As Internet technology becomes a more important part of our lives and the world economy, the problems with cyber attacks and hacks are only growing. That is why there is a growing need for cybersecurity professionals in all areas of industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics or BLS reports the demand for these workers will rise by an impressive 28% in the next several years, much faster than average than other occupations.
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If you are interested in this career, you will need to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree in cybersecurity. The good news is that getting a degree in this exciting field is easier than ever with all of the high quality online degree options available. You can earn your degree in the comfort of your home and usually not ever visit a campus. We have done the hard work for you and have found some of the best online cybersecurity programs. Here they are:
#1 Southern New Hampshire University
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Bachelors of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Southern New Hampshire University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity that will prepare you to solve complex problems, respond to cyber attacks, assess risk and apply the latest security techniques with such courses as network security, application security and incident response. Important aspects of this four year, online degree program are:
- Gain plenty of hands on experience with online virtual labs to explore network security, defense and countermeasures.
- Interact daily with industry professionals and more than 1000 cybersecurity students who have the same interests as you do through the University’s Center for Academic Excellence.
- Participate in National Cyber League competitions outside the classroom to show your cyber security expertise that is highly valued by potential employers
Some of the courses you will take include:
- Cybersecurity Foundations
- Computer Networking
- Network Security
- Operating System Security
- Application Security
- Cyber Defense
- Legal and Human Factors of Cybersecurity
#2 Western Governor University
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Bachelors of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Each day, cyber criminals and hackers launch new computer viruses and malware that threaten the security of our society. Western Governor University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance that has been designed with detailed input from cybersecurity experts and top IT employers to meet the latests Department of Homeland Security and National Security Agency guidelines. The degree program has several industry-respected certifications such as from CompTIA, CIW, EC Council and ISC that you will earn without additional time or cost, which can help you find a job after you graduate.
Key subject areas in IT and cybersecurity are:
- Business of IT – Applications
- Business of IT – Project Management
- IT Foundations
- IT Applications
- Fundamentals of Information Security
- Information Systems Security
- Network and Security
- Networks
According to university statistics, 72% of IT undergraduates finish this program in one to four years. You can move through the coursework faster if you show that you have mastered it ahead of schedule.
#3 Maryville University
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Bachelors of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Maryville University offers a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity that is designed to give you all of the tools that you need to work in the cybersecurity field. It is a comprehensive degree that works well for newcomers to the field, technical junkies and people who are changing their career. The faculty who teach you this program are mostly composed of professors with many years of experience in cybersecurity. They have built this proven curriculum based upon their many years of experience.
This four year program consists of the follow tracks:
- Offensive track: Learn a proactive approach to cybersecurity measures that will teach you ethical hacking so that you can keep threats from becoming attacks.
- Defensive track: Look at the best reactive tactics in the industry so that you can eliminate security vulnerabilities and keep company defenses strong.
- General trac: Combination of both tracks for a broad overview of the field.
Students can complete this program entirely online and never visit a college campus, and you can graduate in as few as 2.5 years.
#4 Liberty University
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Liberty University offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity that will engage you in exciting classes and will give you the knowledge of advanced computer and network security so that you can combat current cybersecurity threats and also bolster company systems to prevent future attacks. This two year online program provides you with the framework that is needed to prevent, detect, counter and recover from security vulnerabilities and cyberattacks. Students will study the tools, practices and standards needed to understand the cyberspace structure of an organization.
Required courses include:
- Computer Security Overview
- Digital Forensics
- Ethics, Legal Issues and Policy
- Applied Network Security
- Applied Cryptography
- Security Engineering
- Web Security
- Ethical Hacking
- Advanced Topics on Computer Security
#5 University of California-Berkeley
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Master of Information and Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
The University of California-Berkeley offers a Master of Information and Cybersecurity online that will train you for an exciting career in cybersecurity. This program is delivered entirely online and will give you the technical skills and knowledge that you need to assume leadership roles in private sector technology organizations, as well as military and government organizations.
This program features an interdisciplinary curriculum that will teach you how to develop solutions for the most complex cybersecurity challenges. Students learn how to manage major cyber risks and how to make strategic decision to manage and reduce such risks.
Major topics in the two year program include:
- Cryptography
- Secure coding
- Network and web security
- Operating systems security
- Managing cyber risk
- Cyber law, ethics and privacy
- Privacy engineering
- Usable privacy and security
- Cybersecurity in legal, political and economic contexts
#6 Drexel University
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Drexel University offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity that allows graduates with extensive training in computer and Internet technology to understand, adapt and develop new skills to confront emerging threats in the field.
This program is two years long and is fully online. It was designed by the College of Engineering and College of Computing and Informatics for students with a strong background in computer engineering, computer science and electrical engineering. Students will get a strong, theoretical foundation in computer networking, mathematics, policy and legal issues, as well as strong technical competence and business acumen that is taught through intense graduate study.
Required coursework includes:
- Cybersecurity Principles
- Information Ethics
- Information Policy
- Computer Networks
- Principles of Computer Networking
- Data Structures and Algorithms
- Probability and Random Variables
#7 University of Texas – San Antonio
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
The University of Texas – San Antonio offers a Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity that will provide you with expertise that will be in high demand in the coming years. This program is recognized to be of the highest quality as UTSA has been leading in the cybersecurity field for many years. It features a top tier faculty and a high level of academic expertise in secure design, digital forensics, and detection. Students are able to learn from industry experts as they do so in a 100% online environment.
Required classes include:
- Intrusion Detection and Incident Response
- Wide Area Networks
- Information Assurance Policy
- Digital Forensics I
- Cyber and Physical Systems
- Digital Forensics II
- Essentials of Technology Management
#8 Utica College
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Master of Science in Cybersecurity
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Utica College offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity that will teach you to address the changing attack and infiltration techniques that are used in current cyber attacks. This university has been a leader economic crime programs for decades. This program was designed due to calls from cybersecurity professionals for a master’s level program that had state of the art practices in forensics, intelligence and cyber operations.
This program offers students advanced knowledge and hands on work in intelligence, critical infrastructures and investigative principles related to cyber attacks. Students can focus their studies on computer forensics, intelligence, cyber operations, electronic crime and malware analysis.
#9 Penn State World Campus
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Master of Professional Studies in Information Sciences – Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
Penn State World Campus offers a Master of Professional Studies in Information Sciences – Cybersecurity and Information Assurance that will give you a high degree of flexibility offered in an online degree program, combined with a relevant course curriculum that features real world business issues and simulations. Required courses in this two year, online program include:
- Web Fundamentals
- Network Management and Security
- Web Security and Privacy
- Network Security
- Computer and Cyber Forensics
- Information and Security Management
- Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management
#10 University of San Diego
- School Type: Non-Profit
- Program/Degree: Master of Science in Cybersecurity Operations and Leadership
- Cost/Tuition: Inquire
- Delivery: Online
The University of San Diego offers a Master of Science in Cybersecurity Operations and Leadership that is 100% online and can be completed in as few as 20 months. This program has been designed for students who already have a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity or computer science who want to advance their career and learn how to mitigate major cyber threats and to become leaders in their companies.
Students are required to take the following courses:
- Foundations of Cybersecurity
- Applied Cryptography
- Secure Systems Architecture
- Cybersecurity Risk Management
- Cybersecurity Operational Policy
- Management and Cybersecurity
References
- Information Security Analysts. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm
