In a world that is constantly connected to the Internet, an increasingly large number of cyberattacks happen daily. These hacks can cause great damage, from personal identity theft to shutting down a nation’s internet for an extended period of time.  As this is a relatively new area, there is a nationwide shortage of cybersecurity professionals.

To meet that need, the College of Business has developed a master’s program in Cybersecurity.  Senior level security professionals working in retail, healthcare, military, and educational settings have curated the security curriculum to ensure that what students learn is current and immediately applicable in real-world situations.

The program provides hands-on labs and exercises to teach aspiring cybersecurity professionals how to secure and defend Information Systems from malicious attackers, and how to serve in senior management roles such as Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or Chief Security Officer (CSO).

Courses began in the fall of 2015.  Students may enroll in the thirty hour master’s program or pursue a twelve hour graduate certificate.  All courses are offered online.

According to Dr. Shannon McMurtrey, professor of computer information systems and director of the cybersecurity graduate program, cyberattacks will be the future of warfare and employment options are numerous.  “I just returned from a conference in Washington D.C. a couple of weeks ago where I sat in on a keynote from Mike Rogers, former chair of the House Select Committee on Intelligence.  Congressman Rogers shared his conviction that there are nation states currently inside our energy grid and our financial markets, prepping the battlefield (his term, not mine).  Cybersecurity is, and will continue to be for quite some time, a critical national priority,” McMurtrey stated.

More information on this program is available in the Cybersecurity website.