GPA or higher in a semester when a student is on their second approved probation will result in a second and final dismissal from the program.
Certificate in Cyber Defender and Advanced Cyber Defender
The field of cybersecurity is one of increasing importance to governments and enterprises around the world. Demand for individuals with expertise in this area will continue to grow as society’s dependence on information systems grows and society’s enemies become ever more adept at bypassing information security measures. The Cyber Defender certificate programs offers course work that should prepare an individual for advancement in the field of cybersecurity.
Certificate in Healthcare Information Security
The graduate Healthcare Information Security certificate is a credential for health and IT professionals interested in the intersection of health information and cyber security. Students take three courses that cover the essentials of health information security. The certificate can be completed in two semesters and can be either taken as a stand-alone or as part of a larger graduate program (e.g. Information Security Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Health).
No active programs available.
Department of Computer Science
Bachelor’s
Minor
Department of Information Technology
Bachelor’s
Department of Cyber Science & Engineering
Certificate
Master
One Year Certificate
