In an effort to address the regional shortage of cybersecurity experts, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and several other UW System schools will soon be offering a new Online Master of Science in Cybersecurity Program.
Recently approved by the UW System Board of Regents, the new 12-course, 34-credit online degree is a collaboration between the UW System Extended Campus, UW Oshkosh and seven other UW System campuses: UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point and UW-Superior.
The degree will feature four unique tracks of study, allowing students to focus their education in one or more cybersecurity areas: digital forensics, cyber response, governance and leadership and security architecture.
The cybersecurity graduate program is available to all graduate students. However, it is intended for students with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, information systems or computer engineering; professional experience in the information technology field; and a desire to gain specific cybersecurity skills to qualify for in-demand positions.
Computer science department chair George Thomas will be the UWO academic director for the new program.
“Globally, the cybersecurity workforce gap is growing rapidly, with the shortage projected to reach 1.8 million professionals by 2022. The state of Wisconsin alone is projected to experience a 9% increase in cybersecurity-related jobs over the next decade,” said Thomas. “Having UW Oshkosh as part of this online, collaborative Master’s degree allows us to leverage and complement the collective expertise of eight UW schools in providing a high quality, comprehensive, multi-track cybersecurity program to meet this workforce demand.”
Pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States, the courses are to begin in September 2020.
For more information about the planned UW Cybersecurity graduate program, please visit ce.uwex.edu/cybersecurity/, call 1-877-895-3276, or email learn@uwex.edu.
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