Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics
- Entry Requirements
- Bachelors degree in a STEM field or STATISTICS or ECONOMICS (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)
- Registration: All UCU Study Centers (program offered 70% online)
- Mode of delivery: Blended (70% online)
Overview
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics at Uganda Christian University equips students with advanced knowledge and exemplary practices in the fields of Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics. The program is designed to provide a cohesive and critical understanding of theoretical frameworks, research methods, and techniques pertinent to these disciplines. Students will develop the skills to critically assess current research and practices, engage in academic discussions in specialized areas of cyber security and digital forensics, and adeptly connect theoretical concepts with practical applications while adopting an epistemological mindset
1. Admission Requirement
The general admission requirements shall be decided and revised periodically by the senate and made available by the office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic Affairs (DVC AA). All applicants should meet the minimum entry requirements for postgraduate programmes at Uganda Christian University.
Additioanal admission requirements shall consist of the following;
- A minimum of a second-class undergraduate degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) fields from an accredited higher education institution;
- Candidates with lesser degree classes or degrees outside of STEM fields are required to demonstrate academic advancement, which can be shown through work experience or Continuous Professional Development (CPD) certificates.
- A postgraduate diploma in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) awarded by an accredited institution within the past three years;
- Applicants with postgraduate diplomas lower than 2.7 CGPA or Postgraduate Diplomas obtained more than three years ago may be required to start the MSEC program in first year.
- Shall fulfill all the requirements for direct entry to the MSEC programme, and;
- The originating University MUST be recognised by the Ugandan National Council of Higher Education (NCHE).
- The Department of Computing and Technology reserves the right to determine course equivalence between the applicant’s program of origin and the UCU MSEC curriculum. The department may waive the equivalent courses passed by the applicant and determine the level to which the applicant can join the MSEC program.
- Students enrolled in the MSEC programme shall be deemed eligible for exchange with partner universities with which a bilateral partnership agreement with UCU exists. The student participating in the exchange program shall maintain their registration status with UCU for the duration of the exchange program.
- The student participating in an exchange program shall study credit-bearing courses in the host institution in agreement with the department of computing and technology. The credits to be accumulated shall be determined by the department of computing and technology in liaison with the host institution.
- Exchange students from other partner universities may accumulate credits from the MSEC courses selected in agreement with the department of computing and technology and their home university. The credits accumulated during the exchange period may be transferred to the exchange student’s home programmes.
2. MSc Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics (Plans and Configurations)
2.1 MSEC Postgraduate diploma entry
The prerequisite to joining any of the two MSEC Plans stated below is a Postgraduate Diploma.
| Code | Module Name | Type | CU |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEMESTER 1 | |||
| SEC8410b | CyberSecurity Seminars and Practicum | C | 3 |
| SEC8409b | CyberSecurity Research – Proposal | C | 15 |
| SEC8107 | Security Project Management | E | 4 |
| SEMESTER 2 | |||
| SEC8411 | Cyber Security Dissertation | E | 15 |
| SEC8412 | Digital Forensics Dissertation | E | 15 |
| Code | Module Name | Type | CU |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR Semester 1 | |||
| SEC8107b | Advanced Security Project Management | C | 4 |
| SEC8410b | CyberSecurity Seminars and Practicum | C | 3 |
| (Elective Courses – Select any Three) | |||
| (Specialization 1 Courses – Security) | |||
| CSC8203 | Blockchain and Cryptographic Techniques | E | 4 |
| DSC8305 | Threat Intelligence & Cloud Security | E | 4 |
| SEC8108 | Artificial Intelligence & CyberSecurity | E | 4 |
| (Specialization 2 Courses – Forensics)/b> | |||
| SEC8109 | Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering | E | 4 |
| SEC8110 | Forensic Science and Criminology | E | 4 |
| SEC8111 | Mobile Device Forensics | E | 4 |
| FIRST YEAR Semester 2 | |||
| SEC8413 | Cyber Security Project | E | 15 |
| SEC8414 | Digital Forensics Project | E | 15 |
2.2 MSEC Direct entry
Applicants may opt to join the MSEC directly from undergraduate, where they undertake a first year of coursework equivalent to the workload of a postgraduate diploma.
MSc in CyberSecurity and Digital Forensics
| Code | Module Name | Type | CU |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR Semester 1 | |||
| Compulsory (Cross – Cutting) Modules | |||
| SEC8101 | Security Governance and Compliance | C | 4 |
| SEC8102 | Advanced Applications of Cybersecurity and Forensics | C | 4 |
| RSM8101 | CyberSecurity Research Methods and Publications | C | 4 |
| TST8131 | Advanced Christian Ethics | C | 4 |
| FIRST YEAR Semester 2 | |||
| Compulsory (Cross – Cutting) Modules | |||
| SEC8103 | SDigital Forensic Analysis and Cybercrime Investigations | C | 4 |
| SEC8104 | Cybersecurity Audit and Risk Management | C | 4 |
| SEC8105 | Security Monitoring and Incident Response | C | 4 |
| SEC8106 | Advanced Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing | C | 4 |
| SEC8410a | CyberSecurity Seminars and Practicum 1 | C | 2 |
| SECOND YEAR Semester 1 | |||
| Compulsory (Cross – Cutting) Modules | |||
| SEC8107b | Advanced Security Project Management | C | 4 |
| SEC8410b | CyberSecurity Seminars and Practicum II | C | 2 |
| (Elective Courses – Select any Three) | |||
| (Specialization 1 Courses – Security) | |||
| CSC8203 | Blockchain and Cryptographic Techniques | E | 4 |
| DSC8305 | Threat Intelligence & Cloud Security | E | 4 |
| SEC8108 | Artificial Intelligence & CyberSecurity | E | 4 |
| (Specialization 2 Courses – Forensics) | |||
| SEC8109 | Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering | E | 4 |
| SEC8110 | Forensic Science and Criminology | E | 4 |
| SEC8111 | Mobile Device Forensics | E | 4 |
| SECOND YEAR Semester 2 | |||
| SEC8413 | Cyber Security Project | E | 15 |
| SEC8414 | Digital Forensics Project | E | 15 |
Career Prospects
How to Apply?
You can apply either online (recommended) or download and fill out application forms and submit them physically at any of our campuses in Kampala, Mukono, Kabale, Mbale or Arua.