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.

Students applying for this program are expected to have knowledge of computer systems and programming. A bachelor’s degree or prior work experience in a computing-related field will be necessary for some of the elective coursework. Students without undergraduate prerequisite knowledge in programming or computer systems may be required to register for bridging coursework or demonstrate prior knowledge, as determined by the Graduate Program Director.

Students must have an undergraduate grade point average of (or equivalent to) at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 point scale) and a Junior/Senior GPA of at least 3.0.

Student admission will be based on:

Undergraduate academic record

TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo (for international students)

GRE – Applicants who completed undergraduate degree outside of the United States may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration. Please note, the GRE requirement is optional.

Statement of purpose

Students are required to complete 30 credit hours for the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree program, of which: (a) 6 are for 2 common core courses, (b) 21 are for 7 elective courses in cybersecurity, and (c) 3 are for one elective course in computing and information technology. Students may complete courses in up to two cybersecurity knowledge areas as optional concentrations as part of their cybersecurity electives.

Core Courses (6 credit hours)

• ITIS 6200 – Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6240 – Applied Cryptography (3)

Elective Courses (24 credit hours)

Note: 3 of the 24 required elective credit hours may be substituted by an approved IT Internship, which also serves as a capstone project.

Cybersecurity Elective Courses

The degree requires 7 courses for 21 credit hours of cybersecurity electives. You can replace 9 or 18 credit hours of these electives with 1 or 2 optional concentrations (9 credit hours each). 

• ITIS 5210 – Introduction to Identity & Access Management (3)
• ITIS 5221 – Secure Programming and Penetration Testing (3)
• ITIS 5246 – Competitive Cyber Defense (3)
• ITIS 5250 – Computer Forensics (3)
• ITIS 5260 – Introduction to Security Analytics (3)
• ITIS 5261 – Introduction to Secured Cloud Computing (3)
• ITIS 5270 – Artificial Intelligence Risk Management (3)
• ITIS 5271 – Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (3)
• ITIS 5331 – Web-Based Mobile and IoT Firmware Security (3)
• ITIS 6150 – Software Assurance (3)
• ITIS 6167 – Network Security (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 6252 – Security and Privacy as Economics (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 6415 – Cybersecurity Clinic (3)
• ITIS 6820 – Cybersecurity Project (3) (may be repeated for up to 9 credit hours)
• 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)

Optional Concentration (9 credit hours each)

Students may optionally choose 1 or 2 of the below knowledge areas of cybersecurity as concentrations. Each concentration will take the place of 9 credit hours of cybersecurity electives. The same course may not contribute to two different concentrations.

AI Security 1

• ITAI 5153 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Ethics (3)
• ITCS 6150 – Foundations of Artificial Intelligence (3)
• ITCS 5153 – Applied Artificial Intelligence (3)
• ITIS 5270 – Artificial Intelligence Risk Management (3)
• ITIS 5271 – Secure and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (3)

Cyber Analytics

• ITIS 5250 – Computer Forensics (3)
• ITIS 5260 – Introduction to Security Analytics (3)
• ITIS 6330 – Malware Analysis (3)

Cyber Operations

• ITIS 5210 – Introduction to Identity & Access Management (3)
• ITIS 5246 – Competitive Cyber Defense (3)
• ITIS 5260 – Introduction to Security Analytics (3)
• ITIS 5261 – Introduction to Secured Cloud Computing (3)
• ITIS 6210 – Access Control and Security Architecture (3)
• ITIS 6230 – Enterprise and Infrastructure Protection (3)

Cyber Risk Management

• ITIS 6252 – Security and Privacy as Economics (3)
• ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)
• ITIS 5270 – Artificial Intelligence Risk Management (3)
• or  MBAD 6204 – Management of Cybersecurity and Privacy (0 to 3)

Data Security and Privacy

• ITIS 5261 – Introduction to Secured Cloud Computing (3)
• ITIS 6220 – Data Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6320 – Cloud Data Storage (3)

Human Centered Cybersecurity

• ITIS 6214 – Usable Security and Privacy (3)
• ITIS 6415 – Cybersecurity Clinic (3)
•  
• ITIS 5353 – Social Technology Design (3)
• or  ITIS 6362 – Information Technology Ethics, Policy, and Security (3)

Network Security

• ITCS 6166 – Computer Communications and Networks (3)
• ITIS 6167 – Network Security (3)
• ITIS 6268 – Wireless Network Security (3)

Secure Development

• ITIS 5221 – Secure Programming and Penetration Testing (3)
• ITIS 5135 – Web-Based Application Design and Development (3)
• or  ITIS 5166 – Backend Application Development (3)
• or  ITIS 5180 – Mobile Application Development (3)

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.

Capstone coursework

As part of the Cybersecurity Electives or Concentrations, complete one of the following capstone options:

• ITIS 6415 Cybersecurity Clinic 
• ITIS 6498 IT Internship Project 
• ITIS 6820 Cybersecurity Project 

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.

Use our Cost Calculator to get a clear picture of the estimated costs for UNC Charlotte’s graduate programs. Share your information to receive tips, updates and resources on making your graduate education more affordable.

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