This Master of Science in Cybersecurity Studies takes a broad, multi-disciplinary approach to preventing and responding to large-scale cyber threats and cyber attacks. The first half of this program provides you with a foundation in network security, information assurance, cybercrime, and digital forensics. The second half of this program focuses on the issues, policies, practices, and perspectives of various sectors, critical infrastructures, agencies, and disciplines, such as national security, intelligence, criminal justice, and emergency management. Cyber threats can have an adverse effect on public confidence, stock markets, economic sectors, and other critical infrastructures.
This program has specific admission requirements.
Degree Program Objectives
In addition to the institutional and degree level learning objectives, graduates of this program are expected to achieve these learning outcomes:
- Analyze the national cyber threat landscape and cybersecurity challenges from both external entities and domestic sources.
- Examine the legal, social, regulatory, ethical, and technical issues related to securing information systems and national critical infrastructures.
- Compare and contrast the interdisciplinary policies, practices, perspectives and products required to address the cyber threats to our information systems and critical infrastructures.
- Appraise the methodologies for performing vulnerability assessment, risk mitigation, auditing, and certification of information systems and critical infrastructures.
- Categorize the cybersecurity related roles, responsibilities, and policies for managers of critical infrastructures, national security, corporate security, criminal justice, and intelligence/counter intelligence.
Programmatic Admission Requirements
All master's degree and graduate certificate programs require a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
In order to be considered for the M.S. in Cybersecurity program, students should meet one of three admission requirement options.
Option A
The student must have earned:
- An undergraduate IT degree or a degree in a closely related field
- One of the University’s IT-related certificates
- An IT-related minor or concentration during an undergraduate program
- 9 credits in cybersecurity, information technology, or other closely related courses
Option B
The student must have acquired at least one of these IT or cybersecurity certifications:
- CompTIA Security
- CompTIA Network+®
- CompTIA A+®
- CompTIA Project+®
- CompTIA CySA+®
- CISSP®
- SSCP®
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)®
- Cisco CCNA® Security
A student can also have earned a valid and current Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.
Option C
The student must have acquired demonstrable knowledge acquired from another source, such as:
- A combination of closely related field and relevant work experience in the industry of at least two years
- A completion of closely related education or certification (not listed in option A or B) coupled with relevant work experience
Important Notes
- If the IT-specific requirements are not noted in the official bachelor's or master's transcript, you must provide official copies of your undergraduate transcripts that show the appropriate coursework.
- The verification of the two years of work experience needs to be sent to the university via a formal resume or CV.
- Preadmission courses must have been completed within the last 5 years and at the undergraduate level must be graded C or better; B or better at the graduate level.
CEH® and Certified Ethical Hacker® are registered trademarks of EC-Council.
CompTIA Security+®, CompTIA Network+®, CompTIA A+®, CompTIA Project+®, and CompTIA CySA+® are all registered trademarks of the Computer Technology Industry Association, Inc.
CISSP® and SSCP® are registered trademarks of International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, Inc.
CCNA® is a registered trademark of Cisco Technology, Inc.
Please visit our AMU or APU graduate admission page for more information on institutional admission requirements.
Need help?
If you have questions regarding a program’s admission requirements, please contact an Admissions Coach at 877-755-2787 or info@apus.edu.
Degree at a Glance
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Requirements | 33 | |
| Final Program Requirements | 3 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 36 | |
Degree Program Requirements
Core Requirements (33 semester hours)
| Code | Title | Semester Hours |
|---|---|---|
| NSEC506 | Cyber Policy and Practice in National Security 1 | 3 |
| ITCC500 | Research Methods in Information Systems and Technology | 3 |
| EDMG600 | Emergency Management Perspectives on Cybersecurity | 3 |
| HLSS505 | Security Risk Management | 3 |
| INTL647 | Cyber Intelligence | 3 |
| ISSC621 | Computer Forensics | 3 |
| ISSC630 | Advanced Cybercrime Analysis | 3 |
| ISSC641 | Telecommunications and Network Security | 3 |
| ISSC642 | Intrusion Detection and Incident Handling | 3 |
| ISSC660 | Information Assurance | 3 |
| LSTD517 | Law, Ethics and Cybersecurity | 3 |
| Total Semester Hours | 33 | |
| 1 | Required as the first course in the program but may be taken concurrently with another course. |
Final Program Requirements (3 semester hours)
| 1 | This course may not be taken until all other courses are completed and student has a 3.0 GPA |