Just two years after starting its bachelors in cybersecurity, UM-Dearborn is already adding a masters program. Associate Professor of Computer and Information Science Di Ma says the fall debut of the M.S. in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance is being driven by student demand and the metro region’s big growth in the field — which saw a 400-percent spike in job postings between 2010 and 2016.
There are currently five other cybersecurity masters programs in the state. But Ma expects UM-Dearborn’s to stand out for its unique approach, which is both highly multidisciplinary and rooted in technical core studies in computer science and engineering. “The interesting thing about cyber security is that computing is a central part, but you also have to have an understanding of social engineering, human factors, psychology and legal and ethical issues,” Ma said. The program can be completed entirely on campus, entirely online or a combination of both.
