The Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree program is intended to provide a solid foundation and detailed technical knowledge in information security, computer security, network security, and software security and an understanding of the social, policy, ethical, and legal aspects of security and privacy.
Students with a degree in computer science, information technology, computer engineering, electrical engineering, information systems, mathematics, software engineering, or a related technical area who want to further their knowledge in Cybersecurity can pursue a natural continuation of studies.
There are two paths available in the program: a research track and a professional track.
Table of Contents
Why Choose Oakland University?
We were the first institution in Michigan to offer a master’s degree in cybersecurity, and we’re still ahead of the curve.
Cybersecurity students and professors at Oakland University are already working to fight tomorrow’s cybersecurity risks, employing next-generation technologies to keep one step ahead of cyber attackers.
You will study with nationally recognized cybersecurity experts on our campus while also gaining hands-on experience through cybersecurity internships and joint research with business and government partners.
One of the reasons the United States government selected Oakland University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education in 2018 was our pioneering cybersecurity degree.
The recognition provides students pursuing a master’s degree in cybersecurity with practical benefits, such as funding for scholarships and research.
Our Cybersecurity program is recognized because:
- Industry-leading research
The Center for Cybersecurity at Oakland University brings together researchers from cybersecurity, computer science, engineering, business, math, criminal justice, and public administration.
At the center, supported by the National Security Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Science Foundation, and other organizations, you will be actively involved in pioneering cybersecurity research.
- Exceptional Faculty
Our cybersecurity master’s degree program is led by worldwide specialists who excel as instructors, researchers, and professional mentors.
You’ll work with the finest in the business, forming partnerships that will help you optimize your skills and extend your career opportunities.
- Professional training
Through our cybersecurity degree’s professional track, you may obtain applied, industry-oriented cybersecurity training.
This optional course series develops cutting-edge knowledge in mobile devices, cloud computing, wireless network security, cyber law, forensics, and information system privacy, allowing you to stand out in the job market.
- University-wide commitment to cybersecurity
The master’s degree in cybersecurity is only one component of Oakland University’s cybersecurity concentration.
This university also incorporates cybersecurity education into business, computer science, engineering, criminal justice, public administration, and health sciences degrees.
This all-encompassing dedication broadens the scope of our cybersecurity master’s degree and expands your possibilities to investigate a wide variety of cybersecurity risks and applications.
- Community engagement
Given the pervasiveness of computers and cellphones, cybersecurity is a social issue. Oakland University encourages cybersecurity education across the campus and in the community.
We fund efforts to improve cybersecurity education in K-12 schools, community colleges, technical training sites, and other institutions, in addition to collaborating with companies and government organizations.
What can you accomplish with a degree in cybersecurity?
The cybersecurity employment market is expanding at a rapid pace. In the subsequent years, the United States Defense Department alone is anticipated to employ more than 50,000 cybersecurity professionals.
State and municipal governments will need to strengthen their cyber defenses as well. Not to mention the high need for cybersecurity specialists in the corporate sector.
Our cybersecurity master’s degree may serve as a basis for nearly any cybersecurity job focus. Among the possibilities are:
- Network engineering
- Investigation
- Threat assessment
- Incident response
- Research
- Mobile communications
- Data encryption
Our cybersecurity master has a total of 32 credits. Half of the courses are introductory and core, while the other half provide options to enhance your emphasis on academia and your profession.
The degree in cybersecurity involves a thesis based on original research.
Courses and electives cover cybersecurity principles such as:
- Databases
- Operating systems
- Network security
- Mobile applications
- Software security
- Forensics
- Wireless communications
- Intellectual property
Core courses
The curriculum takes 32 hours in total, sixteen hours of foundation and core courses and sixteen semester hours of profound study, including an optional master’s thesis.
The theoretical framework for understanding the source of computer and IT systems vulnerabilities is provided by core courses on computer network security, host computer security, and information security.
The courses also expose the students to advanced tools and methodologies to identify vulnerabilities to networking infrastructure, computer systems and system-flowing data and information.
This broad theoretical basis enables students to pick courses that offer a choice of subjects in cybercafes from fields that give a depth and scope of the study. The MSC curriculum fuses current knowledge with advanced research principles to offer a state-of-the-art program.
Career opportunities
According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the employment of IT and information systems managers and administrators is expected to rise from 2008 to 2018.
The number of computer and IT managers is anticipated to expand by 17%, while the computer network, systems, and database managers are expected to rise by 30%.
These personnel assists businesses to embrace new technology, enhancing business competitiveness and safeguarding themselves against cyber assaults.
In the meantime, the Department of Homeland Security has hired 1,000 cyber specialists for the nation’s cyber infrastructure in three years. In the following years, 50 000 security professionals have been added by the Department of Defense.
Other government assessments have shown the requirement for a foreseeable future of at least 1000 additional cybersecurity graduates a year. In the financial industry also, cybersecurity roles are quickly expanding.
In the fields of cyber risk and strategy analysis, vulnerability detection and evaluation, cyber incident response, intelligence and research, networking, and systems engineering, chances to work in public and private sectors will continue.
