StudyCanada HomeUniversities in CanadaCarleton UniversityCybersecurity (Collaborative Specialization)
Specializations and variants
Program Requirements M.C.S. Computer Science with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (5.0 credits)
M.A.Sc. Electrical and Computer Engineering with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (5.0 credits)
M.Eng. Electrical and Computer Engineering with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (4.5 credits)
M.A.Sc. Digital Media with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (5.0 credits)
Master of Networking Technology with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (5.0 credits)
M. Infrastructure Protection and International Security with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (5.0 credits)
M.A. International Affairs with Collaborative Specialization in Cybersecurity (5.0 credits)
Program pathways and conditions
These tables reproduce the source requirements for the indicated period. Official interpretation is the responsibility of the university.
Pathway 1
| Requirements - Thesis pathway (5.0 credits) | ||
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 2. 1.5 credits in course work. Course work must include a minimum of 1.5 credits of OCICS courses in three different research areas (see OCICS course listing by research areas). | 1.5 | |
| 3. 2.5 credits in graduate thesis (Each candidate submitting a thesis will be required to undertake an oral defence of the thesis). | 2.5 | |
| COMP 5905 [2.5] | M.C.S. Thesis (in the area of the specialization) | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 |
Pathway 2
| Requirements: | ||
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 3. 1.5 credits in courses | 1.5 | |
| 4. 2.5 credits in: | 2.5 | |
| SYSC 5909 [2.5] | M.A.Sc. Thesis (in the area of cybersecurity) | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 |
Pathway 3
| Requirements - project pathway (4.5 credits) | ||
| 1. 0.5 credit in: | 0.5 | |
| SYSC 5902 [0.5] | Research Methods for Engineers | |
| 2. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 4. 2.5 credits in courses | 2.5 | |
| 5. 0.5 credit in: | 0.5 | |
| SYSC 5900 [0.5] | Systems Engineering Project (in the area of cybersecurity) | |
| Total Credits | 4.5 |
Pathway 4
| Requirements: | ||
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 2. 0.0 credit in: | ||
| ITEC 5001 [0.0] | Information Technology Seminars | |
| 3. 1.5 credit from core courses: | 1.5 | |
| ITEC 5002 [0.5] | Fundamentals of Information Technology Research | |
| ITEC 5200 [0.5] | Entertainment Technologies | |
| ITEC 5201 [0.5] | Computer Animation Technologies | |
| ITEC 5202 [0.5] | Visual Effects Technologies | |
| ITEC 5203 [0.5] | Game Design and Development Technologies | |
| ITEC 5204 [0.5] | Emerging Interaction Techniques | |
| ITEC 5205 [0.5] | Design and Development of Data-Intensive Applications | |
| ITEC 5206 [0.5] | Data Protection and Rights Management | |
| ITEC 5207 [0.5] | Data Interaction Techniques | |
| ITEC 5208 [0.5] | Virtual Reality and 3D User Interfaces | |
| ITEC 5209 [0.5] | Empirical Research Methods in HCI | |
| ITEC 5210 [0.5] | Applied Deep Learning | |
| ITEC 5920 [0.5] | Special Topics in Digital Media | |
| 5. 2.5 credits in: | 2.5 | |
| ITEC 5909 [2.5] | Master's Thesis (in the specialization) | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 |
Pathway 5
| Requirements: | ||
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 2. 0.0 credit in: | ||
| ITEC 5001 [0.0] | Information Technology Seminars | |
| 3. 2.0 credits from core courses: | 2.0 | |
| ITEC 5100 [0.5] | Planning and Design of Computer Networks | |
| ITEC 5101 [0.5] | Cross Layer Design for Wireless Multimedia Networks | |
| ITEC 5102 [0.5] | Designing Secure Networking and Computer Systems | |
| ITEC 5103 [0.5] | Cloud and Datacentre Networking | |
| ITEC 5205 [0.5] | Design and Development of Data-Intensive Applications | |
| ITEC 5210 [0.5] | Applied Deep Learning | |
| ITEC 5910 [0.5] | Special Topics in Network Technologies | |
| 4. 0.5 credit in the area of the specialization, approved by the graduate supervisor or the Associate Director of Graduate Studies in the School. | 0.5 | |
| 5. 1.5 credits in electives at the 5000-level, chosen in consultation with your graduate advisor/supervisor or the Associate Director of Graduate Studies in the School. | 1.5 | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 |
Pathway 6
| Requirements: | ||
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 2. 1.5 credits in: | 1.5 | |
| IPIS 5101 [0.5] | Critical Infrastructure Protection: Issues and Strategies | |
| IPIS 5105 [0.5] | Critical Infrastructure Risk Assessment | |
| IPIS 5106 [0.5] | Management of Critical Infrastructure | |
| 3. 1.5 credit from (see Note 1 below): | 1.5 | |
| IPIS 5104 [0.5] | Terrorism and International Security | |
| IPIS 5301 [0.5] | Disarmament, Arms Control and Nonproliferation | |
| IPIS 5302 [0.5] | Contemporary International Security | |
| IPIS 5303 [0.5] | Intelligence Statecraft and International Affairs | |
| IPIS 5304 [0.5] | Intelligence and National Security: Policies and Operations | |
| IPIS 5305 [0.5] | National Security Policy and Law | |
| IPIS 5306 [0.5] | Emergency and Business Continuity Management | |
| IPIS 5320 [0.5] | Topics in Infrastructure Security Policy | |
| 4. 0.5 credit from: | 0.5 | |
| IPIS 5501 [0.5] | Transportation and Aviation Security | |
| IPIS 5504 [0.5] | Fundamentals of Fire Safety | |
| IPIS 5505 [0.5] | Natural Hazards in Canada: Risk and Impact | |
| IPIS 5507 [0.5] | Blast Load Effects on Structures | |
| IPIS 5508 [0.5] | Introduction to Explosives and Explosion Effects as they relate to Infrastructure and its Components | |
| 5. 0.5 credit in IPIS 5509 Introduction to Cybersecurity, or a 0.5 credit course with cybersecurity content, with approval of the graduate supervisor | 0.5 | |
| Total Credits | 5.0 |
Pathway 7
| Requirements - thesis pathway | ||
| 1. 1.0 credit in: | 1.0 | |
| CYBR 5000 [1.0] | Science and Social Science of Cybersecurity | |
| 2. 1.5 credits in: | 1.5 | |
| INAF 5015 [0.5] | Research Design and Methods for International Affairs | |
| INAF 5016 [0.5] | Statistical Analysis for International Affairs | |
| INAF 5017 [0.25] | International Policymaking in Canada: Structure and Process | |
| INAF 5018 [0.25] | Law and International Affairs | |
| 3. 0.5 credit in economics, successfully completed by the end of the second term, from (See Note 1, below): | 0.5 | |
| INAF 5009 [0.5] | Economics of Development | |
| INAF 5205 [0.5] | Economics of Conflict | |
| INAF 5214 [0.5] | Economics for National Security, Intelligence and Defence | |
| INAF 5308 [0.5] | International Trade and Finance: Theory and Policy | |
| INAF 5703 [0.5] | International Public Economics | |
| 4. 2.0 credits in: | 2.0 | |
| INAF 5909 [2.0] | M.A. Thesis (in the specialization) | |
| 5. Successful completion of second language proficiency examination (See Note 4, below) | ||
| Total Credits | 5.0 |
Courses
These courses were identified on the program source page. Their presence does not mean they are all required in every pathway.
Sources and references
Reference year : 2026-27
Dates and sources are retained to help you verify the information. Translations are provided to facilitate reading; the official source governs conditions and requirements.
Source reference : https://calendar.carleton.ca/grad/gradprograms/cybersecurity/