Program Overview

Introduction to the Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance

The Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance is designed for non-lawyer professionals seeking to advance their careers in the field of cybersecurity, data privacy, and artificial intelligence. This program equips students with the necessary legal, risk management, and technical skills to help private and public organizations identify, assess, and manage cyber risk.

Program Characteristics

The Master of Legal Studies in Cybersecurity, Risk, and Governance prepares students to bridge the communication gap between IT security professionals and key business stakeholders. Taught by industry experts and practitioners, the program emphasizes skills in leadership, law, risk management, data privacy, artificial intelligence, ethics, critical thinking, analytic problem solving, and communication.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the MLS program will be prepared for careers as cybersecurity professionals in private industry and government. Possible positions include:

• Chief Information Security Officer
• Chief Information Officer
• Chief Risk Officer
• Compliance Officer
• Information Security Officer
• Data Protection Officer
• Cybersecurity Consultant
• Risk Analyst
• Cyber & Network Security Director
• Cybersecurity & Enterprise Services Director
• Cyber Policy Analyst
• Cyber Intelligence Analyst
• Privacy Analyst
• Information Security Officer
• Intelligence Analyst/Officer (Cyber and National Security)
• Data Protection Officer/Privacy Officer
• AI Cyber Risk Manager
• AI Threat Intelligence Analyst

Job Outlook

According to Forbes, there is a global deficit of nearly 4 million cybersecurity workers, indicating a high demand for professionals with expertise in this field.

Program Requirements

The program requires 10 courses (5 core and 5 electives), totaling 30 credits.

Delivery Method

The MLS program is available online, on campus during the evening, or in any combination that works best for the student. All courses are offered synchronously in the evenings.

Admission Requirements

To be admitted to the program, applicants must submit:

• Online application form
• Application fee
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college with a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Official transcripts from the undergraduate institution
• Personal Statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• Resumé

Transfer Credits

Students may be able to transfer up to 6 graduate credits (2 courses), depending on an assessment of the course(s) and their fit within the MLS program.

Faculty

All faculty members have advanced degrees in their specific fields of expertise and are accomplished practitioners in private industry and government. Their specializations range from cybersecurity to data privacy law to IT to artificial intelligence to corporate governance, risk, and compliance.

Tuition

MLS tuition costs for the academic year are $2,150 per credit. All students admitted to the program will be automatically considered for scholarships and financial aid.

Enrollment Deposit

Admitted students who confirm their enrollment must pay a $500 enrollment deposit, which will be applied directly to their student account and deducted from their tuition bill.

Program Duration

The duration of the program is variable and depends on how many courses a student takes at any given time. If a student takes 2 courses per semester, they can complete the degree in 15 months.

Part-time Study

The program is designed to be flexible and accommodates students who wish to work full-time while pursuing their degree.