Master of Science in Cloud Computing

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Master of Cloud Computing

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Degree Program Outcomes

Upon completion of this degree program, students will be able to:

- Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental concepts for graduate study in Cloud Computing.
- Demonstrate knowledge of advanced topics in Cloud Computing.
- Apply design and analysis methods to solve emerging Cloud Computing and related problems.
- Apply basis and advanced concepts associated with Cloud Computing and related fields.
- Conduct research and/or comprehensive projects in Cloud Computing and appreciate the importance of life-long self-learning.
- Argue the basic and advanced concepts associated with Cloud Computing or related field.
- Evaluate and assess the impact of cloud computing on service management.
- Design effective cloud computing solutions that consider an organization’s structure, communications, and operational business processes, as well as financial management and cost model implications.

Course Information

Program Length

SYNC SESSIONS

MSCC Courses

OFFERED TIMES

2 Hours Every Other Week

Program Core: 36 Credits

MSCC5100: Cybersecurity Law and Ethics

Overview of cybersecurity and privacy, including cryptography, authentication, malware, viruses, network security, anonymity, privacy and online privacy, risk management; common cyberattacks and techniques for detection and defense; policy and legal perspectives for managing cybersecurity missions supporting private sector and government; cyber technologies as applied to the stability of global information and communications infrastructure; government cybersecurity policies. (3 credits)

MSCC5200: Cloud Application Architecture

Cloud application design guidelines and software patterns. Survey of cloud services for scalable secure cloud applications. Trade-offs in cloud application design, container vs virtual machine deployments, and monolithic vs microservice. (3 credits).

MSCC5300: Research Methods

In this course, the students will learn the basic skills that are essential to becoming a successful researcher. The objective of the course is to teach research skills in a systematic fashion, early in a student’s graduate program. Lecture topics will include research methodology, experimental design, professional ethics and academic integrity, and oral and written presentation techniques. Students will be required to perform a literature survey (on a topic in their own research area), construct a research proposal that includes an experimental design, and write a paper summary in the style of a formal scientific paper. (3 credits)

MSCC5400: Big Data and Cloud Computing

This course covers a wide range of research topics related to big data and cloud computing, including data centers, virtualization, hardware, and software architecture, as well as system-level issues on performance, energy efficiency, reliability, scalability and security. (3 credits)

MSCC5500: Secure Cloud Computing

The course provides a comprehensive guide to security concerns and best practices for cloud computing and cloud services. Topics discussed include cloud computing architectures, risk issues and legal topics, data security, internal and external clouds, information security frameworks and operational guidelines. (3 credits)

MSCC5600: Applied Data Analytics

Applied and practical data analytics. High-level theory, with primary focus on practical application of a broad set of statistical techniques needed to support an empirical foundation for Computing and IT. Introduction to data analytics introduces you to the basics of data science and data analytics for handling of massive databases. The course covers concepts data mining for big data analytics and introduces you to the practicalities of map-reduce while adopting the big data management life cycle. (3 credits)

MSCC5700: Applied Machine Learning for Computing and IT Professionals

This course emphasizes learning algorithms and theory including concept, decision tree, neural network, computational, Bayesian, evolutionary, and reinforcement learning. The course will give the student the basic ideas and intuition behind modern machine learning methods as well as a bit more formal understanding of how, why, and when they work. The underlying theme in the course is statistical inference as it provides the foundation for most of the methods covered. (3 credits).

MSCC5800: Program and Project Management

Problems in managing projects; project management as planning, organizing, directing, and monitoring; project and corporate organizations; duties and responsibilities; the project plan; schedule, cost, earned value and situation analysis; leadership; team building; conflict management; meetings, presentations, and proposals. (3 credits)

MSCC5900: Management and Compliance in Cloud Computing

Maintaining compliance in the cloud. Theory, methodology, and procedures related to cloud computing; proper audit procedures for discovering system vulnerabilities; documenting findings according to the standards of compliance-based auditing. (3 credits)

MSCC6000: Cloud Migration Strategy

Migrating traditional IT services to a cloud-based environment. Technical and business considerations necessary to develop an effective cloud migration strategy for an organization. Decision analysis framework to prioritize migration applications. (3 credits)

MSCC6100: Thesis/Graduate Research Paper

(Prerequisite: Must be taken in last term and all other courses completed) Thesis. (6-0) Credit 6 semester hours. A candidate for the Master of Science in Electrical Engineering is required to perform a study, a design of investigation, under the direction of a faculty advisory committee. A written thesis is required to be presented, defended orally and submitted to the faculty advisory committee for approval. (6 credits)

Technology Requirements

Following are the recommended general technical hardware/software specifications for students enrolled in all academic programs at the University of Fairfax. Please note that

a) these specifications are sufficient for the entire duration of the program,

b) need for specific applications/software would be determined by the actual course(s) registered and the availability of the applications, and

c) although students with Mac computers can access any applications/software by leveraging remote access tools, Mac platform is not recommended and supported, and

d) doctoral students will be required to user several open-source applications, hosted services, and publicly available virtual machines. This may include but is not limited to SAS (Statistical Analysis System) OnDemand, Oracle Virtual Box, Kali OS, Apache Web Server, GNU/Linux, OpenSSL, ROS (Robot Operating System), Blender (3D computer graphics), and Orange (Data Mining).

Minimum Recommended Specifications

1. Ownership of either laptop or desktop is mandatory. Mobile devices such as Tablets/Smart Phones cannot be used for running any applications. Mobile devices may be used for simple tasks such as accessing Canvas courses for checking messages, grades, due dates, and read the slides. For other tasks such as taking test, uploading assignments, and participating in discussion forums, mobile devices are not recommended and must not be used.

2. These recommendations are universal across all academic programs and provide a basic format for all courses. As you move further into a degree program, these requirements may increase (only minimal) based on the expectations of the program and the availability of applications.

Platform: Intel-based systems	Minimum	Better	Best
CPU	4 core 3.0 GHz.	6 core 3.0 GHz.	8 core 3.0 GHz.
RAM	16GB	32GB	32GB
Storage	500GB SSD	1TB SSD	1TB SSD
Graphics	{Integrated} OR {2GB} OR {1GB DirectX 11}	{Integrated} OR {4GB} OR {2GB DirectX 11} OR {NVIDIA 4GB} OR {NVIDIA 4GB DirectX 11}	{4GB} OR {NVIDIA 4GB} OR {4GB DirectX 11} OR {NVIDIA 6GB DirectX 11}
Operating System	Windows 10 or 11 64-bit (Professional Edition only), No Home Edition	Windows 10 or 11 64-bit (Professional Edition only), No Home Edition	Windows 10 or 11 64-bit (Professional Edition only), No Home Edition
Extras	2-3 USB 2.0 or 2-3 USB 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera External USB Drive for backup (minimum 1 TB)	2-3 USB 2.0 or 2-3 USB 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera External USB Drive for backup (minimum 1 TB)	2-3 USB 2.0 or 2-3 USB 3.0 Ports Microphone Camera External USB Drive for backup (minimum 1 TB)
Recommended Standard Productivity Applications	Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI, Project, Publisher, Visio, Sway, Word, Forms, Delve Internet browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. (recommend the use of multiple browsers) Document Management Application – Adobe Acrobat Professional Zoom Desktop Client (https://zoom.us/download) Free Video / Photo Editing (select 1 or2) Application – PowerDirector (best) – Google, Promeo – Best App for Social Media, iMovie – Video Editor App for Beginners, Splice – Free Video Editor for Trimming and Cropping, Quik – Best Video Editor for Montages, KineMaster – Video Editing App For Experienced Editors, Filmmaker Pro – Best for Vertical Editing, InShot – Best Video Editor App for Aspiring Social Media Content Creators, Mojo – Best for Any Kind of Social Media Post, VivaVideo – Best for Beginners Keep the system up to date with Windows Updates, .NET Framework etc.	Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI, Project, Publisher, Visio, Sway, Word, Forms, Delve Internet browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. (recommend the use of multiple browsers) Document Management Application – Adobe Acrobat Professional Zoom Desktop Client (https://zoom.us/download) Free Video / Photo Editing (select 1 or 2) Application – PowerDirector (best) – Google, Promeo – Best App for Social Media, iMovie – Video Editor App for Beginners, Splice – Free Video Editor for Trimming and Cropping, Quik – Best Video Editor for Montages, KineMaster – Video Editing App For Experienced Editors, Filmmaker Pro – Best for Vertical Editing, InShot – Best Video Editor App for Aspiring Social Media Content Creators, Mojo – Best for Any Kind of Social Media Post, VivaVideo – Best for Beginners Keep the system up to date with Windows Updates, .NET Framework etc.	Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Power BI, Project, Publisher, Visio, Sway, Word, Forms, Delve Internet browsers like Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, etc. (recommend the use of multiple browsers) Document Management Application – Adobe Acrobat Professional Zoom Desktop Client (https://zoom.us/download) Free Video / Photo Editing (select 1 or 2) Application – PowerDirector (best) – Google, Promeo – Best App for Social Media, iMovie – Video Editor App for Beginners, Splice – Free Video Editor for Trimming and Cropping, Quik – Best Video Editor for Montages, KineMaster – Video Editing App For Experienced Editors, Filmmaker Pro – Best for Vertical Editing, InShot – Best Video Editor App for Aspiring Social Media Content Creators, Mojo – Best for Any Kind of Social Media Post, VivaVideo – Best for Beginners Keep the system up to date with Windows Updates, .NET Framework etc.

Policy on Sync Sessions

The Sync Sessions must be held in weeks 2, 4, 6, 8.
The Sync Sessions must be spent having students defending and explaining their research assignment for that week. This time should not be spent lecturing as it should be structured in a manner to help prepare candidates in the process of defending and justifying their research.
The Sync Sessions must be held Thursday-Saturday.
If the Sync Sessions are held on a Thursday or Friday night, the times to begin should be 8pm, 9pm, or 10pm Est to accommodate students who are on the west coast.