In the online Master of Science in cybersecurity technology program at University of Maryland Global Campus, you'll learn how cybersecurity technology underpins the success of organizations and national critical infrastructures. Modern executives need to be able to use that technology, as well as people and policy, to minimize risks while ensuring success for their organizations. They need to balance risks and opportunities holistically through an interdisciplinary lens. This innovative graduate program offers that wide perspective, providing a blend of people, policy, and technology skills to help prepare the modern digital strategists that organizations need.
UMGC was named a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
These requirements are for students who enroll in the 2020–2021 academic year. For prior year academic requirements, visit our catalog archive.
About the Cybersecurity Technology Master's Degree
What You'll Learn
Through your coursework, you will learn how to
- Tailor digital strategies to the mission of an organization
- Understand how to balance the use of people, policy, and technology
- Understand how to analyze, think critically, and improve perpetually
- Be a cybersecurity technology leader in the modern world
- Develop a cybersecurity technology strategy for an organization
- Build cybersecurity technology environments and operations
- Develop resilient and highly fault-tolerant technology environments
- Enable organizations to make better business decisions through reliable data analytics and intelligence
- Perform proactive business risk management and solve problems
- Develop strategies for mobile, cloud, and emerging environments such as the Internet of Things (IoT)
Coursework Examples
In past projects, students have had the opportunity to
- Use protocol analyzers, intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, network mapping tools, network scanning tools, encryption/decryption tools, digital forensics tools, and password exploitation tools
- Perform ethical hacking, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments
Industry Certification
This program can help prepare you for the following certification exam(s):
Cybersecurity Technology Master's Degree Requirements
Our curriculum is designed with input from employers, industry experts, and scholars. You'll learn theories combined with real-world applications and practical skills you can apply on the job right away.
Master's Courses
Foundation Course
- CBR 600
Core Courses
- CST 610
- CST 620
- CST 630
- CST 640
- CYB 670
Course Rules and Program Progression
- All courses must be taken in the order listed.
- You must complete each course with a grade of B or better to advance to the next course. The grade of C is not available for these courses.
- The courses in this program will have seven-day and 60-day options for the grade of Incomplete.
Vertical Pathway
If you completed your undergraduate degree at UMGC with a major in computer networks and cybersecurity, a vertical pathway between UMGC's graduate and undergraduate degree programs in that field allows you to reduce your total coursework for this program by up to 6 credits.
Other Requirements
- You must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher at all times.
- All degree requirements must be fulfilled within five consecutive years.
- Any transfer credits must have been earned within the five-year time frame to be applied toward a graduate degree.
Please review our overview of overall master's degree requirements for additional considerations.
Career Preparation
This program is designed to help prepare you to develop mission-focused digital strategies for organizations. Potential career fields include cybersecurity and technology architecture, information security, cybersecurity analysis and engineering, board advising, and cybersecurity consulting.
Experience Recommended for Success in the Program
You are expected to have a strong understanding of information technology, computer networks, databases, and the internet. This background may be acquired through noncredit preparatory coursework, listed below.
If you do not have such IT knowledge or experience, you are strongly advised to take the noncredit course ASC 605 first. Taking ASC 601 is recommended to help improve writing skills.
Facts & Figures
Source: CyberSeek | "Cybersecurity Career Pathway," Cyber Seek, June 2016. | 2016
Source: CyberSeek | "Cybersecurity Career Pathway," Cyber Seek, June 2016. | 2016
Source: Burning Glass International | Job Market Intelligence: Cyber Security Jobs 2015 | 2015
UMGC has a good reputation and a wide variety of quality programs for people who work full-time. For me, learning online is the best option for maintaining a balanced work and social life while going to school.
Emily Roberts
Cybersecurity Technology Master's Degree
Cate Reich wanted to be a role model to her children and to give back to her country. She decided to earn an MS in Cybersecurity. UMGC's reputation and flexibility were the perfect fit for Cate's busy life. What’s more, Cate's UMGC courses were not only immediately useful to her work, they also allowed her expand her career while making the world a safer place.
Student Clubs and Organizations
Type: Student organization
Available To: Undergraduate and Graduate
The Computing Club aims to create a dynamic environment where members can work collaboratively, share innovative ideas, enhance their career-readiness, and gain marketable experience in their respective fields.
Type: Student organization
Available To: Undergraduate and Graduate
The Cyber Competition Team represents UMGC at various cybersecurity events and highly competitive tournaments nationwide. Students hone their cybersecurity skills, learn to work effectively as a team, and network with other students, cyber professionals, and prospective employers.
Type: Honor society
Available To: Undergraduate and Graduate
Upsilon Pi Epsilon is the international honor society for the computing and information disciplines. Formed in 1967, the purpose of Upsilon Pi Epsilon is to promote the computing and information sciences and to encourage the enhancement of knowledge in the field. Upsilon Pi Epsilon is open to both undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a degree in the computing and information disciplines.
About the Faculty
Our world-class faculty members combine academic credentials with a wealth of experience in the field.
Faculty members in this program hold or have recently held positions including
- Assistant attorney general
- Assistant deputy undersecretary
- Chief information officer
- Chief information security officer
- Chief technology officer
- Cryptologic manager
- Deputy chief, cyber security operations
- Director, server operations group
- IT director
- Team lead, cyber threat analysis
- Technical director, security engineering and testing
Our faculty work or have worked at organizations including
- Defense Information Systems Agency
- General Dynamics
- The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
- Lucent Technologies
- National Biomedical Research Foundation
- National Security Agency
- Transportation Security Agency
- Science Applications International Corporation
- State of Maryland
- State University of New York
- U.S. Department of Defense
- U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- Verizon
Featured Faculty
Additional Information
Technology Requirements
This program's curriculum requires that you use a computer with the following:
- Microphone and speakers or headset with microphone or equivalent device
- 5 GB of free hard drive space
- 4 GB RAM or higher
- A high-speed internet connection
- Computer processor (Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64) running at speeds of at least 1 GHz
- Windows 8.1 or Mac OS X 10.6 or higher for an operating system (Linux operating systems can also be used but require more technical knowledge from the user)
Note: The higher the processor speed of your computer (e.g., 2.4–3.4 GHz), the larger the amount of available memory (e.g., 4–12 GB), and the larger the amount of available hard drive space (e.g., 5–20 GB), the better your computer will perform and the smoother your experience will be.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Program
What do I need to do to succeed in the Master of Science in cybersecurity technology? +
This program is open to anyone and while you do not need a specific background in IT, it is certainly very helpful. If you do not have a background in IT, it is strongly recommended that you take our non-credit preparation courses in information technology and coding. These will give you a foundation that will help you succeed in the program.
Whom is the Master of Science in cybersecurity technology geared toward? +
This program is for those who want do the technological implementation of measures and processes to protect networks and computer assets within an organization. It is intended to develop those who do the actual hands-on work and those who manage them.
What will I get from the Master of Science in cybersecurity technology? +
This program will help you develop your skills and competencies in implementation of technology measures to protect an organization’s network and computer assets from intrusions. The program focuses on techniques and technologies of cyber defense. The program will require that you become adept with computer and network technologies at a high level.