Cybersecurity, M.S.

We accept applications for fall and spring semesters (no summer admission).

Deadlines for Domestic Students:

• Fall Semester – priority deadline is March 1, final deadline is August 1 as seats allow
• Spring Semester – priority deadline is October 1, final deadline is December 1 as seats allow

Deadlines for International Students:

• Spring Semester – priority deadline is October 1, final deadline is November 1
• Fall Semester – priority deadline is March 1, final deadline is April 1

• Unofficial transcript(s) demonstrating a cumulative undergraduate degree GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Statement of purpose
• Three recommendations from academic and/or professional references

International applicants:

• English language proficiency requirement
• Formal transcript evaluation (optional, though recommended)

For admission, applicants must meet both University Graduate School requirements as well as program specific requirements. Full details on University Graduate School requirements can be found in the most recent version of the University Graduate Catalog. Additional helpful information on University requirements is available in the Graduate School Frequently Asked Admissions Questions.

NOTE: The GRE/GMAT standardized exam requirement is waived for all Fall 2025 applicants and will not be a requirement for consideration in joining this program. Please contact our sis-grad-admissions@charlotte.edu if you have any further questions about this update.

• Resume/CV
• Completed undergraduate or equivalent course work in the below topics with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale*

M.S. in Cybersecurity

• Data structures
• Object-oriented programming in C++, C#, or java
• Computer networks
• Web application development

*Applicants who pass and complete the Fundamentals of Programming courses ITIS 5101 Foundations of Programming and ITIS 5135 Web-based Application Design and Development are considered having met the equivalent coursework requirement.

*Applicants who demonstrate relevant work experience in applying or developing computing and information technology may be able to substitute their relevant work experience for the specific requirements, subject to review by the Graduate Program Director.

Students are required to complete 30 credit hours for the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree program, of which:  (a) 12 are for 4 common core courses, (b) 15 are for 5 elective courses in cybersecurity, and (c) 3 are for one elective course in computing and information technology.

Core Courses (12 credit hours)

• ITIS 5250 – Computer Forensics (3)
• ITIS 6167 – Network Security (3)
• ITIS 6200 – Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6240 – Applied Cryptography (3)

Elective Courses (18 credit hours)

Three of the 18 required elective credit hours may be substituted by an approved IT Internship, which also serves as a capstone project.

Cybersecurity Elective Courses (15 credit hours)

Select five of the following:

• ITIS 5221 – Secure Programming and Penetration Testing (3)
• ITIS 5246 – Competitive Cyber Defense (3)
• ITIS 5260 – Introduction to Security Analytics (3)
• ITIS 5331 – Web-Based Mobile and IoT Firmware Security (3)
• ITIS 6150 – Software Assurance (3)
• ITIS 6210 – Access Control and Security Architecture (3)
• ITIS 6214 – Usable Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6220 – Data Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6230 – Enterprise and Infrastructure Protection (3)
• ITIS 6260 – Quantum Computing (3)
• ITIS 6268 – Wireless Network Security (3)
• ITIS 6270 – BlockChain, Cryptocurrency, and Distributed Ledger Technologies (3)
• ITIS 6320 – Cloud Data Storage (3)
• ITIS 6330 – Malware Analysis (3)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)
• ITIS 6880 – Individual Study (1 to 3) (independent study for a security topic may be repeated, but only 3 credit hours may count towards the degree)
• ITIS 6999 – SFS Research (3) (may be repeated, but only 3 credit hours may count towards the degree)

College of Computing and Informatics Elective Course (3 credit hours)

Select any additional graduate course offered by the College of Computing and Informatics.

Capstone Experience

Select one of the following three options to complete the 30-credit hour program:

Coursework + Master’s Thesis

24 credit hours of coursework plus 6 credit hours of Master’s research thesis project.  The thesis option requires the formation of a program committee.  The thesis option requires students to perform research under the supervision of an academic advisor, submit a written thesis, and orally defend their work before their program committee.

Coursework + Internship

27 credit hours of coursework plus 3 credit hours of an approved IT Internship.  The internship option requires approval by the program director of an internship location and preceptor, and the submission of a written internship report.

Coursework + Project Report

30 credit hours of coursework plus a project report.  The project report option requires completion of 30 credit hours of coursework and successfully completing a report describing a project experience in cybersecurity to fulfill the requirements of a culminating experience for the M.S. degree.  The report is submitted to and approved by the Graduate Program Director.

What is the cost of attendance for this program (tuition and fee structure)?

You may view up-to-date information about tuition and fees for our program on the Niner Central webpage.

Where can I find information on financial support and financial aid?

Several sources of funding and financial aid are available to our graduate students through various means, including scholarships, fellowships, and teaching assistantships.

To apply for a graduate assistantship in our Department of Software & Information Systems, please visit Hire-A-Niner for opportunities.

• For recommendations regarding graduate funding: Funding for Graduate Education
• For general financial aid information: Niner Central
• For scholarship information: NinerScholars