Cybersecurity

Degree Type
Master of Science

Whether your interest lies in systems, policy or operations—the program’s three areas of concentration—Villanova’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity will prepare you for success in this rapidly growing, ever-evolving field.

Admission Requirements

Admission Criteria:

Admission to the Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree program will be granted to qualified students who hold a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, or applied sciences from an accredited and/or reputable institution, with a GPA of 3.0 or better. Applicants must meet the general requirements for admission to the College of Engineering.

Applicants with a US Bachelor's degree in other fields of study, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0, and with relevant work experience and industry certifications, will also be considered. Undergraduate course prerequisite requirements include Villanova ECE 4470, Computer Networks, or equivalent. In some cases, students will be admitted on a provisional basis (non-matriculated) and will need to complete two (2) courses with at least a B or better in each course, before being considered for full admission (matriculated).

The GRE is required for full-time applicants for TA or RA positions: minumum score (quantitative reasoning plus verbal) 1200 (old scale) or 305 (new scale).

International Student Admission Requirements:

For individuals receiving their Bachelor's degree outside of the United States, the minimum GPA is 3.25 out of 4.00 or equivalent, and the TOEFL/IELTS is required: minimum TOEFL score of 90 or IELTS score of 7.0

Degree Requirements

Coursework

Thesis Option

Non-Thesis Option

Cybersecurity Required Courses

6 credits

6 credits

Cybersecurity Area Courses

12 credits

12 credits

Cybersecurity Electives

3 credits

12 credits

Independent Study

3 credits

NA*

Thesis

6 credits

NA

Total Credit Hours

30 credits

30 credits

Required Courses

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
6

Selected MBA courses are also available as electives. Registration requires approval of the academic advisor and school of business.

MBA Required Courses offered to Engineering students

Item #
Title
Credits
Sub-Total Credits
14

Independent Study

Sub-Total Credits
3

Thesis

Sub-Total Credits
6
Class Schedule

Note: Tentative Cybersecurity Graduate Course Offerings. All scheduled course offerings are subject to change due to instructor availability and other factors. For course descriptions, refer to the Cybersecurity course descriptions.

Total Credits
30