Top Colleges For Cybersecurity
Check out these respected post-secondary U.S. cybersecurity education programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
September 19, 2016
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School's back in session and the arrival of the new school year likely has a lot of people thinking of their educational futures. With statistical models showing a strong demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals, it's a sure bet that an investment in an undergraduate or graduate degree in information security will show some pretty formidable ROI in the coming years. The following are some of the most respected post-secondary institutions in the U.S. for quality cybersecurity-focused education for undergraduate and graduate students.
Pittsburgh, PA
Known worldwide for its close working relationship with the CERT Coordination Center, Carnegie Mellon's CyLab is a huge draw for graduate students interested in a range of cybersecurity specializations. This cross-disciplinary institute facilitates research and industry participation from more than six departments and schools at the university and reflects the depth and breadth of CMU's cybersecurity opportunities. It has also been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education (CAE-IA/CD), Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R) and Cyber Operations (CAE-Cyber Ops). CMU offers over 50 courses in security topics and nine different Masters and Ph.D. programs that offer cybersecurity tracks.
Boca Raton, FL
FAU continues to build on the esteem gained by the establishment of its Center for Cryptology and Information Security (CCIS) back in 2003. The center is recognized as National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R). Graduate students interested in cryptography can participate in CCIS research while studying in the cryptology track of the school's Master of Science in Applied Mathematics program. In particular, FAU offers a solid draw for undergrads with a Bachelor of Management Information Systems (MIS) specialization in Information Security and Business Analytics program and a Bachelor of Public Safety Administration specialization in cybersecurity.
Fairfax, VA
GMU's Center for Secure Information Systems was the first such institution established at a US university back in 1990 and like others on this list is a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education and Research. With a longstanding tradition in supporting the industry, the University has a Masters of Science in Management of Secure Information Systems degree program that is specifically designed for mid-career students from both the private sector and government. The program leans on faculty that spans across GMU's schools of business, engineering and policy.
Atlanta, GA
A storied institution in the cybersecurity world, Georgia Tech is home to both the Cyber Technology and International Security Laboratory and the Georgia Tech Information Security Center, which have supported cutting edge work in reverse engineering, vulnerability identification, malware analysis, resilient network systems engineering and security analytics. The school also hosts the Georgia Tech Cyber Security Summit each year. Students can earn degrees including a Master's in Information Security, a Cyber Security Certificate and several Defense Technology Certificates.
Cambridge, MA
MIT may not have undergraduate or graduate degrees particularly specifying cybersecurity or infosec, however it is a leading institution in cybersecurity and information assurance research, and provides students with the opportunity to specialize study in the area. Its well respected Lincoln Laboratory regularly pushes out solid research on cybersecurity topics. And in March of 2015 the school launched the Cybersecurity at MIT program, a three-pronged effort that includes the MIT Cybersecurity and Internet Policy Initiative, Cybersecurity@CSAIL (MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) and the Interdisciplinary Consortium for Improving Critical Infrastructure in Cybersecurity (IC)3.
West Lafayette, IN
Highly regarded as one of the top graduate schools and research institutions for cybersecurity in the nation, Purdue is home to the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security (CERIAS), which gives researchers the opportunity to explore multiple facets of infosec issues and is a designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R). The university offers a number of masters and Ph.D programs, including an interdisciplinary graduate specialization at both levels that are sponsored by the Departments of Communication and Philosophy, the College of Technology, and the Program in Linguistics.
Rochester, NY
One of the first technical colleges in the US to offer a bachelor's program focused solely on infosec, RIT is recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education. The school's Bachelor's in Computing Security includes curriculum in mobile device security, database and Web security, secure software development, and security science. The school also offers a Master's in Computing Security and an Advanced Certificate in Information Assurance.
Amherst, MA
A solid offering for both undergraduates and graduate students, UMass Amherst's Computer Science department offers a Security & Privacy Track as one of ten compsci specializations. It recently bolstered its capabilities with a $4.2 million grant from the National Science Foundation to fund a new CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program to provide scholarship assistance to both undergrad and grad students in the computer science school as well as those focusing on cybersecurity issues in the schools of management, mathematics and statistics, and department of electrical and computer engineering. This year the computer science department received $3 million to fund the opening of a new training center for its interdisciplinary Cybersecurity Institute.
Seattle, WA
In the cybersecurity world, UW is best known for its Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC), which brings together professionals from the university's Information Science, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Business, and Law schools to prep students in all areas of information assurance. It's recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R). On the undergraduate front, UW offers a Bachelor of Science in Informatics with specialization in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. Meanwhile, graduate students can choose between a number of masters and doctoral degree programs focused on cybersecurity from the university's schools of Engineering, Information Science, and Information Management. Located so closely to Microsoft, the school has strong industry ties, as well as solid working relationships with military and government agencies.
Seattle, WA
In the cybersecurity world, UW is best known for its Center for Information Assurance and Cybersecurity (CIAC), which brings together professionals from the university's Information Science, Computer Science, Economics, Electrical Engineering, Business, and Law schools to prep students in all areas of information assurance. It's recognized as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R). On the undergraduate front, UW offers a Bachelor of Science in Informatics with specialization in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity. Meanwhile, graduate students can choose between a number of masters and doctoral degree programs focused on cybersecurity from the university's schools of Engineering, Information Science, and Information Management. Located so closely to Microsoft, the school has strong industry ties, as well as solid working relationships with military and government agencies.
School's back in session and the arrival of the new school year likely has a lot of people thinking of their educational futures. With statistical models showing a strong demand for qualified cybersecurity professionals, it's a sure bet that an investment in an undergraduate or graduate degree in information security will show some pretty formidable ROI in the coming years. The following are some of the most respected post-secondary institutions in the U.S. for quality cybersecurity-focused education for undergraduate and graduate students.
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