Program Course Requirements:

The Master of Science in Security and Information Assurance (MS.SIA) requirement is thirty (30) credit hours that include twenty-four (24) credit hours of course work (i.e., 8 courses) and six (6) credit hours of thesis work. Nine (9) credit hours are designated as major core courses. The program has another fifteen (15) credit hours out of which nine (9) credit hours must be taken from the Security and Information Assurance elective courses and other (6) credit hours are electives to be taken from graduate courses (e.g., Mathematics (MATH), Computer Science (ICS), Computer Engineering (COE), Systems Engineering (SE), Electrical Engineering (EE) courses, etc.) subject to the approved student's degree plan. In brief, the MS.SIA formula for the required eight (8) courses (or 24 credits) is:

The applicant should have the equivalent degree of an undergraduate computer science major of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. In general, applicants with a four-year degree in related fields in science and engineering (e.g., computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, electrical engineering, information technology) may be considered for admission. However, an applicant lacking an adequate undergraduate training may be admitted if recommended by the department’s graduate committee and the Chairman, with the understanding that additional coursework must be taken to remove the deficiency in the undergraduate training, which is not credited towards the degree.

General University Admission Requirements for MS Degree:

The minimum requirements for possible admission as a regular graduate student to pursue a Master program in engineering or science are as follows:

• A four-year Bachelor’s (B.S.) Degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution with a major in the proposed field or evidence of suitable background for entering the proposed field.
• A Grade-Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 or higher on a scale of 4.00 or equivalent, and a GPA of 3.00 in the subject of the major field. Official transcripts and degree certificates are required for final admission.
• Completion of TOEFL with a minimum score of 520 (PBT), 190 (CBT) or 68 (IBT). The TOEFL score must be sent directly to the Deanship of Graduate Studies. The KFUPM code is 0868. IELTS is also acceptable [min 5.5]
• Acceptable General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which should also be reported directly.
• At least three letters of recommendation from the faculty who taught the applicant undergraduate courses. [Sealed and signed]
• Satisfactorily meeting any additional departmental or university admission requirements.

Program Educational Objectives

Graduates of the Master of Science in Security & Information Assurance will:

• Meet the local needs for researchers and professionals who would uphold high knowledge, skills, and ethics in the field of Security & Information Assurance.
• Adapt and adjust to rapid advancement and continuous evolvement of the rapidly changing field of Security & Information Assurance.
• Have strong foundation and knowledge to conduct research and discovery to pursue a Ph.D. degree related to security or other related field.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the MS.SIA program will be able to:

• Ability to research and investigate advanced problems related to the field of Security and Information Assurance.
• Ability to analyze, implement, and select the most appropriate solution to advanced problems related to the field of Security and Information Assurance.
• Ability to write a security policy and put in place an effective security architecture that comprises modern hardware and software technologies and protocols.
• Ability to use effective proper and state-of-the-art security tools and technologies.