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Computer Science

Cybersecurity & Information Assurance

Learn how to devise defense strategies, develop a security policy, plan and conduct security assessments and understand the ethical, legal, and regulatory environment as it relates to operating in cyberspace.

Earn A Master’s Degree Or Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity & Information Assurance

Develop the skillset needed to work on the front lines identifying, preventing, and mitigating cyber breaches and crimes across various industries and fields.

Cybersecurity affects everyone

Cybersecurity involves protecting information and systems from major cyber threats, such as cyber terrorism, cyber warfare, and cyber espionage. In their most disruptive form, cyber threats take aim at secret, political, military, or infrastructural assets of a nation, or its people. 

Cyber security is, therefore, a critical part of any governments’ security strategy but it also affects many businesses every year. It is no surprise, then, that there is a growing demand for employment in the cybersecurity fields such as financial services, retail and healthcare. Those pursuing a path in Cyber Security and Information Assurance have the opportunity to contribute network and online security management expertise in various roles such as:

  • Information Security Analyst
  • Chief Information Security Officer
  • Network Security Engineer

Our Cybersecurity Program

As a cybersecurity professional, you will be on the front lines preventing cyber breaches and cyber-crimes. This program is designed for technical professionals in all areas who seek a deeper and broader understanding of cybersecurity. You will learn essential tools needed to identify, prevent, and mitigate cyber threats in a hybrid learning environment.

The program is available as a Master of Science degree or a graduate certificate. The certificate in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance is designed to provide persons already involved in cybersecurity as well as information technology professionals desiring to be involved in cybersecurity, with the essential tools needed to identify, prevent, and mitigate cyber threats.

Our program will give students the same knowledge as the industry certification training courses at substantially less expensive rates. Each online class will be 16 weeks in length and the master’s degree program (10 courses) can be completed in 5 semesters. The graduate certificate (6 courses) can be completed in 12 months.

Admission to the Program

  • Undergraduate degree in Computer Science, Computing and Information Systems, or bachelor’s degree in related area and comparable experience working in the information technology field.  Students having a Bachelor's degree without this background may complete the following prerequisite courses before beginning the certificate:  CSC 116, 216, 220, 314, 309, 330, 422 & 423 (26 hours).
  • Minimum of 2.75 GPA in major and/or in prerequisite courses listed above or their equivalent. 
  • Undergraduate Computer Science coursework comparable to a minor in Computer Science with additional courses in Networking, Programming proficiency in C or other acceptable high-level language, Operating Systems, and computer ethics.
  • In order to continue in the program, students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA. 
  • To obtain the certificate a student must complete the above-mentioned courses with an average grade of 3.0 (B) or higher and no more than 2 grades of C.
  • Certificates must be completed within 4 years.  Courses completed more than 4 years ago may not be accepted for the certificate.
  • All courses applied for this certificate program must be taken from Mississippi College.
  • Students would be required to buy textbooks and a membership to ACM with the Digital Library for $42.