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Master of Science

Online Master's in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

OVERVIEW

A Cybersecurity Master's Degree and IT Certifications in One Program


 

WGU's Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance prepares you to expand your toolkit to better protect invaluable data at top organizations. Curriculum that is aligned to the NICE Framework, NSA Center of Academic Excellence guidelines, CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), and government initiatives help give you valuable, real-world experience as part of your program.

Advanced topics include Cloud Security, Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC), Penetration Testing, and Enterprise Architecture Design. This online degree program also gives you the opportunity to earn multiple industry-recognized certifications at no extra cost. These certifications include:

  • (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
  • CompTIA PenTest+
  • CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
  • ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher

Many different organizations want and need to hire information security professionals—from federal and local government agencies, to tech companies, and other organizations across a variety of sectors—all are looking for security experts. Earn your M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance to progress in your career and make an impact.  

70% of graduates finish within 

21 Months*

WGU lets you move more quickly through material you already know and advance as soon as you're ready. The result: You may finish faster.

*WGU Internal Data

Tuition per six-month term is

$4,555

Tuition charged per term—rather than per credit—helps you control the ultimate cost of your degree. Finish faster, pay less! Plus, you can earn valuable industry certifications for no extra cost.

Certifications in this program

5

This online cybersecurity and information assurance program includes 5 top industry certifications, helping enhance your résumé before you even graduate, at no additional cost.

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COURSES

Courses in the Cybersecurity Master's Degree

Program consists of 10 courses

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

This cybersecurity program is composed of the following courses. You will typically complete them one at a time as you make your way through your program, working with your Program Mentor each term to build your personalized Degree Plan. You’ll work through each course as quickly as you can study and learn the material. As soon as you’re ready, you’ll pass the assessment, complete the course, and move on. This means you can finish as many courses as you're able in a term at no additional cost. 

The M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance program is an all-online program that you will complete through independent study with the support of WGU faculty. You will be expected to complete at least 8 competency units (WGU's equivalent of the credit hour) each 6-month term. (Each course is typically 3 or 4 units).

The WGU M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance online degree program was designed, and is regularly updated, with input from the experts on our Information Technology Program Council, ensuring you learn best practices in systems and services, networking and security, scripting and programming, data management, and the business of IT. The experts who make up the WGU IT Program Council know exactly what it takes for a graduate to be successful in the fast-paced, ever-changing world of information technology.

Security
Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
Penetration Testing
Web and Cloud Security
Cybersecurity Management
Risk Management
Network Design and Management
Software
Secure Systems Analysis & Design
Capstone

10 Courses

Program consists of 10 courses

 

At WGU, we design our curriculum to be timely, relevant, and practical—all to help you show that you know your stuff.

Capstone Project

Special requirements for this program

Using knowledge acquired through your studies at WGU, you will complete a final assignment that challenges you to propose a solution to a real-world business issue relevant to today’s IT industry. 

Skills For Your Résumé

As part of this program, you will develop a range of valuable skills that employers are looking for. 

  • Cyber Security: Developed processes that integrate best security practices across an organization, enhancing overall cybersecurity posture and minimizing vulnerabilities.
  • Information Assurance: Created a risk management plan for threat mitigation countermeasures relevant to the organization, ensuring proactive identification and mitigation of potential cybersecurity risks.
  • Incident Response: Detected adverse events using cyber defense tools, enabling rapid response and mitigation of cybersecurity incidents.
  • Cybersecurity Strategy: Developed an information security strategy that aligns with organizational goals, objectives, and existing security strategies, ensuring a comprehensive and cohesive approach to cybersecurity.
  • Problem Solving:  Compared alternatives to select the optimum solution to a problem, demonstrating analytical and decision-making skills in resolving cybersecurity challenges.
  • Incident Response:  Created policies and procedures for an adverse cybersecurity event, establishing clear guidelines for responding to and recovering from cybersecurity incidents effectively.

“WGU’s advantage is its flexibility. The education itself is top-notch, and the flexibility allows busy people to get through school. I recommend WGU to everybody, particularly in IT fields. The certifications you get at WGU are fantastic—some of the best in the industry”

—Ken Krauss
M.S. Information Security and Assurance

WGU vs. Traditional Universities
Compare the Difference

Traditional Universities

 

AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS

$350*

Included with your tuition cost

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 2 years

*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay some fees for membership to complete their certification requirements.

Traditional Universities

 

AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS

$350*

AVG. cost
For 3RD PARTY IT CERTIFICATIONS

Included with your tuition cost

TUITION STRUCTURE

Per credit hour

TUITION STRUCTURE

Flat rate per 6-month term

SUPPORT

Schedule and wait days or even weeks to meet with one of many counselors

SUPPORT

Simply email or call to connect with your designated Program Mentor who supports you from day one

EXAMS

Scheduled time

EXAMS

Whenever you feel ready

SCHEDULE

Professor led lectures at a certain time and place

SCHEDULE

Courses available anytime, from anywhere

TIME TO FINISH

Approximately 2 years, minimal acceleration options

TIME TO FINISH

As quickly as you can master the material, typically less than 2 years

*The cost of valuable industry certification exams can range from $150 to $400. At WGU, we offer vouchers for certification exams, so the cost is included in your tuition price. Students may have to pay some fees for membership to complete their certification requirements.

Why WGU?

Earning Potential

According to a 2022 Harris Poll, just two years after graduation, WGU grads report earning $22,200 more per year, and that amount increases to $29,200 four years after graduation.

On Your Schedule

No class times, no assignment deadlines. You are in charge of your learning and schedule. You can move through your courses as quickly as you master the material, meaning you can graduate faster.
 

Entirely Online

The cybersecurity master's degree at WGU is 100% online, which means it works wherever you are. You can do your coursework at night after working at your full-time job, on weekends, while you're on vacation—it's entirely up to you.

Accredited, Respected,
Recognized™

One important measure of a degree’s value is the reputation of the university where it was earned. When employers, industry leaders, and academic experts hold your alma mater in high esteem, you reap the benefits of that respect. WGU is a pioneer in reinventing higher education for the 21st century, and our quality has been recognized. 

 

IT CERTIFICATIONS

3rd Party Certifications Included


 

These valuable industry certifications can help you boost your résumé as soon as you earn them, even before you finish your degree. Your low, flat-rate tuition and fees cover exam costs for five industry certifications. Earn valuable industry certifications at no extra cost as you work toward your degree. This allows you to utilize both your degree and additional certifications to demonstrate your expertise and learning. 

  • CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
  • CompTIA PenTest+
  • CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
  • ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
  • (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)

WGU Ranked #10 Best Online Cybersecurity Master's Program

Fortune.com ranked WGU's Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance as the tenth best online master's program for cybersecurity in the country.

COST & TIME

An Affordable Cybersecurity Master's Degree

By charging per six-month term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.

Tuition Calculator
Pay less by completing your program faster
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A College Degree Within Reach

There is help available to make it possible to pay for school:

The average student loan debt of WGU graduates in 2022 (among those who borrowed) was less than half* the national average.

Most WGU students qualify for financial aid, and WGU is approved for federal financial aid and U.S. veterans benefits. 

Many scholarship opportunities are available. Find out if you're eligible for the $5,000 WGU Cybersecurity Scholarship.

*WGU undergraduate students have approximately half the debt at graduation compared to the national average, according to the Institute for College Access and Success (2022).

FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

A Different Way to Learn: Degree Programs Designed to Fit Your Life—and All the Demands on Your Time

Professional responsibilities. Family obligations. Personal commitments. At WGU, we understand schedules are tight and often unpredictable for adult students. That’s why we offer a flexible, personalized approach to how education should be. No rigid class schedules. Just a solid, career-focused teaching program that meshes with your current lifestyle. You'll be challenged. You'll work hard. But if you commit yourself and put in the hours needed, WGU makes it possible for you to earn a highly respected degree as a busy working adult.

"Because of WGU's competency-based model I was able to leverage my experience and progress through the courses at my rate. My degrees have opened many doors for me and prepared me with the skills and knowledge I need to succeed.”

—Jason Franklin
M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance

CAREER OUTLOOK

Become a Leader in the Dynamic and Lucrative Cybersecurity Field, Where You Can Outsmart Criminals

We constantly share data, socialize, and complete transactions online, making the need for experts who can protect our information increasingly critical. The knowledge, techniques, and certifications you’ll earn as you complete your cybersecurity and information assurance degree will prepare you to:

  • Defend against internal and external threats
  • Strengthen online systems
  • Create a safer online environment

Cybercriminals target sensitive data in top industries. A master's degree in cybersecurity prepares you to successfully fill the ever-growing demand for information security specialists that protect vital information. An online degree in cybersecurity from WGU allows you to become a leader of any security team, protecting reputable organizations and government agencies from threats.

Return on Your Investment

On average, WGU graduates see an increase in income post-graduation

Average income increase from all degrees in annual salary vs. pre-enrollment salary. Source: 2022 Harris Poll Survey of 1,542 WGU graduates.

Survey was sent to a representative sample of WGU graduates from all colleges. Respondents received at least one WGU degree since 2017.

35%

The number of positions for information security analysts is expected to grow by 31% from 2021 to 2031.

—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Our Cybersecurity Master's Degree Alumni Are Making a Real Difference in Protecting Data and Information

Our M.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance alumni have great jobs and satisfying careers:

Job Titles

  • Cybersecurity Manager
  • Cybersecurity Architect
  • Cybersecurity Engineer
  • Director of Information Technology
  • IT Auditor
  • Information Security Officer

Diverse Industries

  • Healthcare
  • Retail
  • Large or small businesses
  • Government
  • Critical infrastructure
  • Higher education

Major Employers

  • Nike
  • American Express
  • Boeing
  • Blue Shield of California
  • State and Local Government
  • Federal Agencies

WGU Grads Hold Positions With Top Employers

ADMISSIONS

Admissions Requirements Unique to The Cybersecurity Master's Program

To be considered for enrollment in this program, you must:

1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, a business degree (Quantitative Analysis, Accounting, Economics, Finance), or degree with a similar quantitative focus. 

OR

2. Possess any bachelor’s degree PLUS one of the following:

  • Two years of related work experience
  • Relevant and current IT certification
  • Related IT coursework 

NOTE: You do not need to take the GRE or GMAT to be admitted to this program. Learn why we don't require these tests.

Transfer Credits

Get Your Enrollment Checklist

Download your step-by-step guide to enrollment.

Get Your Questions Answered

Talk to an WGU Enrollment Counselor.

FAQs about Cybersecurity Master's Programs

You should speak with an Enrollment Counselor. WGU can often provide advice or resources to help a prospective student fulfill enrollment prerequisites.

When you enroll in a WGU degree program, our goal is to see you through to graduation. Admission requirements are designed to increase your likelihood of success. Years of data and experience with the nontraditional students WGU serves have shown us how various types of academic and professional experience can be highly important in helping a student persist to graduation. Industry certifications are one of many ways a student can meet eligibility.

WGU has an obligation to our graduates—and their current and future employers—to ensure WGU alumni have mastered the most up-to-date, current competencies and skills needed in the workplace. Recency of certifications helps us ensure that students have demonstrated competency in skills as they are needed in today's working world.

As a full-time student, you will be required to maintain a minimum pace of 12 competency units (CUs) per term for undergraduate programs or 8 CUs per term for graduate programs. However, there is no maximum speed—once you complete a course, you move immediately to the next, and you complete a course not by waiting for the syllabus, the professor, or the rest of the class. You progress by learning the material and proving it—so you can move through your coursework at the speed of your own learning and experience.

Instructors are highly educated, experienced experts in the subject matter of a course. Unlike in a traditional university where going to class means listening to an instructor lecture while you take notes and try to learn in a group setting, WGU's Instructors provide one-on-one instruction and support when you need it—tailoring the instruction to your precise needs when you need it. Instructors also provide additional resources, lead topical discussions in online communities, and find countless other ways to bring a specific course to life for students.

If you currently work in IT or security, a cybersecurity master's degree can help you be prepared to take the next step in your career. It can prepare you to move forward to positions such as a CISO, CIO, CTO, cybersecurity manager, cybersecurity director, and more.

A master's degree in cybersecurity can be ideal for those who are looking to move up the career ladder, earn more money, and be qualified for additional responsibilities. A master's degree in cybersecurity can help you move into a more security focused field, increase your earning potential, and add on your current skills to make you more valuable to employers.

Some jobs that are available with a master's degree in cybersecurity include:

  • Chief information security officer (CISO).
  • Chief technology officer (CTO).
  • Computer information systems manager.
  • Computer network architect.
  • Cybercrime analyst/investigator.
  • Cyber security analyst/consultant.
  • Cyber security architect.
  • Cyber security director.
  • Cyber security engineer.

Earning a master's degree in cybersecurity can be well worth the time and effort. Many graduates will see an increase in earning potential, promotion opportunities, and increased job stability as a result of their higher education.

There are a wide variety of career paths you can pursue with the help of a master's degree in cybersecurity. You can move up the ladder and become a cybersecurity senior analyst, a cybersecurity architect, a cybersecurity consultant, a cybersecurity manager, or even a CISO with the help of this advanced degree.

Those who are looking to advance their professional career in information security or cybersecurity analysis may want to earn a cybersecurity master’s degree. Those who are feeling they lack upward mobility in their current role may be interested in pursuing an advanced cybersecurity degree. Those who enjoy solving complex problems are good candidates for a master’s degree in cybersecurity.

For the best jobs in cybersecurity, you will want to earn a Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance. The more education, experience, and certifications you have, the more qualified you will be for advanced positions with higher influence and salary potential. A master’s degree in cybersecurity may prepare you for jobs including chief information security officer and information security manager.

If you’d like to pursue a career in cybersecurity, the best degree might be a specialized cybersecurity bachelor’s or master’s degree. In these types of degree programs, you’ll learn about basic computer science, information security, cybersecurity architecture and engineering, and secure network design. 

Traditionally it will take 2 years to earn a master's degree in cybersecurity. However, online options like the program at WGU may allow you to accelerate and work at your own pace, giving you the opportunity to finish much faster. At WGU, students the cybersecurity and information assurance master's degree in less than 2 years.*

*WGU Internal Data

If you already have one of the certifications that are offered in this program, you will submit it for a transfer evaluation. It’s possible that it will transfer in and it can shorten your pathway to graduation.

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