Accelerated Graduate Pathway to Cybersecurity

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

USM’s Accelerated Graduate Pathway (AGP) to the Cybersecurity Master’s program allows students to take graduate level courses during their final two years of undergraduate study. These courses allow undergraduate students to complete up to 15 graduate-level credits while completing their Bachelor’s degree, and will satisfy requirements in both the undergraduate and graduate programs.

Program Requirements

In order to gain full admission to the Master’s in Cybersecurity program, a student must do all of the following.

Declare the BS Cybersecurity major.
Apply to the MS Cybersecurity program in fall of their 3rd year (~60 earned credits).
Take CYB 551 Cyber Laws, Policies, and Ethics in Fall of the 3rd year, replacing CYB 451 in the BS Cybersecurity.
If accepted to the Master’s program, take CYB 501 Cybersecurity Fundamentals in Spring of the 3rd year, in place of a BS cybersecurity elective.
Take CYB 515 Research Methods (Fall), CYB 530 Project Management in Cybersecurity, and CYB 576 Network Security Management (Spring) in their 4th year, all in place of BS cybersecurity electives.*

*Some students elect to take CYB 515 and CYB 583 Database and Application Security in the Fall of the 4th year, and CYB 576 in Spring. All courses mentioned are required for the degree; only 15 graduate credits can be taken while an undergraduate and apply to the graduate program.

Full Course Listing

Technical Requirements

ITT 181 - Computing Technologies Credits: 3
ITT 200 - Introduction to Cybersecurity Credits: 3
ITT 272 - Networking I Credits: 3
ITT 362 - Operating Systems Security Credits: 3
ITT 373 - Networking II Credits: 3
ITT 376 - Network Defense Credits: 3
ITT 383 - Databases Credits: 3
ITT 385 - Integrative Programming Credits: 3
ITT 413 - Ethical Hacking Credits: 3
ITT 440 - Internship Credits: 1-6
ITT 482 - Computer Systems Forensics Credits: 3
COS 160 - Structured Problem Solving Java Credits: 3
COS 170 - Structured Programming Laboratory Credits: 1
COS 161 - Algorithms in Programming Credits: 4
COS 184 - Python Programming Credits: 4
COS 285 - Data Structures Credits: 4
CYB 501 - Cybersecurity Fundamentals Credits: 3
CYB 515 - Research Methods Credits: 3
CYB 530 - Project Management in Cybersecurity Credits: 3
CYB 551 - Cyber Laws, Policies, & Ethics Credits: 3
CYB 576 - Network Security Management Credits: 3

Departmental Requirements

ITP 210 - Technical Writing Credits: 3 (WRI 3 Core Requirement)
ITP 230 - Project Management Credits: 3 (International Core Requirement)
ITP 250 - Management Information Systems Credits: 3
ITP 350 - Leadership, Teambuilding, and Facilitation Credits: 3
ITT 460 - Capstone Credits: 3 (Engaged Learning Core Requirement)
MAT 108 - College Algebra Credits: 4
MAT 145 - Discrete Mathematics I Credits: 3
MAT 120 - Introduction to Statistics Credits: 4 (Quantitative Reasoning Core Requirement)
PHI 235 - Philosophy, Social Media, and Security Credits: 3 (Ethical Inquiry, Social Responsibility, and Citizenship Core Requirement)
ECO 101 - Introduction to Macroeconomics Credits: 3 OR
ECO 102 - Introduction to Microeconomics Credits: 3 (either fulfills the Socio-Cultural Analysis Core Requirement)
PHY or CHY or BIO with Lab (Science Exploration Core Requirement)

Remaining University Core Requirements

ENG 100 - College Writing Credits: 3 (WRI 1 Core Requirement)
ENG 102 - Academic Writing Credits: 3 (WRI 2 Core Requirement)
Creative Expression Core Requirment
Cultural Interpretation Core Requirement
Culture, Power, and Equity Core Requirement