Information Assurance

Description

This program is available online only.

The Master of Science in Information Assurance with a major in Cybersecurity is a multi-disciplinary 30 credit-hour graduate degree. It is designed to produce comprehensively knowledgeable cybersecurity professionals by creating capable and rigorously educated leaders to engage in the serious business of protecting the nation's information infrastructure.

Protection of America's critical infrastructure is an emerging national priority. Due to its implications for national security, the responsibility for this program has been placed jointly with the National Security Agency (NSA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Universities who meet the rigorous criteria established by these two federal agencies are granted designations as Centers of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE). This is a highly competitive annual process involving rigorous review of the target curriculum by national experts.

Approximately 400 top colleges in the nation are designated CAEs with programs of study in the cybersecurity discipline. CAE graduates help protect national security information systems, commercial networks and critical information infrastructure in the private and public sectors. University of Detroit Mercy received its first CAE-CD designation in 2004 and has maintained it every five years to the present. Our faculty serve on the national CAE leadership committee, serve as a co-chair on the CAE-CD Community of Practice committee, serve on the Evidencing Competency Working Group, as well as other committees to support and strengthen the CAE Community.

The Future of the Field

The title of our degree reflects University of Detroit Mercy's early involvement with the field. It was termed "Information Assurance" back in 2003. As the profession evolved, the term "information assurance" is now more commonly referred to as "cybersecurity," but the content and purpose of our degree remains the same. Information assurance is the key means of defense against terrorist threats to homeland security, and it is also of vital importance to businesses and organizations concerned about protecting their cyber assets.

Threat actors have become more sophisticated, and according to the World Economic Forum, cybercrime is the fastest rising crime costing $16.4 billion a day globally. As of April 2021, the FBI’s Cyber’s Most Wanted List included 102 notorious criminals known to have committed a string of cybercrimes that have endangered and cost people and organizations billions of dollars.

Cybersecurity professionals are in great demand to defend our networks and infrastructure. The cybersecurity industry has a zero percent unemployment rate with an estimated 2.7 million unstaffed cyber positions globally.

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    Degree Requirements - Master of Science in Information Assurance with a major in Cybersecurity (30 credits)

    A student must complete 30 credit hours, which is comprised of eight core courses and two electives.

    This degree program is available online only.

    Eight Core Courses (24 credits)

    • CYBE 5700 Principles of Cybersecurity (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5730 Cyberlaw (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5740 Secure Acquisition (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5750 Cybersecurity Technologies (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5770 Cyber Defense Operations (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5780 Risk Management Processes (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5790 Cybersecurity Control Processes (3 credits)
    • CYBE 5910 Information Audit (3 credits)

    Electives (Choose two - 6 credits)

    Total: 30 credit hours

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    Curriculum Plan

    Catalog Year Course Rotation

    Please note that elective availability is subject to change each semester.

    Fall

    Winter

    Summer I

    Summer II

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    Admission Materials

    Apply using Detroit Mercy's online portal at udmercy.edu/apply. That will create your account to which you can upload all of your application materials. If you need to mail your documents, please send them to:

    Graduate Admissions Office
    University of Detroit Mercy
    4001 W. McNichols Road, FAC 100
    Detroit, MI 48221-3038
    admissions@udmercy.edu

    Applicants should submit the following materials:

    1. A University of Detroit Mercy Graduate Application form;

    2. Official transcripts for all previous academic work; and

    3. Any other information that the applicant feels is important to the admission decision (e.g., letters of recommendation).

Program Contact Information

Daniel Shoemaker, Ph.D.
Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Information Assurance Program
Department of Cybersecurity & Information Systems
 Briggs Building, Room 215
McNichols Campus

Email: shoemadp@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-1053
Fax: 313-993-1166

Detroit Mercy Catalogs


Graduate Catalog
2022-2023