WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY
B.S. or M.S. in Cybersecurity
Ready to Level Up In Your IT Career?
Get started on a cybersecurity program of your choice from WGU.
Ready To Get a Cybersecurity Degree?
If you’re ready to move forward in a career focused on cybersecurity, the next step is figuring out how to get there. Earning a degree in cybersecurity is a great place to start and can increase your career options, earning potential, and opportunities for advancement. But is a bachelor’s or master’s degree right for your skill level?
This guide will explain the different cybersecurity degrees offered at WGU so you can decide which might be a better fit with your experience and interests.
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – B.S.
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree....
Protect your career and earning potential with this degree.
- Time: 60% of graduates finish within 29 months.
- Tuition: $4,365 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 34 total courses in this program.
Certifications included in this program at no extra cost include:
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- ITIL® Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+)
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Secure Systems Analysis & Design
- Data Management
- Web and Cloud Security
- Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Technology
Cybersecurity and Information Assurance – M.S.
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe....
Become the authority on keeping infrastructures and information safe.
- Time: 63% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,655 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 9 total courses in this program.
Certifications in this program at no additional cost include:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Cybersecurity Strategy
- Information Assurance
- Incident Response
- Penetration Testing
The curriculum is closely aligned with the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Workforce Framework. The program was designed in collaboration with national intelligence organizations and IT industry leaders, ensuring you'll learn emerging technologies and best practices in security governance.
Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Information Assurance
Who Should Pursue a B.S. in Cybersecurity?
This degree option is best if you already have some previous IT or STEM courses under your belt or if you have significant IT experience or certifications.
In order to qualify for this program, you’ll need a high school diploma (or its equivalent) AND demonstrate program readiness through one of the following:
- Option 1: Submit transcripts documenting completion of previous IT coursework. IT coursework must be 300-level or higher.
- Option 2: Possess a bachelor’s or associate degree (A.A, A.S., or A.A.S. acceptable) from an accredited post-secondary institution.
- Option 3: Demonstrate at least two years of IT work experience through résumé review.
- Option 4: Submit official records of completion of current and active IT certifications, some of which may provide transfer credit into various programs.
- Option 5: Submit high school transcripts with a minimum GPA of 2.75 GPA and a B grade or higher in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) course. Only advanced mathematics courses will satisfy this requirement.
These qualifications ensure that you’re not entering the IT realm and the rigor it requires for the first time. However, if you have good grades in advanced math courses or demonstrated experience in IT, you can come into this program directly from high school.
What are the Courses in the B.S. Cybersecurity and Information Assurance Program?
- Secure Systems Analysis and Design
- IT Fundamentals
- Business of IT
- Web Development
- Network and Security
- Scripting and Programming
- Information Assurance
- Data Management
- Digital Forensics and Incident Response
- Technical Writing
- Ethics and Cyber Law
- Web and Cloud Security
- Wireless and Mobile Technologies
- Risk Management
- Hacking Countermeasures and Techniques
- Penetration Testing
What Certifications Will I Earn in this Program?
When you earn a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity at WGU, you’ll not only gain fundamental IT skills, you’ll also be prepared for many of the top-industry certifications listed below. Plus, the certification exam fees are covered as part of your tuition.
- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) - Associate of (ISC)2 designation
- ITIL® Foundation Certification
- CompTIA A+
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification (CySA+)
- CompTIA IT Operations Specialist
- CompTIA Network+
- CompTIA Network Vulnerability Assessment Professional
- CompTIA Network Security Professional
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Project+
- CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA Security Analytics Professional
What Career Opportunities are Available with a B.S. in Cybersecurity?
A bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity paves the way for the following career paths:
"I chose WGU because of its ease, price, and the possibility of gaining IT certifications along with my degree. Now that I've graduated, I have four years of IT experience, a bachelor's degree, and five IT certifications that help show that my skills are valuable. That's a really good jumpstart for a career. After I graduated from WGU I quickly got a much better job and nearly doubled my salary."
Eric Gardner
B.S. Information Technology
Master of Science in Cybersecurity
Who Should Pursue a Master's Degree in Cybersecurity?
If you already have a bachelor’s degree, currently work in IT or security, and want to advance in your field, a cybersecurity master's degree from WGU can prepare you to move up the career ladder into positions such as a CISO, CIO, CTO, cybersecurity manager, cybersecurity director, and more. It will give you more skills and knowledge about cybersecurity management and structure, digital forensics, and information assurance.
Keep in mind that this is an advanced program with rigorous coursework. For this reason, you’ll need to meet specific qualifications to ensure you’re set up for success.
To be considered for enrollment in WGU’s M.S. in Cybersecurity program, you must:
1. Possess a bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, a business degree (quantitative analysis, accounting, economics, finance), or degree with a similar quantitative focus.
OR
2. Possess any bachelor’s degree PLUS one of the following:
- Two years of related work experience
- Relevant and current IT certification
- Related IT coursework
What Certifications Will I Earn in this M.S. Cybersecurity Program?
With a master’s degree in cybersecurity from WGU, you’ll be prepared for the following industry certifications:
- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
- CompTIA PenTest+
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Optional Voucher
- ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) Optional Voucher
- (ISC)² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
Just like WGU’s bachelor’s in IT program, you don't have to pay for expensive certification preparation courses or books, or pay for the exam. Instead, all the exam costs are included in your tuition.
What Courses are in the M.S. Cybersecurity Program?
Some of the courses you’ll take as a part of this program include:
- Secure Systems Analysis and Design
- Network Design and Management
- Cybersecurity Management
- Security
- Hacking
- Forensics and Network Intrusion
What Career Opportunities are Available with an M.S. in Cybersecurity?
A master’s degree in cybersecurity paves the way for the following career paths:
What are the Program Differences Between the B.S. and M.S. in Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a highly specialized area of IT, and the key to success for either degree path is making sure you’re ready. While you’ll need some level of IT knowledge for both programs, the amount of experience required is the biggest differentiator. So, even if you have a bachelor’s degree, you’re not automatically qualified for the master’s in cybersecurity. You’ll need a significant amount of preparation, relevant experience, and coursework to pursue a master’s degree versus a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.
If you’re weighing your degree options, it’s important to do your research to truly understand which one fits your experience level and career aspirations. Learn more about WGU’s cybersecurity and information technology degrees and find your perfect fit today!
Why WGU?
Be Career Ready
Designed with input from healthcare leaders, our accredited programs give you the skills and credentials today’s employers need. That’s why 97% of employers said they’d hire another WGU grad.1
1: 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU grads.
Get and Keep the Job You Want to Have
85% of WGU graduates are employed in their degree fields—and 87% are employed full-time.2
2: 2023 Harris Poll of 1,655 WGU grads.
Save Money
With flat-rate tuition that is 47% lower than the national average3 and generous need-based scholarships, our degrees are an excellent investment that you can afford.
3: National rates reported by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System in 2022. WGU average rate does not include rates for WGU Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Prelicensure program.
Work as You Need While Going to School
At WGU, you can complete courses, take tests, and graduate on your schedule. In fact, many of our healthcare students work full-time while earning their life-changing bachelor’s or master’s degrees.
COST & TIME
An Affordable IT Degree
By charging per term rather than per credit—and empowering students to accelerate through material they know well or learn quickly—WGU helps students control the ultimate cost of their degrees. The faster you complete your program, the less you pay for your degree.
Prepared for Success on the Job
*From a 2023 Harris Poll of 300 employers of WGU graduates.
100% of employers said that WGU graduates were prepared for their jobs.*
97% of employers said that they would hire another WGU grad.*
98% of employers said WGU graduates met or exceeded expectations.*
