Information Security, MS

About the Program

As part of the the Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs (OIGP), the Interdisciplinary Information Security (INSC) program is a research-driven interdisciplinary graduate program at Purdue University. INSC is structured around core classes that give students a fundamental grounding in the basics of cybersecurity and integrates perspectives from engineering and social sciences. The Information Security program is one of the world’s leading programs for research and education in areas crucial to the protection of critical computing and communication infrastructure. The program, which offers degrees through both the College of Liberal Arts and the Polytechnic Institute, works in collaboration with the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS). CERIAS focuses on computing privacy, security, prevention, detection, policy and law.

Students graduating from this program are well-prepared for careers in industry or academia that span topics like:

• cybersecurity
• information security
• privacy protection
• security policy
• cybercrime investigation

The overall challenges that information security/cybersecurity face are not confined to one traditional topic area such as computer science but encompasses issues of (at least) software, hardware, policy, education, finance, psychology, ethics, communication, and linguistics.

Master’s students can pursue a thesis or non-thesis option. See below for each set of requirements.

Office of Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Website

INSC Program Website

Program Requirements - Thesis

30 Credits Required

Program Requirements - Non-Thesis

30 Credits Required

Additional Requirements

Specific departmental requirements:

• Students graduating via the Department of Communication must satisfy that department’s requirements for the Masters’ degree in Information Security, take COM 60000 and COM 60100, and make sure that they earn a minimum of 12 graduate credits in Communication.
• Students graduating via Polytechnic Institute must satisfy that department’s requirements for the Masters’ degree in Information Security.
• Students graduating via Linguistics must take LING 53100 and LING 68900: Natural Language Processing.

GPA Requirements

Must have a total GPA of 3.0 or better. Any 300 or 400 course must be completed with a B- or better. Students can have up to 6 credits of 300-400 level courses applied to their plan of study.

Graduate Programs Disclaimer

• The student is ultimately responsible for knowing and completing all degree requirements. Students should consult with their advisor/department for more information.
• Not all graduate programs may be actively recruiting students and course modality availability may vary. 
• Please refer to the Explore Graduate Programs website for a list of currently available graduate programs.
• Transfer credit policy: Credits earned for graduate study at other universities (both domestic and international) may be applied toward an advanced degree. Only credit hours associated with graduate courses for which grades of B- or better were obtained will be eligible for transfer. Any additional conditions under which credit transfers may be made are determined by the various departments.
• Comparative information about Purdue University and other U.S. educational institutions is also available through the College Navigator tool, provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, and through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Additional Information

Participating programs:

• Communication, MA , Communication, MS , & Communication, MS (OL) 
• Computer and Information Technology, MS  & Computer and Information Technology, MS (OL) 
• Philosophy, MA 
• Technology, MS