Online Master's in Cybersecurity Degree Programs in the Utica-Rome Metropolitan Area

The Utica-Rome metropolitan area in central New York is home to two universities that offer online master’s degrees in cybersecurity, both of which are based in Utica. SUNY Polytechnic Institute, a public university that is part of the State University of New York school system, offers a Master of Science (MS) in Cybersecurity program. Utica University, a private institution that offers graduate programs in numerous fields including cybersecurity and information technology, offers two MS programs in cybersecurity. Both schools offer programs that can be completed fully online.

Both universities are accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). Schools offering cybersecurity programs can choose to pursue designations through the National Centers for Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity (NCAE-C) program, which is managed by the National Security Agency (NSA) in collaboration with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Utica University has aligned its cybersecurity curriculum with federal standards in order to obtain NCAE-C’s Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation.

Schools in Utica with Online Master’s in Cybersecurity Programs

SUNY Polytechnic Institute offers a 33-credit MS in Cybersecurity degree through its College of Engineering. All students complete 18 credit hours of Core Courses, including: Information Assurance Fundamentals, Network Security, and Research Methods. Students then take 9 to 12 credit hours of electives, depending on whether they choose the three-credit project option or the six-credit thesis option to complete their degree. Technical Electives include courses such as Network Administration, Network Intrusion Prevention and Detection, and Internet of Things Security. The thesis option is a written project based on original research, whereas the project option allows students to do a practical programming project, a simulation-based project, or a Technology Case Study (TCS) that explores an innovative or emerging issue in the field. Students can earn their degree in as few as 18 months if they enroll on a full-time basis, although students can also choose to earn their degree part-time.

Utica University offers two program options for prospective graduate students, both based in the School of Business and Justice Studies. The MS in Cybersecurity Operations Management is designed for students interested in business management and leadership roles in cybersecurity. This 30-credit program, which can be completed in two years, requires students to complete 12 credits in Business Management courses and 15 credits in Cybersecurity Operations courses. Business Management classes include Project Accounting and Financial Analysis, Project Management, and Project Management Leadership. The Cybersecurity Operations curriculum features courses like Foundations of Computing for Cybersecurity; Critical Incident Command, Responses, and All Hazards; and Organizational Risk Management Frameworks. Students graduate from the program after completing a Capstone Project, which provides students with real-world, applied cybersecurity leadership experience. The program also provides students the foundation to take the Project Management Institute’s PMP certification exam and CompTIA’s industry-recognized Project+ and Security+ certification exams.

Utica University also offers a 30-credit MS in Cybersecurity with three specialization options: Digital Forensics, Cybersecurity Operations, and Cybercrime and Fraud. All students complete 18 credits of Cybersecurity Foundations courses and nine credits of specialization courses. Foundational courses include: Principles of Cybersecurity, Programming Applications for Cybersecurity, and Securing and Defending Networks. For the Digital Forensics specialization, courses include Computer Forensics and Investigations Methods, Intrusion Forensics and Network Analysis, and a Malware Practicum. The Cyber Operations specialization offers classes in Offensive Security Operations, Attack Surface Management, and the Malware Practicum. Students specializing in Cybercrime and Fraud Specialization take courses in Financial Crime, Compliance Management; Fraud Management and Technology; and Advanced Fraud Analysis. Students in all three specializations are required to design an incident plan in response to a real-world cybersecurity incident as part of a final Capstone course. This program is also designed to be completed in two years of study.

Utica University’s MS in Cybersecurity program is a CompTIA academic partner, and its curriculum is meant to prepare students for industry certifications like CompTIA’s Cloud+, CYSA+, and PenTest+ certification exams. In addition, the Digital Forensics specialization works to prepare students for IACIS’s Certified Forensic Computer Examiner (CFCE) certification, ISFCE’s Certified Computer Examiner (CCE) certification, GIAC’s Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE) and/or Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA) certifications, and EC-Council’s Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) certification. The program’s curriculum also includes simulations that make use of the RangeForce cybersecurity platform, which is widely used in the industry.