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Tomorrow Needs You. Are You Ready?

Receive a graduate education from an accredited institution.

Cybersecurity—MS

Demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to increase by 20 percent in the next four years. Take your place in this highly specialized field. Join Michigan Technological University’s experts in mathematics, computing, science, and engineering to learn how to protect our most valuable online assets. Are you ready?

Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Overview

The only graduate program of its kind in Michigan, Michigan Tech's master's program in cybersecurity has a foundation in information confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Students pursue cross-disciplinary studies in science, engineering, and technology, combining theory and applied research to specialize in Trusted Software Engineering (TSE), Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), and Network Security Management (NSM).

Delivery Options
- Accelerated: MS
- On-Campus: MS

Cybersecurity Program Details

Choose a specific degree option or delivery type to learn more about the cybersecurity program at Michigan Tech. For international students, Cybersecurity is a designated STEM program.

On-Campus Programs

MS, Cybersecurity: Thesis Option

This option requires a research thesis prepared under the supervision of the advisor. The thesis describes a research investigation and its results. The scope of the research topic for the thesis should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in 12 months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

The minimum requirements are as follows:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	20 Credits
Thesis research	6-10 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Cybersecurity: Report Option

This option requires a report describing the results of an independent study project. The scope of the research topic should be defined in such a way that a full-time student could complete the requirements for a master’s degree in twelve months or three semesters following the completion of coursework by regularly scheduling graduate research credits.

Of the minimum total of 30 credits, at least 24 must be earned in coursework other than the project:

Total Credit Requirements
Option Parts	Credits
Coursework (minimum)	24 Credits
Report	2-6 Credits
Total (minimum)	30 Credits

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	12 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Programs may have stricter requirements and may require more than the minimum number of credits listed here.

MS, Cybersecurity: Coursework Option

This option requires a minimum of 30 credits be earned through coursework. A limited number of research credits may be used with the approval of the advisor, department, and Graduate School. See degree requirements for more information.

A graduate program may require an oral or written examination before conferring the degree and may require more than the minimum credits listed here:

Distribution of Coursework Credit
Distribution	Credits
5000-6000 series (minimum)	18 Credits
3000-4000 (maximum)	12 Credits

Accelerated MS, Cybersecurity

Bachelor's + 1 Year = Master's Degree

Our accelerated master's degree program is a faster, easier way for Michigan Tech students to earn a master's degree. Up to approved six credits from your bachelor's degree can be applied towards your accelerated master's degree. Consult your graduate program director for your individualized plan. If you're thinking about pursuing a master's following your bachelor's this option may be the right choice for you.

Additional Program Information

Want to learn more about cybersecurity at Michigan Tech? Visit the department for more information:

Contact

Graduate Director

Jean Mayo

Graduate Assistant

Janna Chittick

Sample Areas of Interest

Select areas of interest to help customize your Cybersecurity MS. Sample areas include:

Trusted Software Engineering
Network Security Management
Critical Infrastructure Protection

View full listing for this program

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts or test scores are needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps. International applicants are required to pay a non-refundable $10 processing fee per application.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Admissions Options

Michigan Tech offers several admissions options in order to meet the educational needs of students from a variety of backgrounds. Students should review the options available to them and apply for the program that will best help them achieve their personal educational goals.

See Admissions Options

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Student Statements

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate overall GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale
GRE required for International Students
Students must choose one of the areas of interest
4-year bachelor's degree required - Must have a bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, or computer engineering. Students with degrees in other fields may be required to take preparatory courses.

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended Score of at least 90 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Score of 6.5 overall

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

For Fall: beginning January 1
For Spring: beginning October 1

Recommended Deadlines

Fall Semester: May 1
Spring Semester: September 1
Summer: Please contact the Graduate Program Director
For full financial consideration for Fall: February 1

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Accelerated Master's Requirements

Our Accelerated Master's Program is available for current Michigan Tech students.

Program Specific

3 Letters of Recommendation
GPA of 3.0 or greater
No GRE required

Eligible Undergraduate Majors

Computer Science
Software Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Network and System Administration
Cybersecurity

Accredited by HLC

Michigan Tech has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) since 1928. Our Graduate School offers over 125 certificates, master's, and PhD programs to provide our students and the world with what tomorrow needs.

Who You'll Work With

Our faculty are world leaders in all areas of cybersecurity and privacy, including cryptography, forensics, encryption, cloud computing, and biometrics. Our research is funded by NSF, DOE, NIH, DARPA, Microsoft, and Google. Five faculty members and an alumnus are NSF CAREER Award recipients.

Where You'll Work

Drawing from our Department of Computer Science, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and College of Computing, Michigan Tech’s research uses state-of-the-art technology to help students maximize domain-specific knowledge and interests. From individual computer units to networking and industrial control protection, our program offers strong collaborative partnerships, blended learning, and research between departments.

Faculty Spotlight

Bo Chen

Bo Chen
Associate Professor,
Computer Science

"It's the responsibility of security researchers to secure the cyberspace so that users feel safe."

Protecting mission-critical data has been one of the top security concerns and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Chen works on both research and education on applied cryptography and data security. He has been dedicated to investigating novel techniques to protect sensitive data in mobile devices, flash storage media, cloud infrastructures, networks, and big data infrastructures.

Program Faculty