Information Technology and Cybersecurity, Combined B.S./M.S. Program
This pre-M.S. program allows advanced students to earn a B.S. in information technology and an M.S. in cybersecurity in a five-year time frame.
Undergraduate students with a major in information technology can supplement their undergraduate course work with up to 12 credits of specified graduate cybersecurity coursework during their senior year as part of the networking and cybersecurity specialization.
Admission Requirements: To complete both degrees in five years, the student must be motivated to be a cybersecurity professional and to take advantage of the many cybersecurity outside-the-classroom activities including certification study groups, internships, and mentorships. The student must plan for a packed schedule and satisfy all conditions outlined before the end of the junior year to be certified for admission into the pre-M.S. program.
In addition to meeting universitywide undergraduate admission requirements the student must have
- a declared major in information technology with a specialty in networking and cybersecurity;
- 74 credits, of which at least 24 are in information technology;
- a minimum overall GPA of 3.25 with a minimum GPA of 3.5 in information technology classes; and
- two recommendation letters (one of which must be from an information technology program advisor).
Once admitted to the program, the student must participate in a graduate studies orientation before taking a mixture of undergraduate and up to 12 credits in graduate courses in his/her senior year. Undergraduate students admitted to the B.S./M.S. program must fulfill all other requirements of their undergraduate program with a specialty in networking and cybersecurity and obtain work experience in the field, either through an internship or through a position in the field.
Minimum Grade and Residency Requirements: Students should consult the requirements for the B.S. in information technology. Students must complete 21 credits of their undergraduate IT courses and all of their graduate courses at Marymount.
Graduate Student Status: Upon completion of four specified 500-level courses from the cybersecurity program courses (each with a minimum grade of B) and the awarding of his or her bachelor’s degree, the student attains full admission to the M.S. program and is subject to all graduate student policies and procedures. The GRE and interview are waived for entry into the M.S. in cybersecurity program.
Students complete their M.S. degree by following a general program of studies. The requirements for the awarding of the M.S. in cybersecurity are identical to those stated for the traditional M.S. program. Please see the university’s Graduate Catalog for details on the M.S. in cybersecurity program, as well as graduate academic policies and course descriptions.
Combined-Degree Requirements — Information Technology and Cybersecurity
This degree requires from 144 to 156 total credits.
Liberal Arts Core and University Requirements
See University Requirements and the Liberal Arts Core for details.
Major Requirements
Students accepted into the B.S./M.S. program must complete all of the requirements of the B.S. in information technology with a specialty in networking and cybersecurity. See information technology for program details. Consult an advisor for further information on degree planning.
In addition, students will complete the following as part of the B.S. program:
| IT 530 | Computer Security | 3 |
| | |
| IT 570 | Cybersecurity: Law, Policy, Ethics, and Compliance | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 575 | Information Security Management | 3 |
| | |
| IT 670 | Computer Network Defense | 3 |
| MSC 545 | Project Management | 3 |
M.S. Requirements (to be taken after completion of the B.S.)
| IT 535 | Advanced Computer Security | 3 |
| IT 560 | Cryptography | 3 |
| | |
| IT 570 | Cybersecurity: Law, Policy, Ethics, and Compliance | 3 |
| OR | |
| IT 575 | Information Security Management | 3 |
| | |
| IT 585 | Managing Technical People | 3 |
| IT 680 | IT Master's Project | 3 |
Three (3) courses from the following:
| IT 537 | Computer Forensics and Incident Response | 3 |
| IT 547 | Security and Privacy of Electronic Documents | 3 |
| IT 557 | Monitoring, Auditing, and Penetration Testing | 3 |
| IT 567 | Global Cybersecurity | 3 |
| IT 587 | Cybersecurity Systems: Certification and Accreditation | 3 |