Cybersecurity is a dynamic industry that not only is constantly changing, but has grown to impact all aspects of government, business, and society. Accordingly, qualified cybersecurity professionals are in high demand at all levels, from technologists and warriors to managers, directors, and cybersecurity leaders. UMBC’s graduate programs in cybersecurity will prepare you to excel in this rapidly growing field.
Located within the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, we offer graduate certificate programs as well as a Master of Science (M.S.) degree at our campuses in Catonsville (UMBC Campus) and Rockville (UMBC at the Universities at Shady Grove).
Important information for Fall 2024 applicants: Starting Fall 2024, the master’s degree in Cybersecurity was updated from a Master of Professional Studies (M.P.S.) to a Master of Science (M.S.). All master’s applications that were received towards the M.P.S. in Cybersecurity for Fall 2024 will instead be considered for admission to the new M.S. in Cybersecurity.
Current M.P.S. students who began the program in Spring 2024 or earlier may finish their current degree or seamlessly transition into the new M.S. program with no disruption to their studies or time-to-graduation.
At a Glance
Delivery
Hybrid
Locations Offered
- UMBC Campus (Catonsville)
- Shady Grove (Rockville)
Average Completion Time
- 3 years (Master’s part-time)
- 1 year (Certificate part-time)
Credit Hours
- 30 (Master’s)
- 12 (Certificate)
Tuition & Fees
- Main Campus
- MD & Regional Resident: $918 per credit
- Non-Resident: $1,450 per credit
- Shady Grove
- MD & Regional Resident: $793.75 per credit
- Non-Resident: $1,325.75 per credit
Start Date
- Spring/Fall
Why Consider a Cybersecurity Graduate Degree?
Networked technologies integrate into every aspect of society, business, and government. This presents innumerable opportunities for adversaries to disrupt modern society.
Nations and organizations must develop new capabilities that protect our information resources against external threats. To excel in this space, cybersecurity professionals need theoretical and practical knowledge to build robust protections for our nation’s information security.
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Spring 2025 Professional Programs Application Deadline
The application deadline for most Professional Programs for the spring semester is December 1.
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Why Cybersecurity at UMBC?
Our cybersecurity graduate programs respond to the local and national need for trained cybersecurity professionals. We emphasize hands-on training grounded in a strong theoretical framework to provide our students with a rigorous and relevant base of knowledge. Our graduates benefit from:
- An invaluable network
Our programs and courses are led by industry insiders and name-recognized faculty who bring the world of ‘cyber’ alive in meaningful ways. Smaller class sizes allow you to build connections with like-minded peers across the professional landscape. Our experienced adjunct faculty, many of whom have been with us since the beginning, truly are committed to your success. - Opportunities beyond the classroom
UMBC students are invited to participate in assorted career services events, departmental talks, technical research groups, and other extracurricular activities during the year to enhance your education and UMBC student experience in ways beyond simply coursework. - Flexibility
Our program, located within the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, offers a range of traditional lecture, hybrid, and online courses to allow you to pursue your degree on your schedule. Students may draw upon the broad UMBC graduate catalog of courses when planning their studies, and UMBC is able to introduce new courses promptly in response to current events, student interests or industry needs.
- A national footprint
UMBC’s cybersecurity capabilities and expertise are well-established and well recognized, both locally and nationally. We are dual-designated as an NSA/DHS Center of Academic Excellence for Cyber Defense Education (CDE) and Information Assurance Research. We also provide research leadership at the National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence’s (NCCOE) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) in Rockville, MD. - Financial support
Our students are eligible to take part in federal scholarship programs, including the NSF Federal Cybercorps, Scholarship For Service (SFS) and DOD Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP). Please note that these opportunities are open to US citizens only. - Convenient locations
Our main campus is conveniently located off of I-95 near BWI Airport, only ten miles from Fort Meade. Our Rockville campus is minutes away from the cybersecurity hubs of Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
If you are looking for a cybersecurity graduate program that is designed with your career goals and needs in mind, we encourage you to explore our site. Learn more about our program requirements and application process by downloading our program guide, or explore our course descriptions and faculty bios to find out more about our approach to cybersecurity training. Bring your future into focus with a cybersecurity graduate degree or graduate certificate from UMBC.
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