Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity (MS)

Help Fill the Talent Gap for Skilled Cybersecurity Professionals.

Cybersecurity, as many know, is the crucial practice of protecting computer systems, networks, programs, and data from digital attacks. Some of the most common attacks include ransomware, phishing, malware, and more sophisticated threats from hackers and cyber criminals. These attacks are aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal business processes.

Between 2018 and 2022, in fact, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) Internet Crimes Complaint Center (IC3) documented a whopping 3.26 million complaints which totaled a loss of 2.76 billion dollars. From this statistic alone, you can see why highly trained cybersecurity professionals are needed now more than ever.

With Michigan Tech's Online MS in Cybersecurity, you can acquire the specialized knowledge and skills to meet the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals.

Why Study Cybersecurity at Michigan Tech?

Quality of the Curriculum

Michigan Tech's cybersecurity master's degree is an interdisciplinary collaborative program that draws on the expertise of the departments of Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, as well as the College of Computing. The program's rigorous curriculum is based on applied research, theory, and direct industry feedback.

MTU's Cybersecurity Reputation

You'll be earning your degree and building in-demand skills at a university renowned for the excellence of its cybersecurity research and education. In fact, the US National Security Agency designated MTU as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research (CAE-R). This CAE-R designation, establishing that Michigan Tech has met the rigorous requirements set forth by the NSA, extends through the 2029 academic year.

Customize Your Cybersecurity Degree

In your 30-credit course-work based degree, you will take four core courses (12 credits) and at least three additional specialized courses (9 credits). You will then complete your degree with 9 credits of additional specialization courses or general electives.

Important Note: When planning your program, please consult the course registration page to check the availability of classes.

Required (Core) Courses: Choose Four

Young black cybersecurity professional stands in front of a computer mainframe while working on her laptop.

Important Note on Core Courses:

Students choose between
- CS4471, CS5471, or SAT5111
- CS4001 or CS5001
- CS5350 OR MA3203

CS 4001 - National Cybersecurity Policy and Law

This course introduces the role of government in securing cyberspace. Students examine national cybersecurity policy and law. Topics include federal, state, and local entities involved in cybersecurity, relevant laws and regulations, concepts of civil liberties, intellectual property, privacy, development/diffusion of standards, and national security.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Senior

CS 4471 - Computer Security

This covers fundamentals of computer security. Topics include practical cryptography, access control, security design principles, physical protections, malicious logic, program security, intrusion detection, administration, legal and ethical issues.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 3411 or CS 4411

CS 4723 - Network Security

Learn fundamental of cryptography and its application to network security. Understand network security threats, security services, and countermeasures. Acquire background knowledge on well known network security protocols. Address open research issues in network security.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
Pre-Requisite(s): EE 4272 or CS 4461 or SAT 4812

CS 5001 - National Cybersecurity Policy and Law

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall

CS 5350 - Modern Cryptography

This course covers the knowledge of modern cryptography including perfectly secret encryption, private-key cryptography, hash functions, etc. Course focuses on how to conduct crypto-analysis and how to achieve provable security for different cryptographic protocols based on the "proof by reduction" techniques.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 4471 or CS 5471 or CS 4723 or EE 4723

CS 5471 - Computer Security

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 3411 or CS 4411

MA 3203 - Introduction to Cryptography

Topics include private-key cryptography, shift substitution, permutation and stream ciphers, cryptanalysis, perfect secrecy, public-key cryptography, and the RSA cryptosystem.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring, Summer
Pre-Requisite(s): MA 2320 or MA 2321 or MA 2330

SAT 5111 - Security and Privacy

Examines key health information security, policy, and procedures. Investigates how to distinguish elements of a security audit and key security policies. Students will conduct offensive and defensive cybersecurity methods to understand the security and privacy landscape of healthcare and its sensitive information, Analyzes roles of people maintaining health information security.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

Specialization Courses: Choose At Least Three

CS 4710 - Model-Driven Software Development

This course focuses on modeling of software systems, automated analysis, verification, and design. Topics include declarative and imperative modeling languages, software tools for automated analysis and verification of models, specification languages for implementation, and formal specification languages for inductive verification of systems.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Summer
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 3311 and CS 3141(C)

CS 4740 - Development of Trusted Software

This course exposes students to the concepts of secure software development. Students will learn how to develop high-quality software that is resistant against cyber-attacks, by minimizing the number of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker. Topics include access control, race conditions, buffer overflows, and code injection.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 4471

CS 5472 - Advanced Topics in Computer Security

This course covers various aspects of producing trusted computer information systems. Topics include network perimeter protection, host-level protection, authentication technologies, formal analysis techniques, and intrusion detection. Current systems will be examined and critiqued.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 4471 or CS 5471 or SAT 4520

CS 5740 - Development of Trusted Software

This course exposes students to the concepts of secure software development. Students will learn how to develop high-quality software that is resistant against cyber- attacks, by minimizing the number of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker. Topics include: access control, race conditions, buffer overflows, code injection, fuzzing techniques, cryptographic software, web application and Java security.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 4471

SAT 5283 - Information Governance and Risk Management

Course will consist of the legal and regulatory requirements and security privacy concept principles regarding data management. Best practices of how organizations manage information risk through risk assessment practices and procedures will be conducted.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following College(s): College of Computing, College of Engineering, College of Business

SAT 5520 - Machine Learning in Security

Study of artificial intelligence and machine learning in cybersecurity. Topics include fundamentals of common machine learning and deep learning algorithms, intelligent threat detection and analysis, user behavior analytics, machine learning in hacking, and automated cybersecurity systems.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): SAT 3812 and SAT 4310

SAT 5816 - Digital Forensics

Introduction of the basic principles and technology of digital forensics, including acquisition, preservation, and recovery and investigation of the evidence stored in digital devices.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-2-2)
Semesters Offered: Fall
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): SAT 2511 and (SAT 2711 or SAT 5111)

SAT 5817 - Security Penetration Testing and Audit

To provide knowledge and demonstrated methods to help prevent security breaches and develop safeguards to protect sensitive information and confidential data. Student learn offensive and defensive security concepts, audit best-practices.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring, in even years
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): SAT 5111

Important Note on Specialized Courses:

Students choose between
- CS4740 or CS5740
- CS4520 or SAT5520
- SAT4529 or SAT5520.

Electives (General Courses)

In addition to the courses below, you may choose from any 4000 to 5000-level courses in CS, ECE, or SAT.

NOTE: Students are not required to take electives; that is, they may choose to complete their degrees by taking extra specialization courses.

BA 5200 - Information Systems Management and Data Analytics

Focuses on management of IS/IT within the business environment. Topics include IT infrastructure and architecture, organizational impact of innovation, change management, human-machine interaction, and contemporary management issues involving data analytics. Class format includes lecture, group discussion, and integrative case studies.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Accounting, Data Science, Engineering Management, Applied Natural Resource Econ., Health Informatics, Accounting and Analytics, Business Administration

CS 4811 - Artificial Intelligence

Fundamental ideas and techniques that are used in the construction of problem solvers that use Artificial Intelligence technology. Topics include knowledge representation and reasoning, problem solving, heuristics, search heuristics, inference mechanisms, and machine learning.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Restrictions: May not be enrolled in one of the following Class(es): Freshman, Sophomore
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 2311 and CS 2321 and (CS 3411 or CS 3421 or CS 3425 or CS 3331) and MA 3720

CS 5999 - Master's Reading and Research in Computer Science

Individual reading and research on current topics in computer science.

Credits: variable to 9.0; May be repeated
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Restrictions: Permission of instructor required; Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

EE 5315 - Cyber Security of Automotive Systems I

Modern automotive control and communications systems from a cyber security perspective. Topics include: V2X communications, vehicle attack surfaces and vulnerabilities, in-vehicle networks, threat analysis and vulnerabilities, security mechanisms and architectures, security requirements analysis, hardware security modules, and standards.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate; Must be enrolled in one of the following Major(s): Electrical & Computer Engineer, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Mechanical Eng-Eng Mechanics, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering
Pre-Requisite(s): MEEM 5300 or ME 5300 or EE 5455

SAT 5988 - Practical Experience in Cybersecurity

Independent study of a practical problem, design project, or emerging technology in cybersecurity. Preparation of a written report and/or oral presentation.

Credits: variable to 3.0; Repeatable to a Max of 6
Semesters Offered: On Demand
Restrictions: Permission of instructor required; Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate

Meet the Demand for Cybersecurity Professionals.

Cybersecurity, for many organizations, is a top if not the top priority. However, many of these same organizations are struggling to fill critical positions. The United States is one of the countries facing a shortage of advanced cybersecurity professionals.

Cybersecurity Employment By the Numbers

457,398: The current total number of cybersecurity job openings in the US.
85,000,000: The expected global need for cybersecurity workers by 2030.
32%: The expected career growth of cybersecurity analysts over the next decade (USBLS).
$120,360: The 2023 median salary of an information security analyst .
41,333: The total number (as of March 2025) of job openings for cybersecurity engineers

Examples of Cybersecurity Careers

Cybersecurity specialists are needed everywhere, whether they focus on design and implementation, oversight and governance, implementation and operation, protection and defense, or other key areas. Below is just a selection of some cybersecurity careers.

Generally, the jobs with higher pay require more advanced education, such as master's degrees. The salaries below correspond to average salaries for US advertised jobs between September 2023 and August 2024. Need more proof about available careers and the talent gap? Check out this interactive map.

Two men look at a computer trying to solve a cybersecurity problem.

Cybersecurity Manager: $152,403
Cybersecurity Architect: $150,989
Cybersecurity Engineer: $143,992
Penetration and Vulnerability Tester: $132,457
Cybersecurity Consultant: $125,243
Cybersecurity Analyst: $115,795
Incident and Intrusion Analyst: $101,130
Cybercrime Analyst: $100,150

Get Started on Your Online MS in Cybersecurity!

Graduate with the toolkit to address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges that public, private, and non-governmental institutions face. Take the next steps on your online educational journey at Michigan Tech. We are here to answer your questions and to help you succeed in your online program.