Cybersecurity (MS) – STEM Designated Degree Program
The primary objective of the MS degree in Cybersecurity is to train students on a broad range of security related topics with hands-on experience and preparing them to be part of next generation Cybersecurity workforce to meet the growing demand for Cybersecurity professionals in industry, academia and government agencies. In addition, students will have a unique opportunity of doing research on related security projects.
A total of 30 credits are required for the MS in Cybersecurity degree completion. Students who have limited or no background in Computer Science and/or Information Technology may be accepted under the condition of bridging the gap through completion of one to four additional courses in Computer Science Fundamentals. The program will combine the fundamentals of Cybersecurity (covered in the core courses), with the freedom to choose the areas of Cybersecurity they will study deeper (electives from Cybersecurity courses). Graduates will be prepared to either join the work force or further pursue academic advancement.
Our program is uniquely positioned to: (1) accommodate professionals from diverse academic backgrounds and (2) provide a broader coverage of Cybersecurity topics with computational as well as legal and ethical training. This approach will address demands in both technical and managerial fields of Cybersecurity.
Additional benefits of this program include:
- Comprehensive and affordable
- Students gain state-of-the-art cybersecurity skills to meet the demands of fast-growing industry
- Flexible curriculum taught by Ph.D.-level cybersecurity experts
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge research projects
- Access to modern infrastructure and computing equipment in the Center for Computing and Information Science
In summary, the Master in Cybersecurity will provide students with a comprehensive and affordable education to meet the growing demand for trained Cybersecurity professionals. While many other university programs require a substantial technical background and train students for technical positions our program also takes in account other aspects of Cybersecurity such as legal, ethical and policy.
The Office of Graduate Admissions requires a U.S. bachelor’s degree, or the equivalent, in order to be eligible to apply for the Cybersecurity (MS) graduate program. Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the U.S. degree equivalency information.
Students are directly welcome into the program if they have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Information Technology. Students who wish to make a career change and have limited or no background in Computer Science and/or Information Technology will be accepted under the condition of bridging the gap through a program of study that will require anywhere from one to four courses in Computer Science Fundamentals (CSIT 501 Java Programming, CSIT 502 Computer Systems Principles, CSIT 503 Data Structures and CSIT 504 Discrete Mathematics in Computing). These additional courses do not count towards degree credit.
In order to make applying for graduate school as seamless as possible for you, we have
created an application checklist. This checklist can be a reference point for you during the
application process to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the steps
needed to apply, as well as all corresponding supplemental materials for your specific
program of interest.
- Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
- Submit Online Application: Please create your online account and submit your application by following the general application instructions and pay (or waive) the non-refundable $60 application fee. Once this step has been completed, the online portal will allow you to upload your supplemental materials.
The following is a list of the supplemental materials that will accompany your application for the Cybersecurity (MS) program:
- Transcript: One from each college attended.
- Statement of Purpose – Please write an integrated essay providing a response to each of the following questions:
- What are your goals for graduate study and your future career?
- In what ways do your academic background and your professional experiences provide evidence of your potential for success in the program you selected and in your eventual career? Please give specific examples of relevant coursework and/or experience.
- Is there any further information we should consider in assessing your candidacy?
- Letters of Recommendation: Two (2) letters of recommendation, from persons qualified to evaluate the applicant’s promise of academic achievement and potential for professional growth.
- Resume: Required
- Applicants with non-U.S. degrees, please visit the International Applicants page to review the US degree equivalency information.
To view the curriculum for this program, please visit the Cybersecurity (MS) program listing in the University Catalog
Topics of Study Include
- Computer Security
- Cryptography
- Computer Forensics
- Web Security
- Penetration Testing
- Information Security Management
- Digital Forensics
- Principles of Secure Programming
- Cyberlaw and Privacy
Stay tuned for the Cybersecurity (MS) university catalog listing.
If you have any general questions regarding the application process and requirements, please email or call us:
Office of Graduate Admissions
Email: graduate@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-5147
Fax: 973-655-7869
If you have specific inquiries regarding your program of interest, please contact the Cybersecurity (MS) Program Coordinator:
*During the summer months, there will be a rotating department chair available to answer your inquiry. Click to find the updated summer chair for this program.*
Program Coordinator: Vaibhav Anu
Office: Center for Computing and Information Science 327D
Email: anuv@montclair.edu
Telephone: 973-655-4362