In today’s world, cyber security is key to almost every business and organization. Professionals in computer and information security defend digital information on computers and their servers, mobile devices, networks and other electronic systems from cybercrime and attack. They have a wide range of responsibilities with different roles in government, industry and other organizations. On the job, they are expected to safeguard an organization’s data, computers and networks, as well as creating security plans and monitoring activities. If a breach occurs, they’re responsible for identifying the problem and finding a solution quickly. It requires well-trained professionals skilled in network security, information security and application security to help organizations remain safe from the risk of digital attacks, and we at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, prepare our students well for these challenges.
Cyber security has moved to the forefront for organizations and governmental agencies with high demand, and in an ever changing technological environment the need for cyber security experts will continue to grow.
Cyber security professionals are among the most highly paid, post a 9% salary premium over other IT jobs. A security software engineer receives an average annual salary of $233,333, while a chief security officer brings in an annual salary of $225,000.
The drastic skill gap between cyber security job requirements and the level of skills of fresh bachelor of science graduates has led the government and private sector to offer financial incentives for those looking to pursue a degree in cyber security, such as the National Science Foundation Scholarship for Service (SFS), the Information Assurance Scholarship Program (IASP) and more.
- Information Security Analyst
- Security Specialist
- Cryptographer
- Security Administrator/Manager
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
- Find out which of our academic programs is right for you.
- Meet some of our current students and hear about their favorite Marshall moments.
- Receive invitations to special events for future students.
- Get help with the application and enrollment process.
Admission Requirements and Transfer Criteria
Applicants should follow the admissions process stated in the graduate catalog or the graduate admissions web site. Minimum requirements for admission is a four-year bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 2.75 or higher out of 4.0 in Cybersecurity or computer science related programs.
Whether a student meets the above requirements will be determined by the chair or designee of the Department of Computer Sciences and Electrical Engineering, based on the information provided in the admission application and transcripts. Applicants with a four-year bachelor’s degree in a major other than a cybersecurity or computer science related program may be admitted to the program with a condition of successful completion of the following three bridge courses with a grade of B or above in the first two semesters of the program:
- Data Structures and Algorithms (CS 210 Data Structures and Algorithms)
- lnternetworking (CS 320 Internetworking)
- Statistics (STA 225 Introductory Statistics (CT) or STA 345 Applied Prob and Stat)
Foreign nationals must provide proof of English proficiency with a minimum score of 6.5 in IELTS or 80 on the TOEFL IBT (or 550 paper-based) and must have met all other admission criteria prior to registering for the first semester of courses.