Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Our physical world is increasingly supported by a cyberspace infrastructure. This infrastructure enables new business models, enhances communications, makes our personal lives more convenient, and contributes to our national defense. The flip side of this increased reliance, however, is that we are vulnerable to threats to our cyberspace infrastructure. Network outages, data compromised by hackers, propagating viruses, and other incidents affect our lives in ways that range from inconvenient to life-threatening. The Master of Science in Cybersecurity provides practitioners with the framework and knowledge to protect an organization's cyber assets. The program focuses on prevention, detection, countering, and recovery from cyber incidents. Students learn about technical tools and organizational practices such as training, access control, evidence collection, and disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is designed for midcareer professionals who wish to help meet the challenges posed by increasing cyber-threats. Using a multidisciplinary approach, the program is designed to provide students with a broad analytical framework for evaluating and solving cybersecurity problems.
Overall Degree Requirements
The Master of Science in Cybersecurity requires the successful completion of 36 credits of coursework, including a 6-credit end-of-program capstone course.
Articulation Agreement
Students who complete their undergraduate degree in Cybersecurity (or former Information Assurance) and pursue the MS in Cybersecurity or Cybersecurity Policy can reduce the total coursework for the graduate degree by up to 18 credits (3 courses) and complete of both degrees with a total of 150 credits or less of coursework. More information is available in the Articulation Agreement.
Required Core Courses
UCSP 615 Orientation to Graduate Studies at UMUC (0) (Must complete within first 6 credits of study.)
- CSEC 610 Cyberspace and Cybersecurity (6)
- CSEC 620 Human Aspects in Cybersecurity: Ethics, Legal Issues and Psychology (6)
- CSEC 630 Prevention and Protection Strategies in Cybersecurity (6)
- CSEC 640 Monitoring, Auditing, Intrusion Detection, Intrusion Prevention, and Penetration Testing (6)
- CSEC 650 Cyber Crime Investigation and Digital Forensics (6)
Required Capstone Course
CSEC 670 Cybersecurity Capstone (6)
Total credits for the Master of Science in Cybersecurity (36)
Course Sequencing
All new students are required to take the noncredit course UCSP 615 Orientation to Graduate Studies at UMUC within their first 6 credits of study. All courses must be taken in the order listed.
Recommendation
Students who wish to improve their graduate writing skills may take COMM 600 Academic Writing for Graduate Students. The Cybersecurity curriculum makes extensive use of online multimedia learning objects and interactive exercises. Thus, the minimum recommended Internet connection speed is 512kb/second.
Program Options
Students may pursue a dual degree option that combines the MS in Cybersecurity with the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Related programs include the MBA, and the MS in Information Technology with a specialization in information assurance, which can also be earned as part of a dual degree program with the MBA. Students may also earn a certificate in Information Assurance.
Career Paths
- Chief security officer
- Cybersecurity manager or administrator
- Cybersecurity architect
- Cybersecurity operations analyst
- Cybersecurity engineer
- Secure software assurance engineer
- Cyber operations planner
Partnership
An articulation agreement between UMUC's undergraduate and graduate schools allows eligible students who complete their undergraduate degree at UMUC with a major in cybersecurity to reduce their total coursework for the MS in Cybersecurity or Cybersecurity policy by 18 credits (three courses). More information is available in the graduate catalog.
Admission Requirements
UMUC does not require submission of GRE or GMAT scores for admission to graduate degree. For more information please visit Graduate Admissions Requirements.
Dual Degree Option
Enhance your credentials! Graduates of the MS in Cybersecurity can elect to pursue a dual degree in the following area:
Master of Business Administration
This dual degree is one-directional. Students must complete all requirements for the MS in Cybersecurity before starting the MBA program.
Required Courses
UCSP 615 Orientation to Graduate Studies at UMUC (0), to be taken within the first 6 credits of study.
