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Master of Science in Cybersecurity

The United States is facing an increasing vulnerability of a wide range of risk stemming from cyber-attacks, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Such attacks have caused the loss and corruption of valuable digital information in cyberspace, may it be in transit or stored. DHS further points out that “of growing concern is the cyber threat to critical infrastructure, which is increasingly subject to sophisticated cyber intrusions that pose new risks.

The ISACA, a non-profit information security advocacy group, predicts there will be a global shortage of two million cybersecurity professionals by 2019. Every year in the U.S., 40,000 jobs for information security analysts go unfilled, and employers are struggling to fill 200,000 other cyber-security related roles.

Cyber operations involve a complex interplay between technology and human behavior. To meet the sociotechnical needs from industry, MSU Denver has taken a unique approach by combining the Departments of Criminal Justice & Criminology, Computer Information Systems, and Mathematical and Computer Sciences to jointly create a multidisciplinary Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree program.  The graduate program combines advanced computer/information system knowledge of combating cybercrime, analytical skills to analyze and manage cyber threats and security, the understanding of human factor in cyber operations, as well as the adaptation of laws to create policies to investigate, prosecute, and to punish cyber criminals.


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Benefits of Earning Your Degree at MSU Denver

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) developed the National Cybersecurity Workplace Framework, and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) developed Industry Competency Model. The CYBM competencies use the above framework and model as guides.

The M.S. in Cybersecurity graduates will be able to:

  • Identify, analyze, and mitigate threats to computer and information systems.
  • Conceptualize, design, and build secure information systems.
  • Provide support to ensure effective and efficient computer and information system performance and security.
  • Provide leadership, management, strategy, development, and advocacy so that organizations may effectively conduct cybersecurity work.
  • Investigate cyber events or crimes of computer and information systems and networks.
  • Apply cyber laws and regulations in prosecuting and punishing cyber criminals.
  • Be responsible for specialized denial and deception operations and collection of cybersecurity information that may be used to develop intelligence.

Career Opportunities for Our Graduates

Nationwide, the demand for positions in cybersecurity are expected to grow by over 50 percent by the end of 2018. More than 200,000 cybersecurity jobs are unfilled in public and private sectors, and postings are up 74 percent over the last five years. The demand is expected to remain high as the need for cybersecurity professionals has grown three times as fast as traditional IT jobs. If you're a veteran or work in law enforcement even better. These employment backgrounds and the security clearances that accompany them are particularly attractive for jobs relative to cybersecurity.  

Depending on work experience graduates can land positions as:

  • Chief Information Security Officer
  • Cybersecurity Analyst/Specialist
  • Information Security Crime Investigator/Forensics Expert.
  • Computer Security Incident Responder
  • Security Analyst
  • Risk Manager/Analyst
  • Forensic Computer Analyst
  • Information Security Analyst
  • Penetration Tester
  • IT Security Consultant

Accolades

Senate Bill 86 plans to pump $300,000 annually into educating the cybersecurity professionals of tomorrow at MSU Denver.


Sample Classes

Criminal Justice & Criminology (CJC) courses

CYBM 5000 – Cyber Laws/Regulations and Prosecution

CYBM 5001 – Cybercrime Investigation

CYBM 5002 – Theories of Cybercrime

CYBM 6001 – Capstone

 

Computer Information Systems (CIS) courses

MBA/CYBM 5205 – Information Systems Strategy Planning

CYBM 5242 – Security Risk Analysis and Risk Management

CYBM 5244 – Incident Detection and Response

CYBM 5248 – Information Assurance

 

Computer Science (CSS) courses

CYBM 5020 – Cybersecurity Infrastructure

CYBM 5021 – Network and Internet Security

CYBM 5022 – Intrusion Detection and Prevention

CYBM 5023 – Computer and Mobile Device Forensics

 

CYBM 6000 – Internship in Cybersecurity (Note: Internship is optional; students cannot substitute any other required courses with the internship)


Program Accreditation

The Master of Science in Cybersecurity is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission.


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