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Schools with Accredited Cybersecurity Degree Programs

Since the world wide web went live in 1991 and the internet fully commercialized in 1995, there has been a rapid increase in the number and sheer variety of cybercrimes committed worldwide. Hackers’ targets have included secure government websites, credit card number databases, university research organizations, popular Twitter accounts, celebrity phones, and city infrastructure, to name a few.

How extensive are cyber threats, and how much damage can they cause? The vast majority of attacks are leveled against companies and institutions across the US, and the damage from these cyber-intrusions can be substantial. By illustration, the security and risk management publication CSO (2022) compiled a list of surprising research-backed facts about cybersecurity.

Currently, the FBI’s most-wanted cyber criminals include a cadre of Iranian hackers working at the behest of the government of Iran whose actions compromised universities, private companies, and government entities; Alexsey Belan, who has been charged in connection with compromising at least 500 million Yahoo accounts; and Viet Quoc Nguyen, who is wanted for hacking into email service providers and stealing confidential information.

So what can be done in response to these threats? A new generation of crime-fighters has emerged to protect the vulnerable security systems of the electronic age. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2023), cybersecurity professionals such as information security analysts perform a wealth of preventative and proactive functions such as monitoring computer networks for security breaches; installing protective software; educating company personnel on best practices for guarding confidential information; and keeping abreast of the latest trends in the industry.

Furthermore, these computer specialists are well-compensated. The BLS (2022) reports that information security analysts—one possible subfield of cybersecurity—make an annual median salary of $112,000, 44 percent the average salary of all U.S. occupations. Finally, openings for this career are projected to swell 32 percent between 2022 and 2032, much faster than the average estimated growth for all jobs (3 percent).

The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies (NICCS) indicates that in addition to information security analysts, there are several high-growth career paths open to cybersecurity specialists, such as becoming a security engineer; vulnerability assessor; computer crime investigator; forensics expert; cryptanalyst; web penetration tester; cryptographer; disaster recovery expert; or for the leadership-inclined, a chief information security officer (CISO).

Read on to discover the range of cybersecurity degree and certificate programs, both on-campus and web-based, and learn about professional certification and program accreditation.

Degree & Certificate Programs in Cybersecurity

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023), information security analysts typically need at least a bachelor’s degree to enter the profession. Still, there are exceptions to this dynamic field, particularly for those with extensive experience. Read on to learn more about featured bachelor’s degree programs in cybersecurity.

Colorado Technical University (CTU) offers an online bachelor of science (BS) with a concentration in cybercrime and security at all the CTU campuses except for Colorado Springs and Aurora. Recognized by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and certified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), students in this program take courses such as introduction to computer security, security risk management, ethical hacking, and computer forensics.

  • Location: Denver, CO
  • Duration: Four years
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Tuition: $340 per credit

Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in information assurance, research, and cyber operations, provides a variety of master’s degrees related to information technology and computer forensics.

One standout option is the three-semester master of science in information security (MSIS) degree program, which features a technical focus on security and computer systems. With a heavy emphasis on research, the MSIS curriculum consists of core courses, program electives, and a required summer internship. A cyber-ops certificate is also an available option for MSIS students. In addition, the MSIS program meets the requirements for the NSF-funded CyberCorps scholarship for service program, which provides a full scholarship and academic stipend for two years.

Other programs at CMU include a master’s of science in information networking (MSIN), a bicoastal master’s of science in mobile and IoT engineering (MSMITE) with students taking courses at Carnegie Mellon’s Pittsburgh and Silicon Valley campuses, and a master’s of science in information security (MSIT-IS).

  • Location: Pittsburg, PA
  • Duration: Two years
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Tuition: $90,000 per year

George Washington University (GWU) in Washington DC, has a master of science (MS) in cybersecurity in computer science program. Boasting world-class faculty and located in the nation’s capital—a prominent target of cyberattacks—GWU’s 30-credit program instructs in areas such as design & analysis of algorithms, advanced software paradigms, computer system architecture, and management of information & systems security. GWU also offers a PhD program in this discipline and a graduate certificate in cybersecurity and information assurance.

  • Location: Washington DC
  • Duration: Two to three years
  • Accreditation: Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Tuition: $1,995 per credit

Syracuse University (SU) offers a 30-credit master of science (MS) and a 12-credit certificate of advanced study (CAS) in cybersecurity programs. Courses in these programs provide the necessary foundations for the design and development of secure systems and learning to identify and analyze systems vulnerabilities, assess risk, and develop countermeasures through software components.

Designated as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) by the NSA and DHS, Syracuse also offers a PhD in computer science that allows students to focus on research in cybersecurity. Students must complete the master’s program in four years and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

  • Location: Syracuse, NY
  • Duration: Four years
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Tuition: $1,872 per credit

Common Courses & Requirements in Cybersecurity Programs

As mentioned above, there are a variety of degrees and certificates for aspiring cybersecurity professionals. Following are the common entrance prerequisites (i.e., admissions materials), courses, and sample programs at each degree level.

Associate Degree in Cybersecurity

  • Prerequisites: Official transcripts from all secondary (and/or postsecondary) schools or General Educational Development (GED) diploma, personal statement, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
  • Common courses: Database fundamentals, computer operating systems & maintenance, introduction to Linux/Unix, networking essentials, database security, PC troubleshooting & repair, introduction to computer forensics & cybercrime, finite math, operating systems, general education requirements, introduction to routers & routing, CompTIA Security+, server administration, general education requirements (e.g., English composition, economics, government, arts & humanities)
  • Sample program: Southern State Community College

Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity

  • Prerequisites: Official transcripts from all secondary (and/or postsecondary) institutions with a competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0) or GED, completion of specific coursework (e.g., high school level mathematics), personal statement, letter(s) of recommendation, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) scores, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
  • Common courses: Introduction to computer security, principles of network security, security risk management, software assurance, computer forensics, database & web vulnerabilities & security, scripting with Perl, business continuity & disaster recovery planning, introduction to C++ programming, organization of data, the threat of terrorism & crime, decision theory & analysis
  • Sample program: Iona College

Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity

  • Prerequisites: Official transcripts from a bachelor’s program (e.g., computer science, engineering, cybersecurity, or a related technical discipline) with a competitive GPA (e.g., >3.0), completion of specific coursework (e.g., C programming language, data structures, probabilities), personal statement of purpose, interview (in-person or video), letter(s) of recommendation, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
  • Common courses: Information risk security analysis, information security policy & management, packet switching & computer networks, operating system design & implementation, distributed systems, applied cryptography, host-based forensics, cyber forensics & incident response, foundations of information security, secure systems engineering, computer & network forensics, a capstone project (i.e., dissertation)
  • Sample program: University of South Florida (USF)

Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity

  • Prerequisites: Official transcripts from post-secondary program (e.g., engineering, computer science, or a related technical discipline), personal statement, proof of experience, resume (i.e., CV), interview, TOEFL scores for non-native speakers of English, application fee
  • Common courses: Leadership & strategy in cybersecurity, applied cybersecurity & crisis, operating systems & systems programming, technical countermeasures & risk assessment, introduction to cryptology, technology & national security
  • Sample program: Georgetown University

Hybrid & Online Cybersecurity Programs

In addition to the programs listed on www.forensicscolleges.com’s online computer forensics programs, here are four additional distance-based cybersecurity programs to consider:

Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) has been recognized as a Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) by the US NSA. It provides a 15-credit online undergraduate certificate in security and risk analysis, emphasizing information and cybersecurity. In addition, Penn State has specialized instruction in information, people & technology; the organization of data; the legal & regulatory environment of information science & technology; and the threat of terrorism & crime. As part of the curriculum, students complete a supervised internship to put their newfound abilities to work on real-world case studies. Penn State also hosts an online BS in information sciences and technology.

  • Location: University Park, PA
  • Duration: One to two years
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Tuition: $590 to $632 per credit

Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) provides an online bachelor of science (BS) in information technologies with a focus on cybersecurity. SNHU’s affordable program, organized into six, nine-week terms, features a curriculum on protecting sensitive data networks, operating systems (e.g., Linux/Unix), and cybersecurity fundamentals. In addition, the accomplished instructors cut their teeth dealing with real cyberattacks and teach courses such as introduction to software development, fundamentals of information technology, and cyberlaw & ethics.

  • Location: Manchester, NH
  • Duration: Four years
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Tuition: $330 per credit

The University of Southern California (USC) offers a 28-unit online master of science (MS) in cyber security engineering, typically taking two years to complete. Ideal for information technology professionals, this advanced degree program involves not only classes such as foundations of information security, secure systems engineering, and applied cryptography but also boasts professionally designed, simulated laboratory experiences to put students’ burgeoning theoretical and technical knowledge to the test.

  • Location: Los Angeles, CA
  • Duration: Two years
  • Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Tuition: $2,424 per credit unit

The University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) offers a wealth of online bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs in cybersecurity, including one outstanding online graduate certificate in the foundations of cybersecurity comprising 18 semester hours of instruction in cyberspace & cybersecurity and human aspects of cybersecurity (i.e., ethics, legal issues, and psychology).

Other degree options at UMGC include a bachelor of science (BS) in cybersecurity management and policy; a BS in computer networks and cybersecurity; a BS in software development and security; a master of science (MS) in cybersecurity; an MS in cybersecurity policy; an MS in digital forensics and cyber investigation; and an MS in information technology (information assurance).

  • Location: College Park, MD
  • Duration: One to four years
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Tuition: $694 per credit

Professional Certification in Cybersecurity

Following the completion of a degree or certificate program, many cybersecurity professionals choose to seek out professional certification. There is a wide variety of options available—including the popular Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Certified Computer Forensics Examiner (CCFE) certifications, which test candidates’ knowledge of computer forensics and network security, ensuring that they are knowledgeable about techniques and learning in the field.

Many employers prefer job candidates who are professionally certified. Tom’s IT Pro (2023) created a data-driven spread of the most in-demand computer forensics certifications using data from popular job posting sources such as LinkedIn, SimplyHired, and Indeed and found the following to be the most in-demand:

  • The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) provides the certified forensic computer examiner (CFCE) certification. To earn this certification, applicants must complete a two-part exam, which consists of a peer review and certification phases. In addition, to qualify for the certification process, candidates must have completed 72 hours of training in the core concepts of computer forensics, and applicants should expect to submit to a background check.
  • The International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) provides the computer hacking forensic investigator (CHFI) V8 certification. To qualify for the four-hour exam, candidates must have at least two years of experience in information security. Please note that the EC-Council also provides the following specialty certifications: certified ethical hacker (CEH), EC-Council certified security analyst (ECSA), EC-Council certified incident handler (ECIH), and licensed penetration tester (LPT).
  • The Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) program has several four-year certifications, including the intermediate GIAC certified forensic examiner (GCFE) and the senior GIAC certified forensic analyst (GCFA).

Applicants should check certification websites for information on maintaining credentials, a process typically involving completing continued education (CE) hours.

Cybersecurity Degree & Certificate Program Accreditation

Aspiring professionals in cybersecurity are encouraged to verify the accreditation status of their program. This process not only evaluates the faculty, curricula, and student outcomes of a program or institution but also can serve as an indicator of program quality to prospective employers or graduate admissions committees.

Although no specific body accredits cybersecurity or digital forensics programs, six regional accreditation organizations are recognized by the US Department of Education. These agencies include:

  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
  • Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
  • New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
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