New cybersecurity degree to meet ‘urgent and unmet need’ in workforce

The Samuel Ginn College of Engineering continues to prioritize the importance and necessity to safeguard against cyber-related attacks through the launch of the new Master of Cybersecurity Engineering.

Housed in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering, the graduate degree provides students with advanced knowledge in computer and network security, digital forensics, advanced operating systems, reverse engineering and other areas of expertise. The degree, which can be completed on campus or online, focuses on the engineering and technical aspects of cybersecurity and is designed to appeal to industry professionals and research scholars. The program requires only coursework and a capstone project. 

"The new master of cybersecurity engineering program meets an urgent and unmet need in not only the state of Alabama but the entire country – that of training skilled professionals who understand the technical intricacies of today’s cyber systems well enough to analyze their vulnerabilities and design effective defenses,” said Hari Narayanan, chair of the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. "Engineering effective cybersecurity requires specialized skills and knowledge, and this degree program will ensure that Auburn produces engineers prepared for this challenge,” he said.

Students who graduate with a Master of Cybersecurity Engineering can expect to identify, assess and defend cybersecurity threats, develop protective and resilient network and software mechanisms and detect and mitigate cybersecurity breaches.  

“Our new degree program represents an in-demand offering that cybersecurity professionals across the nation are seeking,” said David Umphress, director of the Auburn Cyber Research Center and the COLSA Corporation Cyber Security and Information Assurance professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering. “As we continue to face cybersecurity issues, it is important that the College of Engineering remains at the forefront to equip individuals with the right resources to combat these challenges.”

Students who elect to pursue the Master of Cybersecurity Engineering online will have the same access to professors and university resources as on-campus students, and courses may be completed any time at one’s convenience. The College of Engineering’s graduate online program ranks 15^th in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2018 Best Graduate Engineering Online Programs.

“This is an incredible opportunity to educate students, both from a distance and on campus, about advanced levels of cybersecurity-related issues,” said Jeff Fergus, associate dean for Assessment and Graduate Studies. “We are fortunate to have talented faculty who can best train our students on this critical matter. In addition, Auburn is one of only 16 universities in the nation designated as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and Cyber Operations by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency, which gives students an extra edge for employment in industry and government.” 

To learn more about the new Master of Cybersecurity Engineering, please visit: http://eng.auburn.edu/program/master-of-cybersecurity.html.