Registration Now Open for University of San Diego's Online Master's Degree in Cyber Security

Professionals looking to enter or expand a career in cyber security can now register for the University of San Diego’s new online Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership.

“As cyber security threats continue to grow in both the private and public sectors, we are very excited to offer this cutting-edge program that will prepare students to mitigate cyber security threats and become leaders in their organizations,” said Winnie Callahan, Director of the university’s Center for Cyber Security Engineering and Technology (CCSET).

The degree program will meet the needs of professionals currently working in cyber security roles or those who wish to enter this growing field. Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree and a GPA of 2.75 or higher. The completion of a standardized test, such as a GRE may be submitted to strengthen an application.

Offered completely online to better meet the needs of working professionals, the 31-unit program can be completed in five semesters. Classes for the spring semester will begin January 19, 2016.

Courses include a comprehensive overview of essential concepts in cyber security, along with those in risk management, secure systems architecture and a capstone course to bring the entire body of knowledge into greater focus. Because cyber security issues can impact an entire organization, themes of ethics, organizational communication, and leading organizational change are taught throughout the curriculum. USD faculty and cyber professionals who bring decades of current and real-world experience to their students will teach the courses.

“This is just the beginning of our educational offerings in cyber security,” added Jason Lemon, Dean of USD’s Division of Professional and Continuing Education. “We will be offering additional degrees and certificate programs, including a master’s in cyber security engineering on campus and an online master’s in cyber policy and law.”

A collaborative initiative between the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the Professional and Continuing Education, the CCSET has drawn praise for its comprehensive approach to cyber security.

“I know of no other school using a total immersion strategy to educate cyber professionals,” said Thomas A. Baer, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Director of the National Cyber Security and Communications Integration Center. This strategy “is the most efficient and effective way to teach cyber security and serves as a model for the nation.”

For more information and registration go to http://CyberOps.sandiego.edu, e-mail CyberOps@sandiego.edu or call (619) 260-4580.

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is the youngest independent institution on the U.S. News & World Report list of top 100 universities in the United States. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.