Online or On-campus: Take Your Technical Skills to the Next Level
The Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity at the University of Michigan-Flint, College of Innovation & Technology empowers you with the technical training, competencies, and specialized expertise to pursue a new or advanced career in the rapidly growing cybersecurity field.
Learn the technical skills to manage and study data, and then apply those skills. Be it in business, healthcare, or finance, a degree in Cybersecurity prepares you to ask and answer questions that help shape policies and best practices. The MS in Cybersecurity program welcomes students without a computer science background after taking non-credit certificates in Algorithms, Programming, and Data Structures.
Our program offers both in-person and online formats, allowing you to fit your education into your current work schedule without slowing down your progress. With the immersive training you receive in this flexible two-year program, you graduate equipped with a firm theoretical foundation in cybersecurity and computer networking expertise to study, manage, and protect data security.
Current UM-Flint students may wish to consider enrolling on our Joint BS/MS in Cybersecurity. The joint program curriculum allows students to simultaneously earn undergraduate and graduate credits, which count for bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
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Why Earn Your Cybersecurity Master’s Degree at UM-Flint?
Flexible Learning Formats That Suit Your Needs
UM-Flint’s master’s in cybersecurity program offers both in-person and 100% online formats, which provides an added level of convenience and customization to your graduate school experience. The program’s average completion time ranges from 16 to 20 months; however, you have up to six years to complete your degree. Whether online or in person, our cybersecurity degree program empowers you to learn how you want without disrupting your life.
Empower Your Technological Skills for In-Demand Careers
As cybersecurity becomes increasingly important to all areas of businesses, ranging from healthcare to finance to automotive and many others, there is a growing demand for competent cybersecurity professionals. As reported by the Cyber Workforce Study 2023, ISC2 estimates a global workforce gap of 3.9 million needed workers. During your time in our cybersecurity master’s program, you gain the skills needed to enhance or start your career in digital security and bridge the market gap.
Accessible Course Offerings for Beginner Students
No matter your familiarity with computer science or related fields, our master’s program offers an accessible inlet into the cybersecurity field. To expand your technical experience, we have fast-track course offerings, which help build your foundational knowledge and prepare you for upcoming advanced coursework.
Diversify Your Skill Set by Choosing a Specialized Concentration
To support your overall professional development and skill acquisition, our cybersecurity graduate program offers four concentrations:
- Network and System Security
- Application and Software Security
- Cyber-Physical Systems Security
- Trustworthy AI
With these concentrations of choice, you fine-tune your digital security niche and develop useful competencies, defining you as a competitive candidate in the cybersecurity field.
Advance Your Earning Potential
As all businesses with a digital or online component depend on a secure environment to protect private data, hacking and cyberattacks remain common. Businesses rely on experts who protect data and respond to attacks precisely and skillfully. As such, new cybersecurity specialists are required constantly, expanding their earning potential and making cybersecurity a blossoming field with many possibilities for advancement.
Master’s in Cybersecurity Curriculum
The program curriculum is a total of 32 credits and it takes 16-20 months to complete on average.
Designed to provide an innovative digital security education, UM-Flint’s cybersecurity graduate program curriculum emphasizes the fusion of theory and practice to prepare you for a competitive job market. Once you’ve completed your core classes in advanced computer networking and cybersecurity, you expand your focus into more specialized areas of study by pursuing a concentration in Network and System Security or Application and Software Security.
In the Network and System Security concentration, you examine how to design and implement secure computer systems, including threat models, language security, network protocol and traffic analysis, and hardware security. You also analyze vulnerabilities and threats to wireless and mobile devices, learn how to incorporate machine learning and data science approaches in solving cybersecurity problems, and gain familiarity with cryptographic principles, applications, and practices.
The Application and Software Security concentration highlights the essentials of blockchain technology and its platforms, types, decentralized autonomous organizations (DOAs), risks, and more. Additionally, you study how to develop secure software to mitigate cybersecurity risks and follow best practices, utilize algorithmic machine learning, and conduct network, computer, and digital forensics investigations.
Review our MS in Cybersecurity program curriculum.
Academic Advising
Need guidance as you work toward your master’s in cybersecurity degree? UM-Flint’s expert academic advisors are here to encourage your growth! Committed to your success, our advisors can assist you with class selection, degree plan development, and much more.
Contact Aubree Kraut, [email protected].
Career Outlook for Cybersecurity Professionals
As the technological world continues to grow and cyberattacks become more commonplace, there is an increasing need for secure information environments and analysts to create innovative solutions to prevent would-be hackers from taking critical information or creating other problems with computer networks.
Because businesses continue to enhance their security, individuals with a strong knowledge of cybersecurity and relevant skills are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the employment of information security analysts to grow by 32% throughout the coming decade—seven times faster than the average for all occupations.
Likewise, working in cybersecurity-related roles can increase earning potential, especially if an individual has earned a relevant graduate degree. While the median salary is $112,000, annual earnings can extend up to $174,540*, depending on the level of education, previous work experience, and the industry.
With this positive career outlook, the graduates of UM-Flint’s cybersecurity master’s program can kick-start their careers in many industries, such as consulting, financial services, health care, and technology.
Admission Requirements
UM-Flint’s online Master of Science in Cybersecurity seeks applicants who meet the following requirements:
- A Bachelor of Science degree from a regionally accredited institution.
- Preference is given to students with a background in a Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) field. Applicants who lack eligibility requirements in coursework (Algorithms, Programming, and Data Structure) must complete courses from the prerequisite list by taking the online non-credit certificates option or the Fast-Track option.
- Applicants with other undergraduate degrees may enter the program while they complete the Fast Track coursework, which allows them to attain the required background knowledge quickly.
- A minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirements may be offered admission. Admission in such cases depends heavily on other indices of the student’s ability to handle graduate-level work. These might include strong performance on GPA in the major and/or other experiences that are clearly indicative of strong academic ability.
Applicants with a three-year bachelor’s degree from an institution outside of the U.S. are eligible for admission at the University of Michigan-Flint if the course-by-course credential evaluation from the World Education Services (WES) report clearly states the three-year degree completed is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree.
Preparatory Fast-Track Options for Non-CS Students
Students with undergraduate degrees in non-computing fields may need to demonstrate proficiency with algorithms, object-oriented programming, and data structures to qualify for admission to a computing-related MS program.
The following two options are in place to qualify for admission to UM-Flint graduate programs in CIT:
- Non-credit certificates in Algorithms, Programming, and Data Structures.
CIT offers non-credit certificates in three areas of preparation: Algorithms, Programming, and Data Structures. Students must pass the certificate tests with 85% or better and provide proof of successful completion to the Graduate Programs Manager in CIT at [email protected]. These certificates are not for academic credit; they are guided self-study of the topics, take approximately 4 weeks per certificate, and can be taken simultaneously. - Fast Track
For students seeking a more traditional, slower-paced instruction, CIT also offers an accelerated “Fast Track” program consisting of five undergraduate courses. The Fast Track program assists students from any background to prepare themselves for success in CIT graduate programs. Students must earn a grade of C (2.0) or better in each Fast Track course and must maintain a B (3.0) or better cumulative grade point average in all Fast Track courses.
Cybersecurity students must show proficiency in CSC 175 & 275 (certificates and/or Fast Track courses).
State Authorization for Online Students
In recent years, the federal government has emphasized the need for universities and colleges to comply with the distance education laws of each state. Out-of-state students intending to enroll in this program should visit the State Authorization page to verify the status of UM-Flint with their state.
Applying to the Cybersecurity Program
At UM-Flint, we make the application process straightforward. To apply to our master’s in cybersecurity program, please submit the following materials:
- Application for Graduate Admission.
- $55 application fee (non-refundable).
- Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Please read our full transcript policy for more information.
- For any degree completed at a non-US institution, transcripts must be submitted for an internal credential review. Read the following for instructions on how to submit your transcripts for review.
- If English is not your native language, and if you are not from an exempt country, you must demonstrate English proficiency.
- Statement of Purpose describing your objectives for graduate study and reasons for selecting this program. You may submit statements online during the application process or email them to [email protected].
- A minimum of two letters of recommendation. Recommendations should be from individuals familiar with your work in academic or professional contexts who can comment on your critical thinking skills, ability to undertake independent projects, and capacity for collaborating with colleagues. We send electronic recommendation requests as a part of the online application process.
- Students from abroad must submit additional documentation.
Application Deadlines
Prospective students interested in the cybersecurity graduate program must submit all application materials to the Office of Graduate Programs by 5 p.m. on the day of the application deadline. This program offers rolling admission with monthly application reviews. To be considered for admission, please submit all application materials on or before:
- Fall – May 1 (guaranteed consideration*)
- Fall – August 1 (if space permits, US citizens and permanent residents only)
- Winter – October 1 (guaranteed consideration)
- Winter – December 1 (US citizens and permanent residents only)
- Summer – April 1 (US citizens and permanent residents only)
*Applicants must have a complete application by the early deadline to guarantee eligibility for scholarships, grants, and research assistantships.
As a new academic degree, this program is not currently accepting applications from international students seeking an F-1 visa. This program will accept applications from international students who are required to have an I-20 as soon as authorization from the Department of Homeland Security is received.
Estimated Tuition and Cost
At UM-Flint, we believe a graduate education should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we are committed to ensuring our graduate students receive competitive tuition rates and impactful financial aid resources that help them achieve their personal and professional aspirations.
Learn more about UM-Flint’s tuition and financial aid.
Challenge Your Limits by Pursuing Your Master’s in Cybersecurity at UM-Flint
The University of Michigan-Flint’s Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity prepares you to be a front-runner and innovator in digital security. With the comprehensive training you receive, you unlock new potential and accelerate your career development.
Ready to take the next step toward transforming your future? Request information, or start your UM-Flint application today!
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