Online Master's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Maine

Maine is home to two schools that offer the same online master’s in cybersecurity program. The University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) and the University of Southern Maine (USM) collaborated to develop an online Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity program, which each school offers fully online to its respective students. The MS in Cybersecurity has the same curricular content and graduation requirements across both schools. UMA and USM are part of the greater University of Maine system, which is a network of seven public universities throughout the state that share the same strategic plan for providing quality online and campus-based education.

The University of Maine at Augusta and the University of Southern Maine are both regionally accredited through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). Additionally, the MS in Cybersecurity at both USM and UMA have earned optional Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designations through the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, which is a federal initiative that has established curriculum standards for cybersecurity programs at the undergraduate and graduate level. Managed by the National Security Agency (NSA) in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the NCAE-C program offers optional designations in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD), Cyber Research (CAE-CR) and Cyber Operations (CAE-CO).

Schools in Maine with Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs

The University of Maine at Augusta’s College of Professional Studies and the University of Southern Maine’s College of Science, Technology, and Health offer a joint online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. Students earning their MS in Cybersecurity at either school take the same courses and complete the same graduation requirements. Specifically, the MS in Cybersecurity at UMA and USM consists of 30 graduate course credits, divided across eight content courses (24 credits) and a culminating thesis or capstone project (six credits).

For their content coursework, students take the following classes: Cybersecurity Fundamentals; Research Methods; Project Management in Cybersecurity; Cyber Laws, Policies, and Ethics; Network Security Management; Cybersecurity Investigations; Database and Application Security; and Cybersecurity Operations. Through these eight courses, students learn how to identify, prevent, and address a wide variety of cyber threats through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research, design and deployment of system and network security infrastructure, and the use of cutting-edge cyber defense tools and strategies. They also learn advanced topics in cybersecurity investigations, strengthening database and application security features, and leading information and network security protocols for organizations.

The MS in Cybersecurity requires students to complete either a thesis or a capstone project to graduate. Students are expected to begin formulating their ideas for their culminating experience by the start of their second semester of enrollment. Students who are interested in pursuing a scholarship-focused career path, such as working at a cybersecurity research center or teaching at a university, are encouraged to opt for the master’s thesis. The thesis is an original work of scholarship that students complete with the support of faculty advisors, and which can serve as a steppingstone for further academic research at the doctoral level. Meanwhile, the capstone project is a flexible, customizable option designed for students who want to enter industry. Through the capstone project, students apply the concepts and skills they have learned in their courses to a concrete deliverable that is relevant to their career goals and interests.

Additional Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs for Residents of Maine

In addition to the MS in Cybersecurity program offered by UMA and USM, students living in Maine who are interested in earning their master’s in cybersecurity online have a wide variety of options if they explore programs offered by out-of-state institutions.. There are currently over 230 accredited institutions of higher education that offer online master’s in cybersecurity programs, as well as programs in related fields like information technology, computer science, computer engineering, and software engineering that feature specializations or concentrations in cybersecurity. Maine residents can find a comprehensive directory of schools offering these programs on our Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs page. The majority of the online programs on that page accept students who live out-of-state, though prospective students should always check with admissions advisors at their programs of interest to confirm admission eligibility before applying.