Master of Science in Cybersecurity
If you can envision yourself helping to ensure the security, confidentiality, integrity, authenticity, control, availability, and utility of the world’s computing and information systems infrastructure, Berkshire University’s MS in Cybersecurity program will give you the technical and managerial skills you need to achieve your career aspirations.
In this rigorous online curriculum, we challenge our students to design, build and implement the computing and systems that address the major issues our society is wrestling with. It’s a professionally focused degree for those who endeavor to help secure the world’s computer and information systems infrastructure.
Core Requirements
CYB 600 Cybersecurity Technology – 4.50
Examines the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity and the associated technology. Includes securing the environment, security technologies in the environment, security threats, and security responses. Ethical and legal aspects of cybersecurity are also examined.
CYB 601 Cyber Sec. Toolkit Utilization – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 600 with a minimum grade of B.
An introduction to the tools and techniques utilized in cyber defense and offensive cyber operations. Use of technical tools will be demonstrated in virtual lab environments.
CYB 602 Threat Modeling & Intel – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 601
Analysis and evaluation of threat modeling and cyber threat intelligence to reduce risk and enhance organizational Cybersecurity posture. Development and use of threat models to identify threats to systems and applications. Methods for collecting and utilizing threat intelligence to identify organizational threats are also covered.
CYB 604 Wireless and Mobile Security – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 602
Concepts covered include a comprehensive wireless and mobile security overview including the design, planning, installation, and maintenance of wireless network security infrastructures. Emphasis is placed on information warfare countermeasures relative to government, military, terrorist and rogue, and private enterprise demographics.
CYB 606 NetSec Monitoring and IR – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 604
An introduction to the concepts of network security monitoring and incident response. Students will conduct an analysis and evaluation of network security monitoring tools and techniques. Students will examine the methods for conducting incident response.
CYB 607 Cloud Security – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 606
An introduction to the concepts of cloud computing. This course will examine the security implications of operating in a cloud computing environment. Tools and techniques to implement DevSec ops will be introduced.
CYB 699A Cyber Security Project I – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 608 and completion of one specialization area.
A Master’s level project dealing with a student’s area of specialization in the Cyber Security and Information Assurance program. The students will create an original project with practical applications using cybersecurity policy, regulatory, and testing frameworks. The project will integrate the concepts of cyber security and information assurance taught throughout the program. Project management techniques and collaboration will be emphasized along with the ethical and legal aspects of the project. Grading is H, S, U only.
CYB 699B Cyber Security Project II – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 699A
Master’s level project dealing with a student’s area of specialization in the Cyber Security and Information Assurance program. The students will create an original project with practical applications using cybersecurity policy, regulatory, and testing frameworks. Project management technqiues and collaboration will be emphasized along with the ethical and legal aspects of the project. Grading is H, S or U only.
CYB 699C Cyber Security Project III – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 699B with a minimum grade of S. Students to successfully complete CYB 699B
Master’s level project dealing with a student’s area of specialization in the Cyber Security and Information Assurance program. The students will create an original project with practical applications using cybersecurity policy, regulatory, and testing frameworks. Project management techniques and collaboration will be emphasized along with the ethical and legal aspects of the project. Project results will be presented to a panel for review. Grading is by H, S or U only.
Program Requirements
CYB 608 CyberSec Audit and Assessment – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 607
This class focuses on the legal and regulatory requirements, ethical issues, basic methodology and technical tools to conduct cybersecurity audits and assessments. Students will explore the frameworks, tools, and techniques to conduct a cybersecurity assessment.
CYB 612 Cybersecurity Policy – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 608
Students will explore the development of cybersecurity policy for commercial and government organizations. The legal and regulatory requirements for cybersecurity policy development will be examined.
CYB 613 Governance in Cybersecurity – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 612
An examination of the functions and processes to implement and monitor cybersecurity controls across an organization. An exploration of commercial and government compliance requirements.
CYB 616 CybSec Program Management – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 613
An examination of the methods and frameworks for implementing and managing an enterprise cybersecurity program. Students will explore various frameworks and tools to develop and manage a cybersecurity program that supports an organization’s mission.
Program Requirements
CYB 608 CyberSec Audit and Assessment– 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 607
This class focuses on the legal and regulatory requirements, ethical issues, basic methodology and technical tools to conduct cybersecurity audits and assessments. Students will explore the frameworks, tools, and techniques to conduct a cybersecurity assessment.
CYB 632 Ethical Hacking – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 608
Students will apply principles of penetration testing to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in networked and cloud based information systems and make recommendations for mitigation.
CYB 633 Red Teaming – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 632
Red Teaming, or Alternative Analysis, is the practice of viewing a problem from an adversarial or competitor’s perspective. The objective of Red Teams is to enhance decision making, practices of secured system protection applicable by establishing countermeasures of defense. Students will learn to employ actively open-minded/problem solving and unbiased thinking to conduct red team assessments.
CYB 634 Advanced Penetration Testing – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 633
Students will analyze and utilize advanced penetration testing tools and techniques. Web application attack tools and techniques will be examined.
Specialization in Digital Forensics and Incident Response
CYB 640 Threat Hunting and IR – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 607
Develop advanced skills in threat hunting and incident response to promptly and effectively identify and mitigate threats. Learn the threat hunting cycle and techniques for proactive, reactive, and continuous hunting. Utilize tools like SIEMs, EDRs, and threat intelligence feeds for real-time threat identification and response. Gain practical knowledge applicable to real-world scenarios.
CYB 641 Digital Investigations – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 640
An introduction to the field of digital investigations, including the techniques, tools, and methodologies used to investigate cybercrime and other digital incidents. Students will learn how to collect, preserve, and analyze digital evidence from a variety of sources, including computers, mobile devices, and the cloud. The course will also cover the latest trends in digital investigations, such as the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In addition, the course explores the legal and ethical considerations involved in digital investigations, including the use of digital evidence in criminal and civil cases, and the rules of evidence in digital investigations.
CYB 642 Cloud Forensics and IR – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 641
Gain in-depth understanding of cloud forensics and incident response, focusing on techniques, tools, and methodologies for investigating and responding to security incidents in cloud environments. Explore challenges and considerations specific to cloud computing. Covers the entire investigation process, including evidence collection, analysis, and incident response activities.
CYB 643 Network Forensics – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 642
Gain a comprehensive understanding of network forensics and its techniques, tools, and methodologies for investigating cyber incidents on network infrastructure. Learn principles of network traffic analysis, intrusion detection, and network-based attacks. Explore legal and ethical considerations. By the end of the course, be able to conduct effective investigations, gather evidence, and present findings.
Specialization in Cloud Security
CYB 650 Risk Mgmnt in Cloud Computing – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 607
An examination into the critical aspects of risk management in cloud computing environments. The curriculum addresses both theoretical and practical aspects of risk management in the cloud. Students will explore the challenges, methodologies, and best practices associated with managing risk when using cloud computing environments. Various frameworks and risk management for zero trust environments will be covered in this class.
CYB 651 Cloud Security Architecture – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 650
Explore secure cloud architecture design and implementation, covering principles of cloud security, zero trust architecture, and vulnerabilities in cloud service models. Learn to design secure architectures for cloud environments that offer comprehensive protection against threats.
CYB 652 Introduction to DevSecOps – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 651
Learn DevSecOps principles and practices for secure and resilient applications. Emphasis on integrating security within the DevOps framework, emphasizing collaboration, automation, and continuous improvement.
CYB 653 Cloud Computing Assessments – 4.50
Prerequisite: CYB 652
Explore methods and techniques for assessing security in cloud environments, focusing on unique challenges, evaluating security controls, and identifying potential risks and vulnerabilities.
Degree and Course Requirements
All students who seek to enroll in the MS Cybersecurity (MS CYB) program must interview with the Faculty Advisor prior to enrolling in the first course of the program.
To obtain the Master of Science in Cybersecurity, students must complete 58.5 graduate units. A total of 13.5 quarter units of graduate credit may be granted for equivalent graduate work completed at another regionally accredited institution, as it applies to this degree, and provided the units were not used in earning another advanced degree. All students must complete the nine core requirements and choose an area of specialization.
Please refer to the graduate admissions requirements for specific information regarding application and evaluation. To Reach out to speak with an admissions counselor for additional course requirements and elective options.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of Berkshire University’s master’s in cybersecurity program, graduates will be able to:
Devise a mitigation plan against both external and internal vulnerabilities to enterprise computer infrastructures and sensitive digital assets
Analyze and evaluate multiple risk assessment methods and strategies
Compare and contrast the legal and ethical aspects of cybersecurity at the federal, state, and international level
Assess and summarize the legal and ethical requirements of a cybersecurity professional
Integrate project management skills to produce a cybersecurity solution
Evaluate the results of a security assessment to assess the security status of a network or computer system
Conduct in-depth research into a specific CSIA topic, including finding and integrating relevant research results of others
Integrate systems-level infrastructure thinking into CSIA problem identification and resolution and effectively communicate the solution
Our four-week courses and online options work with your schedule to get the most out of our MS in Cybersecurity program. You could start as early as next month!
Admissions
Enrolling in a university is a big decision. That’s why our dedicated admissions team is here to guide you through the admissions process and help you find the right program for you and your career goals.
To that end, we’ve simplified and streamlined our application process, so you can get enrolled in your program right away. Because we accept and review applications year round, you can begin class as soon as next month, depending on your program and location of choice.
Learn more about undergraduate, graduate, military, and international student admissions, plus admissions information for transfer students. You can also learn more about our tuition rates and financial aid opportunities.