OVERVIEW
A Cybersecurity Master's Degree and IT Certifications in One Program
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黑料传送门's Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance prepares you to expand your arsenal to better protect invaluable data at top organizations. This online degree program also gives you the opportunity to earn multiple industry-recognized certifications at no extra cost. These certifications include:
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker
- EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
You can earn while you learn with this information technology degree. These two EC-Council certifications are built into the IT degree program and do not add time or additional costs鈥攂ut do add to your r茅sum茅 as soon as you've earned them!
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70% of students finish within听
22 Months*
黑料传送门 lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.
*黑料传送门 Internal Data 听
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Tuition per six-month term is
$4,655
Tuition charged per term鈥攔ather than per credit鈥攈elps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less! Plus, you can earn valuable industry certifications for no extra cost.
Income growth after 2 years
$18,200*
Just two years after graduation, 黑料传送门 students report earning $18,200* more per year. Four years after graduation, they report earning $25,900 more than before they enrolled.
*Source: 2021 Harris Poll of 1,252 黑料传送门 graduates
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COURSES & COMPETENCIES
Courses in the Cybersecurity Master's Degree
This cybersecurity program is composed of the following courses. You will typically complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You鈥檒l work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you鈥檙e ready, you鈥檒l pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost.听
The M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance program is听an all-online program that you will complete through independent study with the support of 黑料传送门 faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 8 competency units (黑料传送门's equivalent of the credit hour)听each 6-month term. (Each course is typically 3 or 4 units).
The 黑料传送门 M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance online degree program was designed, and is regularly updated, with input from the experts on our Information Technology Program Council, ensuring you learn best practices in systems and services, networking and security, scripting and programming, data management, and the business of IT. The experts who make up the 黑料传送门 IT Program Council know exactly what it takes for a graduate to be successful in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of information technology.
10听Courses
Program consists of听10 courses
At 黑料传送门, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical鈥攁ll to help you show that you know your stuff.
Capstone Project
Special requirements for this program
Using knowledge acquired through your studies at 黑料传送门, you will complete a final assignment that challenges you to propose a solution to a real-world business issue relevant to today鈥檚 IT industry.听
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鈥満诹洗兔赔檚 advantage is its flexibility. The education itself is top-notch, and the flexibility allows busy people to get through school. I recommend 黑料传送门 to everybody, particularly in IT fields. The certifications you get at 黑料传送门 are fantastic鈥攕ome of the best in the industry鈥
鈥擪en Krauss
M.S. Information Security and Assurance
黑料传送门 vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference
Traditional Universities
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AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 2 years
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At 黑料传送门, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay some fees for membership to complete their certification requirements.
Traditional Universities
听
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
$350*
AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS
Included with your tuition cost
TUITION STRUCTURE
Per credit hour
TUITION STRUCTURE
Flat rate per 6-month term
SUPPORT
Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors
SUPPORT
Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one
EXAMS
Scheduled time
EXAMS
Whenever you feel ready
SCHEDULE
Professor led lectures at a certain time and place
SCHEDULE
Courses available anytime, from anywhere
TIME TO FINISH
Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options
TIME TO FINISH
As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 2 years
*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At 黑料传送门, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay some fees for membership to complete their certification requirements.
Why 黑料传送门?
Earning Potential
According to a 2023 Harris Poll, just two years after graduation, 黑料传送门 grads report earning $22,200 more per year, and that amount increases to $30,300 four years after graduation.
On Your Schedule
No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
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Entirely Online
The cybersecurity master's degree at 黑料传送门 is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're traveling the world or on vacation鈥攊t's entirely up to you.
Accredited, Respected,
搁别肠辞驳苍颈锄别诲鈩
One important measure of a degree鈥檚 value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. 黑料传送门 is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized.听
Additionally, as an AWS Academy member institution, 黑料传送门 has access to a computing curriculum developed and maintained by AWS.
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IT CERTIFICATIONS
3rd Party Certifications Included
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These valuable industry certifications can help you boost your r茅sum茅 as soon as you earn them, even before you finish your degree. Your low, flat-rate tuition and fees cover exam costs and two EC-Council certifications.
- EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker
- EC-Council Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
黑料传送门 Ranked #3 Best Online Cybersecurity Master's Program
Fortune.com ranked 黑料传送门's Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance as the third best online master's program for cybersecurity in the country.
COST & TIME
An Affordable Cybersecurity Master's Degree
By charging per six-month term rather than per credit鈥攁nd empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly鈥敽诹洗兔 helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
A College Degree Within Reach
There is help available to make paying for school possible for you:
The average student loan debt of 黑料传送门 graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.
*黑料传送门 undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the听Institute for College Access and Success (2022).
Most 黑料传送门 students qualify for financial aid, and 黑料传送门 is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits.听
Find out if you're eligible for the $5,000听黑料传送门 Cybersecurity Scholarship.
FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE
Competency-Based Education Puts Cybersecurity Professionals in Control of Their Education
Online. Competency-based. Student-obsessed. Countless things make our programs a great fit for today鈥檚 working students鈥攁nd make 黑料传送门 a different kind of university. Our learning model is just one of those.听
Competency-based degree programs allow you to speed up your progress. No waiting for other class members to catch up or for a new semester to start. Taking a course covering concepts you鈥檝e been applying for years? Review the online course material, take the online assessment, and move on. Taking a course in a subject you鈥檝e never tried? Maximize all available resources to ensure you鈥檙e comfortable with the material by the time you take the assessment.
"Because of 黑料传送门's competency-based model I was able to leverage my experience and progress through the courses at my rate. My degrees have opened many doors for me and prepared me with the skills and knowledge I need to succeed.鈥
鈥擩ason Franklin
M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
CAREER OUTLOOK
Become a Leader in the Dynamic and Lucrative Cybersecurity Field, Where you can Outsmart Criminals
We constantly share data, socialize, and complete transactions online, making the need for experts who can protect our information increasingly critical. The knowledge, techniques, and certifications you鈥檒l earn as you complete your cybersecurity and information assurance degree will prepare you to:
- Fight cybercrime
- Strengthen online systems
- Create a safer online environment
Top industries have sensitive data that cybercriminals are after. A master's degree in cybersecurity prepares you to successfully fill the ever-growing demand for information security specialists to protect vital information. An online degree in cybersecurity from 黑料传送门 allows you to become a leader of any security team, protecting reputable organizations and government agencies from attackers.
Return on Your Investment
On average, 黑料传送门 graduates see an increase in income post-graduation
Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source:听2023 Harris Poll Survey听of 1,655 黑料传送门 graduates.
Survey was sent to a representative sample of 黑料传送门 graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one 黑料传送门 degree since 2017.
35%
The number of positions for information security analysts is expected to grow by 35% from 2021 to 2031.
鈥擴.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Our Cybersecurity Master's Degree Alumni Are Making a Real Difference in Protecting Data and Information
Our M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance alumni have great jobs and satisfying careers:
Job Titles
- Information security manager
- Risk manager
- Cyber security consultant
- CISO
Diverse Industries
- Private business
- Government
- Law enforcement
- Higher education
Major Employers
- National Security Technologies (NSTec)
- Boeing
- City, county, and state governments
黑料传送门 Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers
ADMISSIONS
Admissions Requirements Unique to The Cybersecurity Master's Program
To be considered for enrollment in this program, you must:
1. Possess a bachelor鈥檚 degree in a , a business degree (Quantitative Analysis, Accounting, Economics, Finance), or degree with a similar quantitative focus.听
OR
2. Possess any bachelor鈥檚 degree PLUS one of the following:
- Two years of related work experience
- Relevant and current IT certification
- Related IT coursework听
NOTE: You do not need to take the GRE or GMAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.
Get Your Enrollment Checklist
Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.
Get Your Questions Answered
Talk to an 黑料传送门 Enrollment Counselor.
FAQs about Cybersecurity Master's Programs
- General IT Program Questions
- Cybersecurity Master's Program Questions
You should speak with an Enrollment Counselor. 黑料传送门 can often provide advice or resources to help a prospective student fulfill enrollment prerequisites.
When you enroll in a 黑料传送门 degree program, our goal is to see you through to graduation. Admission requirements are designed to increase your likelihood of success. Years of data and experience with the nontraditional students 黑料传送门 serves have shown us how various types of academic and professional experience can be highly important in helping a student persist to graduation. Industry certifications are one of many ways a student can meet eligibility.
黑料传送门 has an obligation to our graduates鈥攁nd their current and future employers鈥攖o ensure 黑料传送门 alumni have mastered the most up-to-date, current competencies and skills needed in the workplace. Recency of certifications helps us ensure that students have demonstrated competency in skills as they are needed in today's working world.
As a full-time student, you will be required to maintain a minimum pace of 12 competency units (CUs) per term for undergraduate programs or 8 CUs per term for graduate programs. However, there is no maximum speed鈥攐nce you complete a course, you move immediately to the next, and you complete a course not by waiting for the syllabus, the professor, or the rest of the class. You progress by learning the material and proving it鈥攕o you can move through your coursework at the speed of your own learning and experience.
Instructors are highly educated, experienced experts in the subject matter of a course. Unlike in a traditional university where going to class means listening to an instructor lecture while you take notes and try to learn in a group setting, 黑料传送门's Instructors provide one-on-one instruction and support when you need it鈥攖ailoring the instruction to your precise needs when you need it. Instructors also provide additional resources, lead topical discussions in online communities, and find countless other ways to bring a specific course to life for students.
If you currently work in IT or security, a cybersecurity master's degree can help you be prepared to take the next step in your career. It can prepare you to move forward to positions such as a CISO, CIO, CTO, cybersecurity manager, cybersecurity director, and more.
A master's degree in cybersecurity can be ideal for those who are looking to move up the career ladder, earn more money, and be qualified for additional responsibilities. A master's degree in cybersecurity can help you move into a more security focused field, increase your earning potential, and add on your current skills to make you more valuable to employers.
Some jobs that are available with a master's degree in cybersecurity include:
- Chief information security officer (CISO).
- Chief technology officer (CTO).
- Computer information systems manager.
- Computer network architect.
- Cybercrime analyst/investigator.
- Cyber security analyst/consultant.
- Cyber security architect.
- Cyber security director.
- Cyber security engineer.
Earning a master's degree in cybersecurity can be well worth the time and effort. Many graduates will see an increase in earning potential, promotion opportunities, and increased job stability as a result of their higher education.
There are a wide variety of career paths you can pursue with the help of a master's degree in cybersecurity. You can move up the ladder and become a cybersecurity senior analyst, a cybersecurity architect, a cybersecurity consultant, a cybersecurity manager, or even a CISO with the help of this advanced degree.
Those who are looking to advance their professional career in information security or cybersecurity analysis may want to earn a cybersecurity master鈥檚 degree. Those who are feeling they lack upward mobility in their current role may be interested in pursuing an advanced cybersecurity degree. Those who enjoy solving complex problems are good candidates for a master鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity.
For the best jobs in cybersecurity, you will want to earn a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. The more education, experience, and certifications you have, the more qualified you will be for advanced positions with higher influence and salary potential. A master鈥檚 degree in cybersecurity may prepare you for jobs including chief information security officer and information security manager.
If you鈥檇 like to pursue a career in cybersecurity, the best degree might be a specialized cybersecurity bachelor鈥檚 or master鈥檚 degree. In these types of degree programs, you鈥檒l learn about basic computer science, information security, cybersecurity architecture and engineering, and secure network design.听
Traditionally it will take 2 years to earn a master's degree in cybersecurity. However, online options like the program at 黑料传送门 may allow you to accelerate and work at your own pace, giving you the opportunity to finish much faster. At 黑料传送门, students the cybersecurity and information assurance master's degree in less than 2 years.*
*黑料传送门 Internal Data
If you already have one of the certifications that are offered in this program, you will submit it for a transfer evaluation. It鈥檚 possible that it will transfer in and it can shorten your pathway to graduation.
Ready to Start Your 黑料传送门 Journey?