Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity (MS)

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Build Advanced Cybersecurity Expertise.

Cybersecurity, the crucial practice of protecting computer systems, networks, programs, and data from digital attacks, is needed NOW more than ever. Cyber threats extend far beyond individual computers. They can disrupt essential services, compromise sensitive information, and cost organizations and individuals billions. In 2025, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than one million complaints of suspected internet crime, with reported losses totaling nearly $21 billion.

Michigan Tech's 30-credit Online Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity brings together computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and applied computing to address these evolving risks. Build advanced knowledge of network and systems security, cyber defense, and the technical and policy considerations involved in protecting digital infrastructure.

Who is The Online MS in Cybersecurity For?

Michigan Tech's online MS in Cybersecurity is designed for students and working professionals who want to deepen their technical knowledge, specialize in cybersecurity, or prepare for more advanced responsibilities.

This degree may be a good fit if you

Are a recent graduate in computer science, computer engineering, software engineering, or a related technical field and want to specialize in cybersecurity.
Work in IT, networking, or software development and want to transition into a cybersecurity role.
Have earned Michigan Tech's Foundations of Cybersecurity graduate certificate and want to continue toward a master's degree.
Would like to advance into technical leadership or managementroles that require deeper knowledge of cybersecurity systems, practices, and emerging threats.
Are pursuing professional certifications, such as CISSP, CEH, or CISM, and need advanced academic knowledge to complement your certification preparation.

How the Program Works

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

Maure cybersecurity professional looking at three computer monitors.

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 Level(s): Graduate; 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
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, Business Administration, Data Science, Applied Natural Resource Econ., Accounting Analytics, Forensic Accounting, Health Informatics, Accounting and Analytics, Engineering Management

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

Why Choose Michigan Tech?

Michigan Tech's customizable, 30-credit online MS in Cybersecurity combines expertise in Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Applied Computing. You'll benefit from an interdisciplinary curriculum addresses networks, systems, policy, and emerging threats. You'll also earn a respected degree from a university that is nationally designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Research and Cyber Defense.

Where You'll Apply Your Knowledge and Skills

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 (US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
$124,910: The 2024 median salary of an information security analyst,
41,333: The total number (as of March 2025) of job openings for cybersecurity engineers

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. 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 cybersecurity professionals looking art a computer

Possible Career Paths

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

Your Program Questions, Answered

The recording is 45 minutes long, so if you're pressed for time, use the key below to go to the section containing the information you need.

Introductions and Fast Facts: Beginning to 09:16
Why Study Cybersecurity at MTU? 09:16 - 13:39
Overview of MTU's Cybersecurity Programs: 13:40 - 26:21
Application Process and Next Steps: 26:22 - 33:03
Questions and Conclusion: 33:05 - 45:13

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Get Started on Your Online MS in Cybersecurity From MTU.

You’re not just applying to a cybersecurity program. You’re investing in a future-proof career that protects people, systems, and organizations around the globe. Reach out when you're ready. Or start your fast and easy online application today.