10 Most Affordable Master’s in Network Security Online

The University of West Georgia confers an online Master of Science in Applied Computer science that is highly rated as one of the best graduate programs for network security professionals. This is a 100 percent online cohort program that is designed to be completed in two years with part-time study. Students will also note that courses are delivered through both asynchronous and synchronous formats and team projects are also synchronous. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a firm understanding of computer software, databases, and program construction. Students will be required to complete 36 credit hours of coursework, two applied projects, and a comprehensive written and oral exam. Sample courses include Program Construction, System and Network Administration, and Web Technologies.

Kennesaw State University provides students with the chance to earn an online Master's in Network Security under the Information Technology major. It was designed specifically for professionals already working in the field who wish to advance to senior-level positions within the field; courses are delivered asynchronously and are delivered in an eight-week format. There are several specializations, including IT Security, Health Information Technology, and Databases and Networking. It is also possible to earn certificates in a variety of areas, including Health Information Technology, Data Management and Analytics, and Information Technology Security. More than half of the credit hours required have a focus on electives, enabling a student to engineer a specialization in network security. The degree requires 36 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Database Security and Auditing, Managing Operating and Network Systems, and Health Information Security and Privacy.

Students interested in a cheap network security master's degree will want to check out Sam Houston State University. The school's 100 percent online program is open to students from educational backgrounds in computer science, management information science, or a related field; those without the appropriate degrees may be considered for conditional acceptance, which may require a sequence of nine credit hours of prerequisite coursework prior to entering the program. This is a non-thesis degree; students will not be required to complete any capstone projects or thesis in order to graduate. The program focuses heavily on information assurance and provides half of the curriculum plan course choice to students so they may tailor a specialization. Students can expect to complete 36 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Operating System Security, Business Continuity Management, and Directed Management and Development Projects.

Georgia Southern University confers an online Master of Science in Computer Science that can be completed either 100 percent online or as a hybrid program. It was specifically designed for people who already work in the information technology field; students without an educational background in information technology, computer science, or a related field are unable to apply. The curriculum focuses on distributed database systems, software engineering, and artificial intelligence. The program has two specializations: Data Mining and Data Warehousing, both of which are only available in ten master's programs around the world. Courses are delivered asynchronously in an eight-week format, making it possible to complete this degree in 18 months. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Advanced Data Mining and Distribution, Introduction to Network Security, and Ethical and Legal Issues in Computer Science.

An online network security master's degree can be found at Liberty University. The Master of Science in Information Systems will provide both working and pre-service professionals with a firm understanding of how networks work and how to keep them safe and secure. This accredited program is delivered 100 percent online and does not require a thesis for graduation. There are also two specializations, Information Assurance and Technology Management. Students will find that courses are taught asynchronously in the eight-week format and that there are eight different start dates for this program of study. This degree requires 36 credit hours and can be completed in less than two years with full-time study; a comprehensive exam is also required. Sample courses include Telecommunications and Network Security, Secure Enterprise Design and Development, and Information Operations and Security.

An online Master's in Networking Security can be found at North Carolina State University at Raleigh. It is a 100 percent online, non-thesis program that is available to students from all backgrounds; it is best suited for students who wish to enter the field of industrial research. There are also several different tracks available within the degree, including Network Design, Network Hardware, and Networking Services. Courses are delivered asynchronously in eight-week and 16-week terms. This degree is also available as a hybrid degree. Students will find that the curriculum is structured to give all students a short core curriculum and then move them into more advanced courses on a certain aspect of networks. This degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Introduction to Wireless Networking, Operating Systems Principles, and Architecture of Parallel Computers.

The University of South Florida confers a network security master's online degree that was created for professionals who are interested in learning more about how information technology informs the field. This is a hybrid non-thesis program; students will be required to take several residencies at the campus for certain courses. The program also offers students the option to take on an internship or a research project to fulfill the needs of the degree. The curriculum was designed to give students maximum flexibility in terms of the courses they wish to take. The degree requires 30 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Advances in Object-Oriented Programming for Information Technology, Practical Cybersecurity, and IT and Systems for E-Business.

Students interested in taking a career path to network security through engineering will want to check out Iowa State University's Master of Engineering in Information Assurance. This is a program that is delivered 100 percent online through asynchronous courses in an eight-week format. Students will find that there is no program of study that is recommended so they may take their courses in whatever sequence they choose. Please note that at this time, only students with a degree in computer science, engineering, or a technology-related field are eligible to apply for this program. Students will be expected to complete 30 credit hours of coursework, a capstone course, and a comprehensive written exam. Sample courses include Advanced Computer Networking, Computer Security, and Ethical and Legal Issues in Computer Security.

Colorado State University confers an online Master's in Network Security that adds computer information systems as a way to balance a student's understanding of the field. This degree is open to both working and pre-service professionals, enabling students to transition into an IT career while still maintaining their current career. Courses are delivered asynchronously via the school's virtual portal and students can choose to finish the degree in three, four, or six semesters. The core curriculum focuses on the different aspects of networks and computer information systems, with electives providing students with the chance learn more about network security. This degree requires 33 credit hours of coursework as well as a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Advanced Networking and Security, Applied Data Mining and Analytics in Business, and Enterprise Computing and Systems Integration.

The Master's in Network Security online degree available from Missouri University of Science and Technology is built to provide students with not only a foundation in advanced concepts that inform the field but also the flexibility to design most of their own curriculum. This 100 percent online degree delivers synchronous courses to students; courses are delivered in four-week, eight-week, and 16-week term schedules. There are also a variety of specializations, including Computer Networks, Communication Systems, and Enterprise Resource Planning; the latter also enables students to receive an SAP certificate upon completion of the coursework. Students will be expected to complete 30 credit hours of coursework, a research project, a capstone project, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Web and Digital Media Development, Foundations of Internet Computing, and Technological Innovation Management and Leadership.