The Tufts School of Engineering announced the launch of a new Master of Science in Cybersecurity in February. The program aims to equip graduate students with technical skills in systems security, the ability to assess security threats and an understanding of computing systems, while highlighting the social context and implications of the field.
Jeff Foster, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science at Tufts University, explained that engineering students have requested this degree for years.
“Students and alumni have been asking us to create a cybersecurity program for years,” Foster wrote in a statement to the Daily. “With recent faculty hires in Computer Science and Electrical and Computer Engineering, we’re now able to launch a hands-on, technically focused program, the MS in Cybersecurity.”
“In recent years, we’ve hired several new faculty in cybersecurity,” he wrote. “Coupled with existing faculty in the area … and an incoming faculty member joining in Fall 2026, we now have enough faculty capacity to offer the MS in Cybersecurity.”
Tufts emphasizes ethical considerations in cybersecurity education, reflecting the rising need for well-rounded cyber experts. The program prepares students for technical roles in industry and government, or for advanced research at the doctoral level. Students who complete the M.S. in Cybersecurity will be capable of understanding, implementing and deploying a wide range of security technologies while considering the underlying ethical and social contexts.
“The MS in Cybersecurity is a foundational program designed to teach students the core knowledge and skills that will support them throughout their careers,” Foster wrote. “Our program also includes a social context component, because understanding the effects of cybersecurity on people is just as important as the technology itself.”
Tufts has been a leader in cybersecurity for many years with the Cybersecurity Center for Public Good and the M.S. in Cybersecurity and Public Policy. The Tufts Security and Privacy Lab also conducts research exploring how people create, use and defend systems. The master’s program in Cybersecurity and Public Policy, launched in 2020, is designed for those interested in becoming liaisons between technicians and policymakers. This new degree offers a distinct path with a more technology-focused curriculum, while still leveraging Tufts’ interdisciplinary strength in engineering, international relations and public policy.
Susan Landau, director of the Cybersecurity Center and professor of computer science, explained how the two degrees would work hand-in-hand.
“In 2020 we created the MS in Cybersecurity and Public Policy (CSPP), which is offered jointly with the Fletcher School,” Landau wrote. “It’s the only tech-informed degree with an international perspective in cybersecurity policy, and so it fills an important need at the intersection of those two fields. The two MS degrees—the new one in Cybersecurity and the CSPP MS—will have great synergy, with both sets of students learning from each other.”
Daniel Votipka, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, described the structure of the program.
“The program consists of five courses in cybersecurity, including one on the social context of cybersecurity, three courses in computer systems, and two electives. The program places an emphasis on developing a deep understanding of how systems work, both technically and within their broader social context. Building on this foundation, students will learn how to design and build more secure systems from the ground up,” Votipka wrote in a statement to the Daily.
The department is also introducing a Certificate in Cybersecurity for students who want to begin building skills in the field, either before applying to the master’s program or to prepare them for a variety of other career paths. The certificate program includes four courses taken from the core M.S. in Cybersecurity curriculum, as well as several overlapping electives.
For students new to computer science, the department also offers a separate Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Computer Science that leads to the M.S. in Cybersecurity. This program is designed to be the equivalent of an undergraduate minor, helping students build a strong foundation for their future studies and careers.
Boston is known as a hub of innovation and technology, giving Tufts students an advantage when it comes to networking and finding internship opportunities in the region. Beyond its location, the small class sizes within the program allow students to connect with experienced faculty and build close mentorship relationships that can support their career growth in the field.
The program is now accepting applications for the Fall 2026 cycle.
