Online Master's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Iowa

Iowa is home to only one school that currently offers online master’s programs in cybersecurity. Iowa State University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering has both an online Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity and an online Master of Engineering (MEng) in Cybersecurity. The MS in Cybersecurity supports the goals of both professionally focused students as well as students who want to enter research or academic positions; it features both content coursework in cybersecurity and a required culminating experience, which can take the form of a capstone project or a master’s thesis. Meanwhile, the MEng in Cybersecurity is geared towards individuals who want professional preparation in the field, and only requires the completion of content coursework to earn the degree.

Iowa State University’s degree programs in cybersecurity have received designations through the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, which is a federal initiative that was established by the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to evaluate cybersecurity programs in higher education. Of NCAE-C’s available designations in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Research (CAE-R), and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), Iowa State University’s programs have received the CAE-CD and CAE-R designations. Prospective students should note that earning NCAE-C designations is entirely optional, and is distinct from the regional accreditation that institutions of higher education must receive. As a public research university, Iowa State University has maintained regional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Note: Iowa State University also offers online Graduate Certificates in Cybersecurity and Enterprise Cybersecurity Management for students who would like to gain advanced skills in the field without having to enroll in a full master’s degree program. Students can also pursue an MBA degree with a Graduate Certificate in Enterprise Cybersecurity Management through Iowa State University’s Ivy College of Business.

Schools in Iowa with Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs

Iowa State University’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity consists of 30 course credits. Students take four courses (12 credits) of core curriculum in Network Protocols and Security, Information System Security, Information Warfare, and Ethical and Legal Issues in Computer Security. After these core courses, students choose two courses (six credits) from a menu of five more advanced courses in the following areas: Cryptography, Stenography and Digital Image Forensics, Computer and Network Forensics, Wireless Network Security, and Secure Software Engineering; by choosing two courses from this list, students build upon the foundational knowledge and skills they learn in the core coursework, while preparing to transition to their elective courses.

For their electives, students complete two to three courses (six to nine credits, depending on their choice of culminating experience), and can select any 400-level or 500-level courses within the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department (in consultation with their program advisors). Examples of electives include Security and Privacy in Cloud Computing, Operating System Security, Hardware Design for Machine Learning, and Fault-Tolerant Systems. For their culminating experience, students can choose either a master’s thesis or a capstone project, otherwise known as a creative component. The master’s thesis is a six-credit work of original scholarship that prepares students for more advanced research at the doctoral level. The creative component/capstone project is a three-credit, professionally relevant deliverable that addresses a real-world cybersecurity need.

The MEng in Cybersecurity also requires the completion of 30 course credits, and the course options overlap significantly with the MS in Cybersecurity program. Students complete the same 12 credits of core courses (Network Protocols and Security, Information System Security, Information Warfare, and Ethical and Legal Issues in Computer Security) and they also choose two courses (six credits) from the same list of five advanced cybersecurity courses mentioned above, before embarking on their three electives (nine credits). For electives, as with the MS in Cybersecurity, students can choose any 400 or 500-level course within the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, as long as they consult and receive approval from their program advisor(s). For the MEng in Cybersecurity program, there is no culminating experience requirement.

Additional Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs for Residents of Iowa

Iowa State University’s online MS and MEng in Cybersecurity programs are only two of the many options that are available to residents of Iowa who wish to pursue their master’s in cybersecurity online. Numerous colleges and universities across the nation offer online master’s programs in cybersecurity and related fields, such as information assurance, cybercrime prevention, digital forensics, and computer science with a concentration in cybersecurity, just to name a few. The majority of these online programs accept applications from students who reside out-of-state, although prospective applicants should always check with the admissions offices of the online programs they are considering to confirm eligibility requirements.

On CyberSecurityDegree.com, prospective students can find a comprehensive directory of online Master’s in Cybersecurity programs that contains over 350 programs offered by more than 230 schools.