MS Computer Science

The MSCS program prepares students for various tech careers and is highly regarded in the job market, offering career advancement. Ottawa University's ISTI focuses on training skilled professionals to manage computer systems across diverse organizations.

Degree Course Requirements

Required Core Courses

CST 7010 Advanced Computer Science Topics
Delves into cutting-edge topics and emergingtrends in computer science, including artificialintelligence, machine learning, computer vision,natural language processing, big data, and cloudcomputing. Students will gain anunderstanding of advanced algorithms,techniques for solving complex computationalproblems, and modern tools and technologiesused in the industry.

CST 7080 Cloud System Design
Provides students with the knowledge and skillsneeded to design and implement cloud-basedsolutions for complex business systems. Topicscovered include cloud deployment models,virtualization, containerization, and cloudarchitecture.

CST 7090 Advanced Network Designand Deployment
Graduate-level course exploring advancednetwork design and deployment principles andtechniques. This course focuses on advancedtopics such as network architecture, design,security, and management. Students will learnabout the latest trends and best practices innetwork design and deployment, includingemerging technologies, software-definednetworking, cloud computing, andvirtualization. Students will gain practicalexperience in designing and deployingenterprise-level networks, configuring networksecurity, and managing network operations.

CST 7100 Scalable Computer Architecture
This course thoroughly studies computerarchitecture principles and techniques forbuilding scalable and high-performancecomputing systems. The course coversvarious topics such as parallelism,memory hierarchy, interconnects, andtechniques for designing scalablecomputer systems that can handle large-scale workloads. The course also coversemerging trends and challenges in scalablecomputing, such as big data analytics,machine learning, and cloud computing.

CST 7300 Advanced Systems Analysisand Design
Delves into the complexities of the systemsdevelopment life cycle, mastering advancedmethodologies and techniques to design,analyze, and implement complex informationsystems. Building on foundational principles,the course aims to equip students with thehands-on experience and theoretical knowledgeto tackle real-world projects. Using tools andframeworks, students will use case studies,collaborative projects, and simulations to designand analyze system architectures, workflows,and interfaces.

CST 7500 IT/IS Project Management
Designed to equip students with the skills andmethodologies to effectively plan, execute, andoversee information technology and systemsprojects. Drawing from established projectmanagement frameworks such as Agile andWaterfall, the course emphasizes a holisticapproach, covering key areas, including scopedefinition, timeline scheduling, resourceallocation, risk assessment, and stakeholdercommunication.

CST 7600 Ethics in Computer Science
Explores ethical principles, legal frameworks,and social responsibilities in computer science.Students will examine the impact of technologyon society, evaluate the ethical implications ofemerging technologies, and learn to applydecision-making frameworks to address ethicalchallenges. Topics include data privacy,artificial intelligence ethics, bias in algorithms,intellectual property, and professional conduct.The course emphasizes critical thinking andresponsible computing practices.

AI and Machine Learning Concentration Courses

CST 7020 Programming Language Logic
Focuses on programming language logic,including the syntax and semantics ofprogramming languages, the principles ofprogramming language design, and programcorrectness. Students will learn to reason aboutprograms, write programs that meet certainspecifications, and formally verify programcorrectness. Topics covered includepropositional and predicate logic, operationalsemantics, type theory, and programverification.

CST 7030 Analysis of Algorithms and Computation
This course delves into the foundationalprinciples of algorithmic problem-solving andcomputational efficiency. The course explores arange of algorithms, from sorting and searchingto graph traversal and dynamic programmingwhile emphasizing analytical techniques forevaluating their time and space complexities.Students will gain hands-on experiencedesigning, implementing, and criticallyassessing algorithms for various problems.

CST 7040 Fundamentals of AI and Machine Learning
Introduces students to the theory and practice of machine learning, covering the basic concepts and techniques of supervised and unsupervised learning, including decision trees, neural networks,  clustering, and regression. Students will learn how to apply these techniques to real-world problems in various fields, such as natural language processing, computer vision, and data mining.

CST 7050 Neural Machine Learning and Data Mining
Provides an in-depth understanding of theconcepts, techniques, and algorithms used inmodern neural machine learning and datamining applications. Topics covered includedeep learning, convolutional neural networks,recurrent neural networks, natural languageprocessing, and data mining algorithms.Students will also gain experience working withtools and frameworks such as TensorFlow,Keras, and PyTorch.

CST 7060 Data Science for Business Intelligence
Covers the fundamentals of data analysis andhow to use data to drive business intelligence.Students will learn how to use data miningtechniques, statistical analysis, and datavisualization tools to identify trends, patterns,and insights that can help organizations makebetter decisions. The course also covers datacleaning, preprocessing, and integration.

Cyber Security Concentration Courses

CST 7070 Information Insurance and Cybersecurity
This course provides an in-depth study of cryptographhy and computer security's theoretical and practical aspects. Topics covered include classical and modern cryptographic systems, encryption and decryption techniques, authentication, secure communication protocol, digital signatures, access control, security models and policies, and vulnerability assessment and management. Students will also explore emerging trends in cryptography and computer security.

CST 7110 Cyber Forensics and Incident Response
Provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in digital forensics and incident response. Students will learn to investigate cyber incidents, identify evidence, and preserve digital artifacts. They will also learn to analyze digital evidence and report their findings clearly and concisely. Topics coveredin the course include digital forensics methodologies, forensic acquisition and analysis of electronic data, network forensics, mobile device forensics, malware analysis, incident response procedures, and legal and ethical consideration in cyber investigations.

CST 7200 Cybersecurity Risk Management and Assessment
This advanced course provides students with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills to identify, analyze, and mitigate cybersecurity risks in complex organizational environments. This course covers key concepts of risk management frameworks, and risk mitigation strategies. Students will learn to develop and implement effective cybersecurity policies, conduct risk assessments, and create incident response plans.

CST 7220 Cybersecurity Risk Management and Assessment
This course explores the cybersecurity aspects of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and cryptocurrency technologies. Students will gain a deep understanding of the security vulnerabilities, threats, and best practices associated iwth these interconnected domains. The curriculum covers IoT architecture and protocols, AI-driven security solutions, blockchain technology, and crytocurrency security measures. Through hands-on projects and case studies, students will develop practical skills in securing IoT ecosystems, implrementing AI-based threat detection, and safeguarding cryptocurrency transactions.

CST 7240 Advanced Concepts and Strategies
This graduate-level course provides an in-depth exploration of cloud security principles, challenges, and solutions in modern computing environments. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of risk management, secure cloud architecture, DevSecOps practices, and security assessment techniques specific to cloud computing.