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Cybersecurity (M.A.S.)

Prepare to combat hackers seeking to infiltrate systems and steal data. Armed with your Master of Cybersecurity degree, you’ll protect and defend information systems and critical data from increasingly sophisticated attacks.

Protect and defend with your cybersecurity master’s degree.

You hear about them often—data breaches, cyberattacks, ransomware incidents. It’s no exaggeration to say that computer systems and the information and data they hold are constantly under attack.

Through Illinois Institute of Technology’s cybersecurity master’s degree program, you’ll gain a deep understanding of data and information security, hardware and software security, and systems and network security. You’ll develop the skills and knowledge to mitigate cyber risks while increasing data and systems protection, planning security measures, and recognizing potential legal and ethical issues.

Our cybersecurity master’s program offers you the opportunity to specialize in security for artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, cloud computing, or mobile networks and infrastructure through our elective courses. Research opportunities are available through grant funding from institutions such as the United States Air Force, the National Security Agency, and the National Science Foundation.

Whether you are a working professional or you’re earning your bachelor’s degree, our Master of Cybersecurity degree program will elevate your skills and knowledge and put you on the path to excel in a rapidly growing field that needs talent like yours. Either on campus or online, you’ll perform a deep dive into the digital world as you develop your skills in research, teamwork, management, and problem-solving.

Program Overview

Illinois Tech’s Master of Cybersecurity program offers you a number of advantages, including:

  • Gain professional expertise through Illinois Tech’s Elevate program. This one-of-a-kind program guarantees hands-on experiences—including research projects, internships, study away, competitions, short courses, and more—as well as personalized academic and career mentorship, all in pursuit of ensuring that our students graduate with career-readiness.
  • Customize your cybersecurity master’s program to achieve your goals. Complete your degree full-time or part-time, online or on campus. You can choose to specialize in a number of cybersecurity areas through numerous elective course offerings.
  • Live and learn in Chicago, a burgeoning tech hub. Home to a growing technology industry, a thriving hacking community, and a hive of startup activity, Chicago offers endless food, events, culture, and adventures. 
  • Earn a high-value, affordable cybersecurity master’s degree. We’re rated an educational best value by The Princeton Review, Forbes, Time, and Money magazine, and ranked third in the nation for upward mobility among highly selective private colleges by Opportunity Insights.
  • Learn from leading experts and accomplished researchers. Our faculty act as mentors and encourage students to join them in pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, big data, cloud computing, manufacturing, and more.

Career Opportunities

As cyber threats increase, the demand for graduates with a master’s in cybersecurity degree is extremely high and expected to remain strong for decades to come. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job growth rate for information security analysts, for example, will be 35 percent through 2031. That’s more than 60 percent higher than the growth rate for all jobs nationwide. Information security analysts enjoy strong earning power, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting an annual median salary of $102,600 for these experts.

Your Illinois Tech cybersecurity master’s degree will prepare you for cybersecurity-related positions such as: 

  • Cybersecurity analyst
  • Cybersecurity engineer
  • Information technology security consultant
  • Computer and information systems manager
  • Research scientist
  • Research and development engineer
  • Security architect
Disclaimer for prospective students, please read.
The information provided is sourced from a third party, Lightcast, and is provided here for informational and educational purposes only. Please be advised that the inclusion of the Lightcast resource on this website does not imply endorsement by Illinois Institute of Technology (Illinois Tech), nor is it a guarantee of the accuracy of this information. Illinois Tech makes no representation, warranty or guarantee, express or implied, that the information presented herein is reflective of the outcomes you can expect if you enroll in or graduate from an Illinois Tech program. Illinois Tech expressly disclaims any liability regarding Lightcast, or in connection with any actual or potential employment opportunity stemming from information on this site and you hereby irrevocably waive any claim(s) against the Illinois Tech for the same. Your use of this web page is an acknowledgement of your understanding and acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth herein. You are encouraged to conduct your own thorough research into job opportunities and outcomes in your field of study.

Curriculum for our Master of Cybersecurity degree

You can complete your Illinois Tech cybersecurity master’s program in just two years online, or on our high-tech campus, in close proximity to Chicago’s thriving tech industry. Our affordable cybersecurity master’s degree is designed to prepare you to protect and defend information systems and data in any industry.

Depending on your elective choices, your coursework can include:

  • Data Privacy and Security
  • Cryptography
  • Data Integration Warehousing
  • Advanced Data Mining
  • Biometrics
  • Machine Learning

View Course Catalog

Master of Cybersecurity program admissions requirements

Admission to the cybersecurity master’s degree program requires a bachelor’s degree, although not necessarily in computer science or a related field. Applicants whose degree is not in computer science may have to take prerequisite undergraduate coursework, and those credit hours will not apply toward the master’s degree.

Applicants who earned a bachelor’s degree from an institution in which English is not the primary instructional language must submit their TOEFL/PTE/IELTS scores.

Why Choose Illinois Tech’s Master of Cybersecurity Program?

Illinois Tech’s cybersecurity master’s program offers you:

  • A customizable degree to fit your needs and goals
  • The opportunity to live and learn in Chicago
  • Guaranteed hands-on experiences through Elevate 
  • An affordable degree with high value to employers
  • A personalized, mentored education with expert faculty

Scholarships and Financial Aid for Our Master of Cybersecurity Program

We work hard to make an Illinois Tech education affordable and accessible. Learn more about graduate scholarships and financial aid, including:

  • Graduate Pathway Scholarship: All students admitted to a master’s program at Illinois Tech are automatically considered for a merit-based scholarship at the time of admission. 
  • Graduate Assistantships: Assistantships are offered through academic departments and colleges with a focus on research and teaching. Graduate assistants receive partial tuition remission and a monthly stipend, along with assessment, teaching, or research experience.
  • Graduate Research Funding: Individual faculty members may have research grants that may include the possibility of assisting with student research efforts.

Featured Faculty

With grant funding from sources such as the U.S. Air Force, the National Security Agency, and the National Science Foundation, Illinois Tech faculty are on the cutting edge of cybersecurity research. Students who conduct research alongside our faculty develop professional cybersecurity skills and emerging hacking techniques.

Kyle Hale
Assistant Professor of Computer Science
Yousef Elmehdwi
Associate Chair Senior Lecturer of Computer Science

Bright Career Outlook for Master of Cybersecurity Graduates

See why cybersecurity talent is in such high demand