Program Overview
Cybersecurity Master's
Program Overview
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity provides a high-quality, academically challenging, and career-enriching educational program that is responsive to industry trends, changing standards, and employer needs. The degree develops students who are highly skilled in the field, technically savvy, and think critically about cybersecurity challenges.
Program Details
- Program Type: Master of Science (M.S.)
- Format: On Campus
- Estimated Time to Complete: 2 years
- Credit Hours: 30-33
Why Earn a Cybersecurity Master's?
As new technologies enter every part of daily life, the demand for people with higher degrees in cybersecurity is expected to increase exponentially. As a graduate student in the UNT Cybersecurity program, you will have the opportunity to work alongside outstanding faculty who are world-renowned in the field, as well as gain access to the Center for Information and Cyber Security (CICS).
Marketable Skills
- Communication skills in documenting vulnerabilities, standards
- Working in unscripted/unknown platforms
- Interpret abnormalities from visualizations
- Configure/test systems for vulnerabilities
- Risk analysis of systems/threats
Cybersecurity Master's Highlights
- The UNT Center for Information and Cyber Security (CICS) has been designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research.
- In addition to the six required cybersecurity courses, students also will complete five courses from an approved list of prescribed electives.
- Teaching and research assistantships are available to help you pursue your graduate degree by providing you with a monthly stipend and may qualify you for in-state tuition rates or tuition and fee support.
Career Opportunities
Currently, there are an estimated 500,000 cybersecurity jobs unfilled in the country, including:
- Administrators
- Architects
- Management
- Scientists
- Technical personnel
Cybersecurity Master's Courses
- Introduction to Computer Security (3 hrs)
- Theory and practice of computer security, stressing security models and assurance. Security goals, threats, and vulnerabilities. Cryptography, program security, and operating system security issues. Basic network security. Planning, policies, and risk analysis.
- Computer Forensics (3 hrs)
- Fundamentals of computer forensics and cyber-crime scene analysis including laws, regulations, international standards, and formal methodology for conducting computer forensic investigations.
- Secure Electronic Commerce (3 hrs)
- Electronic commerce technology, models, and issues, with emphasis on security issues. Supporting technology such as cryptography, digital signatures, certificates, and public key infrastructure (PKI).
- Secure Software Systems (3 hrs)
- Design and implementation of secure software systems. Software assurance techniques, approaches, mechanisms, and tools. Principles and practice of trustworthy computing.
- Network Security (3 hrs)
- Fundamentals of network defense. Topics include firewalls, intrusion prevention and detection systems, network forensics, building a secured routing network, and network penetration testing and vulnerability analysis.
- Applications of Cryptography (3 hrs)
- Introduces students to concepts of cryptography and its applications. Cryptography is the fundamental building block of any computer security solution.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity program at the University of North Texas is designed to provide students with a high-quality, academically challenging, and career-enriching educational experience. The program is responsive to industry trends, changing standards, and employer needs. The degree develops students who are highly skilled in the field, technically savvy, and capable of thinking critically about cybersecurity challenges.
Objectives:
The program aims to:
- Develop students' expertise in cybersecurity principles and practices.
- Equip students with the technical skills necessary to address cybersecurity challenges.
- Foster critical thinking and problem-solving abilities in the context of cybersecurity.
- Prepare students for successful careers in the cybersecurity industry.
Teaching:
- The program is taught by faculty who are world-renowned in the field of cybersecurity.
- Faculty members conduct research in areas such as:
- AI for security
- Blockchain applications
- Cloud computing and security
- Computer forensics
- Cyber intelligence
- Cryptography
- Network and IoT security
Careers:
- The program prepares students for a variety of cybersecurity roles, including:
- Administrators
- Architects
- Management
- Scientists
- Technical personnel
- The demand for cybersecurity professionals is high, with an estimated 500,000 unfilled jobs in the United States.
- An M.S. degree in Cybersecurity is considered equivalent to two years of experience in the industry, with many graduates hired into leadership roles.
Other:
- The UNT Center for Information and Cyber Security (CICS) has been designated by the National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education and Research.
- Students can choose between the 30-hour Thesis Option or the 33-hour Course Option.
- Teaching and research assistantships are available to help students pursue their graduate degree.
- On average, information security professionals earn $106,000 per year.
