Master's in Cyber Engineering

What is a Cyber Security Engineer?

Cyber security engineers are professionals who protect organizations’ systems and networks from cyber-attacks. To prevent theft, fraud or leaks of sensitive information, they use strategies such as:

• Performing penetration testing to evaluate system security
• Developing secure network solutions that keep businesses’ data safe
• Engineering secure systems that meet organizations’ needs
• Monitoring intrusion detection and security technology systems

Pros in the field of cyber security engineering also need to understand social engineering and take steps to mitigate this serious threat.

How to Become a Cyber Security Engineer

Pursuing a graduate degree (like a master's) in cyber security or cyber-engineering is a way to build on your past education and experience, plus learn skills specific to combatting cyber threats. To pursue a master’s program, you should have a bachelor’s degree—preferably in a related major. Many programs also require knowledge of computer programming, as well as prerequisite courses in math and science.

Due to the growing seriousness of cyber-attacks, IT professionals with knowledge of cyber security continue to be in high demand. The cost of global cybercrimes is projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. No wonder businesses are eager to invest in preventative measures, like hiring cyber security engineers. These cybercrime fighters earn an average annual salary of $97,830.Other careers you could pursue with a master’s in cyber security, or a similar degree can include:

• Information Security Analyst
• Information Security Manager
• Chief Information Security Officer
• IT Security Engineer

In addition, opportunities in this field span many industries. Banks, health care practices, e-commerce companies, government agencies and countless other organizations rely on cyber security professionals. Some of these employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree.

How Hard is a Cyber Security Degree?

Online cyber security graduate programs feature courses in complex subjects like cryptology, digital forensics, network system engineering, ethical hacking, and more. So, ideal candidates tend to have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. After all, they must be able to predict attackers’ next moves, identify vulnerabilities before hackers can exploit them, and devise innovative ways to keep organizations safe.

Ultimately, the difficulty of an online cyber security degree program depends on your abilities and preparedness. But if you’re ready to build on your foundational IT knowledge and tackle new challenges in an in-demand field, consider earning your masters from an accredited online cyber security degree.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

The online Master of Science in Cyber-Engineering program at Imperial University for Science & AI combines multiple disciplines to give you the technical skills and insights employers look for. You’ll prepare to analyze and solve complex computing problems, protect critical infrastructure and maintain secure operations in an age of increased cyber risk.

Curriculum for this accredited online cyber security program dives into principles of Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering and Computer Science. You’ll complete a total of 31 credit hours comprised of 8-week or 16-week courses, such as Cyber-Engineering and the Network, Cyber-Engineering Access Control, Robotics System Engineering and Artificial Intelligence.

Upon graduation, you’ll be able to:

• Understand the role policy plays in engineering secure systems
• Examine the role assurance plays in security and in the development, design and deployment of software and hardware products
• Evaluate trusted systems and turn designs into secure systems
• Healthcare Administration
• Provide solutions to secure networks and protect infrastructures from cyber threats
• Assess security systems using the principles of network forensics

Already working in IT, cyber security, or another field? Our online cyber security program is designed to be flexible, so you can prepare for new career goals while meeting your current responsibilities. At the same time, you’ll enjoy the support of expert instructors and take full advantage of our immersive online learning technology.

Admission Requirements

Am I Eligible for this Program?

Option 1:
If you have a degree in electrical engineering, computer science, cyber engineering, software engineering, or other approved degree determined by the MS Cyber Engineering Program Director and have the following pre-recs completed, then yes you are eligible!

Pre-Recs:

• Calculus 1 & 2 OR Calculus I & Probability and Statistics
• At least three (3) of the following IT or Science courses:
• Foundations of Engineering/ Software Development/ Computer Science
• Physics 1 or higher and lab
• Computer Systems or Software Design
• Electronics/ Electromagnetic Fields/ Circuit Design
• Object Oriented Programing/ Design
• Systems Design / Systems Architecture
• Cyber Security/ Cyber Defense

Option 2:
If you do not have a degree and pre-recs listed above, but do have an IT degree (undergraduate or graduate level) and have completed college algebra or higher, then yes you are eligible!

If admitted, you would start taking 16-week courses in your first two semester to build a foundation for advanced coursework in Cyber Engineering. This format gives students additional learning modules and remediation to provide a minimal level of the background knowledge and skills needed for the program.

Example Schedule:
Semester 1: MSCE 530 Principles of Cyber Engineering & MSCE 531 Cyber Engineering and the Network
Semester 2: MSCE 532 Digital Forensics and Cyber Engineering & MSCE 533 Computer Interactions & Usability Engineering
Semester 3: Transitions into the 8-week course format

Admission to our University is very competitive as well as selective and we review each application by the same standards. The application process includes:

• Application and Application fee
• Submit official transcripts from all applicable colleges/universities attended; must be received directly from the issuing college or university
• A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of a 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale
• Any international course work completed must have official transcript evaluations completed and submitted to the University by the evaluation firm.
• Evaluations MUST include GPA for admission.

Approved Evaluation Firms are:

• World Education Services (WES)
• Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE)
• International Education Research Foundation (IERF)
• Educational Perspectives (EP)
• SpanTran
• Documentation of language fluency for non-native speakers of English, such as a score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the 8 International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a report from Duolingo. This requirement is waived for students who have completed bachelor’s or master’s level coursework in the U.S. at an accredited institution.

  The minimum acceptable TOEFL or IELTS scores for admission are:

  • Paper-based TOEFL (PBT) - 550
  • Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) - 79
  • IELTS - 6
  • Duolingo - 100

All admissions materials should be submitted to Graduate Admissions:

Imperial University for Science & AI
Graduate & Online Admissions
Email: admissions@iusa.uk