Online Master's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Alabama

Alabama is home to five schools that offer a total of seven online master’s in cybersecurity programs. These include master’s programs specifically in cybersecurity, as well as programs in fields like computer science, information systems, and management that also have a concentration in cybersecurity. Both public universities, such as Athens State University and The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and private institutions like Auburn University, Talladega College, and Troy University offer online programs in the field. Students can choose from specialization options ranging from Cybersecurity Operations to Cybersecurity Engineering, Cyber Security Management, Data Analysis and Cloud Security, Computer and Network Security, and Forensics.

All of the schools listed on this page have received regional accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). In addition, schools offering cybersecurity degree programs may pursue optional designation(s) through the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, which is an initiative managed by the National Security Agency (NSA) in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The NCAE-C program has three designations: Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), and Cyber Research (CAE-R), which demonstrate that schools have curricula and learning outcomes that align with federal standards. Currently, four of the five schools in Alabama have obtained NCAE-C designations.

Learn more about the following schools in Alabama and the programs they offer in cybersecurity and related fields below.

• Athens State University (Public)
• Auburn University (Public)
• Talladega College (Private)
• The University of Alabama at Birmingham (Public)
• Troy University (Public)

Schools in Alabama with Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs

Athens State University offers an online Master of Science in Cybersecurity through its College of Arts and Sciences. This program has specialization options in Data Analysis and Cloud Security, Software and Systems, Forensics, and Cybersecurity Operations. The MS in Cybersecurity prepares students to step into both academic and industry roles in cybersecurity, including positions in security software design, information technology management, system security operations and tactics, and cybersecurity research. This 30-33 credit program features core courses in Cybersecurity Foundations, Cybersecurity Risk Management, Cybersecurity Policy, Communications and Network Security, and Cryptography and Network Security. After completing the core curriculum, students tailor their program of study through three electives or concentration courses, exploring areas such as data mining and analysis, security software engineering and testing, cybersecurity continuity, advanced computer forensics, database systems retrieval, and digital communication networks. In order to graduate, students must complete one final required course, Project Research and Methods, before choosing a master’s thesis or a professional project as their culminating experience.

Auburn University’s Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering offers a 33-credit online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering that gives students the knowledge and skills to build, troubleshoot, and improve cybersecurity systems for organizations. Students of this program take 21 credits of required courses in Advanced Operating Systems, Secure Cloud Computing, Computer and Network Security, Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity Threats and Countermeasures, Advanced Computer and Network Security, and Software Reverse Engineering. From there, they select nine credits of elective coursework on topics such as security for distributed systems, artificial intelligence (AI) for security, wireless network security, cryptography, processes for secure software, hardware security, and binary program analysis. The final graduation requirement for the program is a three-credit Capstone Engineering Project, wherein students design, plan, and implement a cybersecurity engineering project; students must also present their project and write a reflective report on their experiences.

Talladega College offers an online Master of Science in Computer Information Systems (MSCIS) with a concentration option in Cybersecurity through its Department of Computer Science. The MSCIS prepares students to detect and address security attacks, assess and implement cybersecurity tools, conduct vulnerability assessments, develop and analyze cybersecurity processes and policies, and understand effective network defense architecture. The core curriculum for this 30-credit program consists of seven courses (21 credits) on Information Technology and Project Management, Information Technology Risk Management, Database Design and Implementation, Data Communication and Networking, Network Security, The Science of Cybersecurity Management, and Ethics and Compliance Standards in Cybersecurity. After completing the core courses, students in the Cybersecurity concentration take three courses (nine credits) on advanced network security, preventative techniques against cyber-attacks, and digital investigations and forensics.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business has an online Master’s in Management Information Systems (MS MIS) with a concentration in Cyber Security Management. Students in the MS MIS program learn how to combine organizational management strategies with the contemporary cybersecurity principles, tactics, and tools. This program is composed of 30 credits, divided across 18 credits of core curriculum and 12 credits of concentration coursework. The core courses cover an Introduction to Cybersecurity, Information Technology and Business Strategy, Desktop Analytics with Information Technology (IT) Tools, Artificial Intelligence Strategy, IT Project Management, and Emerging IT Trends and Technologies. Once they have completed the core curriculum, students take four concentration-specific classes on threat mitigation, incident response and data recovery for organizational continuity, IT risk management, and digital forensics.

Troy University offers three online master’s programs with cybersecurity concentration options. Troy University’s College of Science and Engineering offers an online Master of Science in Computer Science with concentrations in Cyber Security, and Computer Network and Security. Students of this program take three core courses (nine credits) in Computer Architecture, Analysis of Algorithms, and Operating Systems Principles. Students of the Cyber Security concentration take four courses (12 credits) that include in-depth overviews of cybersecurity principles, network and information security, advanced network defense and penetration testing, and specialized research techniques in cybersecurity. Students who select the Computer Network and Security concentration take three courses (nine credits) on network and information security, advanced computer networks, and computer science research for solving problems in information and network security. The remaining credits for this 33-credit program come from electives, with students choosing graduate-level courses from the Computer Science Department. Students of either concentration who are interested in pursuing an academic or research-oriented career have the option of completing a master’s thesis for course credit.

Troy University’s Sorrell College of Business offers two programs with concentration options in Cybersecurity Management: an online Master of Science in Human Resource Management, and an online Master of Science in Management. The MS in Human Resource Management consists of 30 course credits, divided across 21 credits of core courses and nine credits of concentration coursework. Students begin the program by completing six core courses on Workforce Planning and Staffing, Talent Development, Compensation and Benefits, Organization Development and Change, Legal Environment of Employment Decisions, and a Survey of Business Concepts. From there, they take three Cybersecurity Management concentration courses that cover security operations, risk management, security compliance, and data governance. The seventh core course in the program is a capstone course wherein students analyze and discuss case studies before designing a human resource plan or strategy that supports an organization’s cybersecurity needs.

Troy University’s Master of Science in Management with a Cybersecurity Management concentration focuses on the intersection between business development, organizational leadership, and cybersecurity. Students take 12 credits of core courses that include Theories of Organizational Behavior, Organization Development and Change, a Survey of Business Concepts, and a Strategic Management capstone course. The Cybersecurity Management concentration for this program requires the same three courses that the MS in Human Resource Management, which cover security operations, data governance and asset security, risk management, and security compliance. A final capstone course requires students to engage in an integrative, management-focused project that tackles a cybersecurity problem or vulnerability.