Master of Science in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity
Nova Southeastern University, College of Computing and Engineering
Key Information
Campus location
Fort Lauderdale, USA
Languages
English
Study format
Distance Learning, On-Campus
Duration
12 - 24 months
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
USD 950 / per credit *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* additional fees may apply. Rates are subject to change
Introduction
Advance Your Career by Securing Information Systems
Credit agencies, social media giants, health care networks, retailers, government, and financial organizations—all keep and maintain data that impact our lives. This data, or information, is often personal, and securing it is vital—especially when it’s being stored and used in many places. NSU’s M.S. in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity prepares you to build better infrastructures, with security mechanisms to help protect all that data.
Your strong mathematical aptitude and interest in algorithms and data structures make you a good candidate for a master’s degree in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. This is a technical degree that comes with global opportunities and great earning potential. You can work in public or private sectors, in a vast number of industries.
NSU’s Information Assurance and Cybersecurity program focus on the protection and mechanisms associated with the technology infrastructure of applications, systems, and networks. You will learn how to design systems that help maintain the confidentiality and integrity of information. In this multidisciplinary program, you’ll gain specialty knowledge in cybersecurity, computer science, user experience, and more. Our curriculum evolves based on the needs of the real world, which means you’ll always be current with what’s happening in the industry.
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be prepared for careers as a chief information security officer, information systems security officer, cyber defense analyst, cyber defense infrastructure support specialist, cyber defense incident responder, vulnerability assessment analyst, and more. And you’ll have a wide variety of technical and soft skills to help you succeed.
Accelerate Your Information Assurance and Cybersecurity Degree
In the tech world, every second counts. Advance your future with new 8-week courses designed to be completed in 1 year.
Program Format
Students can select to take online or on-campus classes. Online classes can be taken from anywhere in the world where Internet access is available. NSU utilizes Canvas as the learning management system to deliver online course content. On-campus classes are held on the main campus in Fort Lauderdale. Each on-campus class meets once a week from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 8-week courses are available, so you can earn your degree in 1 year.
Here are some of the reasons why students chose NSU
- The National Security Agency (NSA) and its affiliated federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/National Initiative on Cybersecurity Education (NICE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of Defense Office of the Chief Information Officer (DoD-CIO), and US Cyber Command (CYBERCOM) have designated NSU as a National Center of Academic Excellence (NCAE) in Cybersecurity and have certified that NSU’s curriculum in cybersecurity meets or exceeds the requirements and standards expected of a leader in cybersecurity education.
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information Security Analysts earned an average of $99,730 per year in 2019, and job growth in this field is expected to grow 32% from 2018 to 2028.
- Small class sizes give you one-to-one access to professors. All our classes are exclusively taught by faculty members with doctoral degrees from accredited institutions. Our faculty are internationally recognized scholars in computing, engineering, and information science.
- We focus on degree programs that prepare you for careers listed by U.S. News & World Report 100 Best Jobs in 2021. You can even ask our alumni who work at Fortune 500 organizations, federal and government agencies, and universities around the world.
- Vibrant campus life includes NCAA Athletics, social and professional organizations, cultural activities, and wellness and fitness.
- Ranked a top 200 best colleges among national universities in 2018.
- Prestigious graduate programs in medicine, law, psychology, business, education, pharmacy, dentistry, and more.
- A diverse student population includes 1200 international students from 116 countries on five continents.
- State-of-the-art facilities include the latest classroom technology, advanced laboratories, and the best research libraries.
- Many NSU graduates go on to earn master's, doctoral or professional degrees at NSU or other universities. Undergraduate students participate in NSU research in fields like medicine, oceanography, cancer, psychology, dentistry, and autism.
- Students build relationships by participating in numerous community events, many held on NSU’s campus. Our beautiful main campus is just minutes from Fort Lauderdale's beach, South Beach, Las Olas nightlife and the Everglades.
Admissions
Curriculum
Students must take all 10 required courses. Students who wish to take an elective (above the 10 required courses) must request approval from the program office before registration.
Gallery
Program Outcome
A graduate with an M.S. in Information Assurance & Cybersecurity will have the ability to:
- describe the primary types of access control and the potential applications of each type;
- demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts, technologies, and challenges of telecommunications and network security;
- demonstrate an understanding of the key concepts of information security governance and risk management, including current best practices in business continuity and disaster recovery planning;
- describe the components of effective security architecture and the various security models that can be used in the design of secure architectures;
- possess an understanding of the major cryptographic algorithms used in information security and how each can be effectively integrated into a secure information infrastructure;
- understand the common techniques to achieve effective physical security of protected information systems.
Career Opportunities
- Chief security officer
- Information systems security officer
- Network security administrator
- Security analyst