Admitted & Current Students

Welcome to Brown! Congratulations on your acceptance to the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program!

If you are a new or continuing student, the resources below will be helpful to you. Please return to this page as a first step when you have questions as you complete the Cybersecurity program.

Program Contacts

For questions concerning submission of official transcripts, setting up your Brown resource access, and the enrollment process:

masters_admissions@brown.edu

For questions about financial aid:

gs_financial_aid@brown.edu

For questions concerning course prerequisites, course requirements, the future availability of specific course offerings, and academic dates:

John Tracey-Ursprung (john_tracey-ursprung@brown.edu) - Student Affairs Manager

For questions concerning the Policy Track, the Computer Science Track, the Brown Cybersecurity community, scholarships, and student experience:

John Tracey-Ursprung (john_tracey-ursprung@brown.edu) - Student Affairs Manager

Orientation

Orientation programming for the Cybersecurity program will be presented online only. You do not need to travel to campus for orientation; there will not be an in-person Cybersecurity program orientation.

If you are admitted to start the program during the fall, you should plan for orientation to occur sometime between August 20th and August 27th.

If you are admitted to start the program during the spring, you should plan for orientation to occur sometime between January 12th and January 19th.

The following is key information discussed during orientation:

Guidance for Students in Both Program Tracks
 
One of the most important items to communicate to you as you begin the program is that it is your responsibility to register for courses correctly. If you sign up for classes that are not part of the standard program plan and you do not have permission to do so, that class will not count towards your degree.
 
Full-Time and Part-Time
 
You can complete the program full-time [2 or 3 courses per term] or part-time [one course per term]. You can switch back and forth between full-time and part-time from term to term by contacting the CS Department. 5th Year Students: Different rules apply to you for this, so ask the Department if you have any questions. 
 
Note that switching from full-time to part-time can affect you in different ways outside the program. The Cybersecurity program and its directors of graduate studies do not advise on non-academic matters such as the financial implications of decisions like the effect of your courseload on student loans you may have. We rely on other parts of the university to advise you on that.
 
Please note that the program does not offer summer courses.
 
Also note, the program strongly recommends against taking 3 courses per term, especially during your first term. Furthermore, the program strongly recommends not working while completing the program full-time. 

Tuition Information

All billing questions should be directed to the Bursar's office: bursar@brown.edu.
 
All questions about federal aid should be directed to: GS_Financial_Aid@brown.edu
 
Questions regarding student loans can be directed to: loans@brown.edu.
 
If you have questions about GI Bill benefits, please contact lisa_mather@brown.edu.
 
If you were awarded a scholarship by Brown, it is likely that you will receive your first tuition bill before your scholarship has been processed and applied to your account. If this applies to you, you can wait until your scholarship is posted to make your payment.
 
Health Services Fee
 
If you would like to waive your health services fee each semester, please write to Analia Correa at analia_correa@brown.edu. Note that you will have to do this each semester that you're interested in the waiver during your time at Brown--you can't simply make a one-time request.
 
There is a deadline for this request each semester, so please don't delay if you're interested in requesting a waiver and have not already requested one.
 
Note this important consideration that the Health Services office would like you to know: If a student waives the health services fee, but then utilizes Health Services or Counseling (CAPS), then the student will be charged the full semester health fee.
 

Information for Incoming Students Starting the Program During a Fall Semester

Policy Track
 
Full time students must sign up for CSCI 1360 Human Factors in Cybersecurity and CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy.
 
Part time students (those taking only one class during this first term) must sign up for CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy.
 
CS Track
 
Full time students must sign up for CSCI 1360 Human Factors in Cybersecurity and CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy, unless they are required to take CSCI 1330 Computer Systems. If you are full time and required to take CSCI 1330, then you must take CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy as your second course.
 
Part time students (those taking only one class this term) must sign up for either CSCI 1330 Computer Systems or CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy, depending on their level of programming experience and approval from Professor Palazzi. Please connect with Professor Palazzi, for more guidance on this matter.
 
Important Note for Part-Time Students and Students Considering Completing the Program Part-Time [Applicable to Both Tracks]:
 
It is anticipated that both CSCI 1360 and CSCI 1860 will only be offered during the fall term each academic year. If you are interested in graduating in fewer than 4 semesters, then you would need to be full-time during your first fall semester and take both of these required courses. Otherwise, you would not be able to complete the program's required courses by your intended graduation date. CS Track students that must take CSCI 1330 may not be able to graduate in fewer than 4 semesters and should explore this issue with Professor Palazzi. Students in both tracks should note that the program is designed to be completed in 4 semesters and no one is guaranteed the opportunity to graduate early.
 

Course Registration

Course registration will not occur until early September [for students entering in a fall term] or late January [for students entering in a spring term].
If you encounter problems with the course registration system, please contact Registrar@brown.edu or the Office of Information Technology https://it.brown.edu/get-help.

Resources for Getting Started

https://ithelp.brown.edu/kb/articles/students-search-and-register-for-courses-on-courses-brown

https://ithelp.brown.edu/file.php/240GGMPRSDHJK23922412A32F/Students-CoursesatBrown.pdf

https://ithelp.brown.edu/kb/articles/students-drop-classes-in-banner

Student Support Resources

Brown has support resources available to students to help them get the most out of life and their academic experience when challenges come up. Dean Alicia LaPolla can connect you with resources at Brown or can have a conversation with you to help you reflect on ways to feel better when facing difficult times. Dean LaPolla is a dedicated student support resource for master's degree students. Her email is alicia_lapolla@brown.edu.

Academic Calendar

You can find the University's academic calendar here. Note that internal program deadlines are not listed on this calendar, but major dates--like the start and end date of the semester--are listed.

Completing the Program

The program is designed to be completed in 4 semesters. It takes 8 courses to complete the program and you can take up to 3 courses per semester, but we strongly recommend taking 2 courses per semester--especially during your first term at Brown. We do not currently offer summer term courses in the program, so courses would be completed during fall and spring.

Scholarship Information

You're automatically considered for scholarships when you apply for admission to the program; there is no separate scholarship application.

If the committee determines that an applicant is to be awarded a scholarship, then the applicant is notified at the time of their admission into the program. Unfortunately, there are a very limited number of scholarships available. Applicants who do not receive a merit award letter at the time of their admission are unable to be reconsidered.

Deferrals

Admitted students may request to defer their entrance into the program by one semester or a maximum of one year. If you would like to request to defer your admission, you must apply by sending John Tracey-Ursprung (john_tracey-ursprung@brown.edu) - Student Affairs Manager an email with one or two paragraphs explaining your request. Deferrals are not automatic and are granted on a case by case basis. If you are accepted to begin the program in the fall semester, the deadline to request a deferral is June 5th. If you are accepted to being the program in the spring semester, the deadline to request a deferral is December 5th.

If you have been awarded a scholarship by the ScM in Cybersecurity program, then you will only be able to keep that scholarship if you enter the program at your original start date or if you choose to defer for one semester. If you defer for more than one semester, then you will lose your scholarship.

Information for Incoming 5th Year Master's Students

As a 5th year master's student you will complete three courses each semester for a total of six courses. You must complete the program in one academic year. It is key to contact the Director of Graduate Studies for your track as soon as possible after being admitted to let the program know which two courses from your undergraduate work that you would like to have count towards your master's degree. The two courses from your undergraduate work that you would like to have count towards your master's degree must be graded courses and your grade must be an "A" or a "B" in the courses. You cannot use a grade of "S" towards the requirements for the ScM in Cybersecurity.

Below are examples of how a 5th year master's student might complete the program. Importantly, note that the courses used to meet the program's requirements will vary depending on what courses from one's undergraduate coursework will be applied.

Here is an example of how a 5th year master's student in the Policy Track could complete the program [note that course offerings vary each semester and are subject to change]:

Fall Semester

CSCI 1360 Human Factors in Cybersecurity

CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy

CSCI 2980 Reading and Research (first semester of a two semester enrollment)

Spring Semester

CSCI 1880 Introduction to Computer Security

CSCI 2002 Privacy and Personal Data Protection

CSCI 2980 Reading and Research (second semester of a two semester enrollment)

Here is an example of how a 5th year master's student in the Computer Science Track could complete the program [note that course offerings vary each semester and are subject to change]:

Fall Semester

CSCI 1360 Human Factors in Cybersecurity

CSCI 1860 Cybersecurity Law and Policy

CSCI 1870 Cybersecurity Ethics

Spring Semester

CSCI 1660 Introduction to Computer Systems Security

CSCI 2002 Privacy and Personal Data Protection

CSCI 1380 Distributed Computer Systems

Master of Science in Cybersecurity Master's Contracts

Before each semester, you will complete a Master's Contract  [link below]. It is completely fine to complete the contract before meeting with your adviser as long as you follow the curriculum guidance on this page and on the curriculum page of the program website. You can also email your adviser with questions about course selection.
 
If you are a new student, note that you will not find out who your advsier is until about a week before you register. The master's contract form can be refilled if it needs to be corrected or changed--please don't feel like you can't change your mind. However, it is key to make sure you are following program guidance, the curriculum requirements, and the advice of your Director of Graduate Studies and adviser. One of the purposes of this form is to help us understand what classes you're interested in during your time at Brown.
 
Students admitted to begin the program during a fall semester must submit their first Master's Contract no later than June 10th.
 
Students admitted to begin the program during a spring semester must submit their first Master's Contract no later than December 1st.
 
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Preparing for Courses/What to Expect

For many of your classes, you will have homework and reading assignments before the first day of class. After you register for courses, you will be able to access their Canvas course website [if the course hosts its website on Canvas] at canvas.brown.edu. Once the system updates with your registration, the course should appear automatically on your Canvas homepage. If you have any questions about accessing course materials for your first day of classes, please check for course information here: https://cs.brown.edu/courses/

Reading material for your courses will be assigned in a variety of formats--every class will be different. Sometimes, you will have to purchase materials such as books.

Each instructor executes their course differently. In some classes you will have the opportunity to join synchronous class sessions. Other classes might not offer this option. All classes will provide the materials you need to be successful in the course and to be supported in your learning in an asynchronous format, but the format and presentation will vary.

 

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