Cyber Security msc online – People enrol in an online master’s in cybersecurity for a variety of reasons, including career development, better pay, more opportunities, advanced study, and changing fields. A master’s degree is a great way to remain competitive in this fast-paced field, learn the latest technologies and strategies, and develop a valuable professional network.
The good news is that students seeking flexibility when studying can choose from a variety of online cybersecurity degree programmes. In the end, students who complete online cybersecurity programmes earn the same degree as their peers on campus. And cybersecurity master’s degree holders are expected to remain in high demand for the foreseeable future.
One thing is certain: given the variety of graduate education opportunities in cybersecurity, there is bound to be a programme that is a good match for your career ambitions, professional and academic context, and level of commitment.
“Our graduate degrees are all online, 100 percent either asynchronous or synchronous…You can take them in-person or online. Our online offerings allow us to be truly global. For example, we have students in South America and Afghanistan, and an instructor in Australia.”
— Ralph Russo, director of Tulane University’s Professional Advancement Information Technology Program.
Indeed, this guide is inspired in part by the fact that there are so many good choices out there that prospective students often need to invest time and energy in finding the right fit.
What is an cyber security msc online and why get one?
An online master’s degree in cybersecurity is intended to provide the same education as a traditional master’s degree in cybersecurity. The key difference is that instead of in-person lectures, the course material is delivered online.
An online master’s degree offers more versatility than a traditional master’s degree. Students may choose to take courses full-time or part-time, and synchronous or asynchronous lessons, allowing them to fit them into their schedules. Furthermore, online coursework allows students to learn from any place.
A master’s degree in cybersecurity may be required for advancement and comes with a substantial pay increase. According to PayScale, an MS in cybersecurity pays $87,292 on average, compared to $71,033 for a BS in cybersecurity. In less than a year, the $16,259 gap in average pay will offset the expense of the most accessible online master’s programmes.
Cyber security msc online coursework (what you will learn)
Online master’s degrees are structured to replicate the experience of traditional master’s degrees. As a result, these systems are likely to address the same key principles, such as:
- An overview of cybersecurity
- Network safety
- Security on the computer
- The rules and ethics in cybersecurity
Students may have the option of taking electives or pursuing a specialty in addition to the core curriculum. The following are a few examples:
- Forensics of digital data
- Cybercrime is on the rise.
- Infrastructure that is critical
- Analysis of Malware
- Answer to an incident
- Testing for penetration
- Cryptology is a branch of mathematics that deals with
A cybersecurity master’s programme should also include laboratories, internships, and capstone projects that enable students to gain hands-on experience working in the field. Students will meet people in the industry and discuss new opportunities and job prospects after graduation through these and other career-building and networking activities.
Online master’s in cybersecurity requirements
An online master’s degree in cybersecurity, like every other degree programme, has certain admissions criteria. The following are some of the most common requirements:
Bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to several online cybersecurity master’s degree programmes. In certain cases, an applicant may be able to meet this criteria by demonstrating years of appropriate work experience.
Prerequisites: Coursework or work experience in some fields is often required as a prerequisite for cybersecurity master’s degree programmes. Computer systems, networking, and programming are examples of common prerequisites.
Recommendations: As part of the acceptance process, many master’s degree programmes require two or three letters of recommendation. Professors or colleagues who are familiar with the applicant’s work should include these.
Different schools may have additional qualifications for admission to an online master’s degree programme in addition to these core requirements. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test are required for certain programmes (GMAT). As part of the admissions process, applicants can be asked to submit a resume or CV, write an essay, or participate in interviews.
Examine the admissions process of prospective online master’s programmes before making your decision. The admissions criteria and acceptance rate will reveal information about the master’s program’s quality and how well the online degree will be respected.
Funding an cyber security msc online
The cost of an online degree can vary from the cost of an on-campus degree. The cost of the degree programme and the availability of scholarships and other forms of financial assistance are two significant factors to consider.
For a variety of factors, online degrees are also less expensive than on-campus degrees:
Courses in an online degree will include pre-recorded lectures along with virtual Q&A sessions and office hours, unlike on-campus classes. Since courses may be larger or more frequent, this can lower the cost per credit.
Infrastructure: Compared to in-person courses, online courses need fewer infrastructure (classrooms, dorms, etc.). This means that a college’s overhead for online courses is lower, lowering the cost.
Housing: When enrolling in an on-campus degree programme, it is important to live near the school that is offering the degree. This necessitates either paying on-campus room and board or renting nearby. There is no need to move or pay rent to be closer to a specific campus if you have an online degree. Students may also take advantage of regional arbitrage, which allows them to live in one place while attending a more competitive or less costly college in another.
Check out our most affordable online master’s page to compare and contrast programme costs and learn more about can online master’s programmes are the most affordable.
Financial assistance and scholarships
Although online master’s programmes are often less expensive than on-campus programmes, they are still costly. However, there are a few options available to deal with tuition costs.
Government agencies offer a variety of cybersecurity master’s scholarships, demonstrating the need for well-qualified experts in both the public and private sectors. The following are a few examples of cybersecurity master’s scholarship opportunities:
Graduate Research Fellowship Program of the National Science Foundation. This is a fantastic funding tool as well as a fantastic resume-building opportunity. Both master’s and doctoral candidates are qualified for the fellowship.
The Navy’s Information Assurance Scholarship is available to all service members and civilians pursuing bachelor’s and doctoral degrees (although civilians are required to work for the Navy in a non-uniformed role upon graduation).
The Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Scholarship for Service Program is offered by the Department of Defense. This programme is open to students from bachelor’s to doctoral level, and cybersecurity is a key component.
The government isn’t the only place where you can get money for graduate school. The following are some alternative sources of possible tuition assistance:
Corporate sponsorship: Many businesses are concerned about the cybersecurity skills deficit. As a result, a company might be able to provide tuition assistance or complete reimbursement to workers pursuing a cybersecurity degree.
Private scholarships: In addition to federal scholarships, private scholarships are available. Scholarships are available from certain businesses and professional societies for students seeking degrees in specific fields.
Research assistantships are a popular source of funding for on-campus Master’s degree programmes, and they may be available to online students as well. Graduate study in cybersecurity may be done off-site without the need for a specialised facility.
Prize money: Every year, a variety of cybersecurity capture the flag (CTF) competitions take place. Some of these have scholarships or other cash prizes that can be used to help pay for an online cybersecurity Master’s degree.
Career paths with a cybersecurity master’s degree
With an estimated 3.12 million unfilled vacancies worldwide, the cybersecurity industry is facing a major skills shortage. The demand for cybersecurity specialists is expected to continue to rise, opening up a plethora of opportunities for skilled individuals.
A cybersecurity master’s degree’s core curriculum is structured to give students a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity. This prepares a student for a career as a security operations centre (SOC) analyst, which is a job that involves identifying and resolving threats to a company.
Cybersecurity master’s programmes, on the other hand, have electives and specialisation options. By taking advantage of these resources, a student will lay the groundwork for more advanced positions like cloud security architect, forensic analyst, and so on.
Although cybersecurity professionals are in high demand in general, these specialised skills could be even more so. During a master’s programme, you can pursue specialisations and learn these skills, which opens up a range of job opportunities.
FAQs for online cybersecurity master’s programmes
Is an online master’s in cyber security worth it?
The average salary for a master’s degree in cybersecurity is more than $16,000 more than the average for a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity. This is more than the cost of many of the most accessible online master’s degrees in cybersecurity. A graduate degree can also open up new career pathways and opportunities.
What can I do with an online master’s degree in cybersecurity?
A master’s degree in cybersecurity offers a solid foundation in the field as well as electives that enable students to pursue different cybersecurity specialisations. Via lab experiments, internships, and capstone projects, it also offers hands-on training. An MS in cybersecurity provides students with the expertise and qualifications they need to pursue a range of cybersecurity careers.
Is an online master’s in cybersecurity a hard degree?
An online master’s degree in cybersecurity is intended to be a flexible programme. A student should be able to complete the programme successfully if they have the necessary pre-requisites or equivalent experience.
How long does an online master’s in cybersecurity degree take?
The majority of online graduate programmes require 27 to 45 credit hours. This is equivalent to one to two years of full-time education. However, since online degrees are mostly intended to be completed part-time, the length of time it takes to complete one is determined by the student’s course load.
Is an online master’s in cybersecurity math-heavy?
Cybersecurity isn’t typically a math-heavy area, and master’s in cybersecurity programmes represent this. A student pursuing an MS in cybersecurity should be able to programme (which necessitates some mathematical understanding), but advanced mathematics is not needed.
Cybersecurity schools online: Complete listings
A full list of all schools that offer an online master’s in cybersecurity can be found here.
