Master of Information and Cybersecurity
Master’s in Cybersecurity Online from UC Berkeley
The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) online program prepares students with the cybersecurity skills needed to assume leadership positions and drive innovation in the field.
Through a holistic approach to cybersecurity, students develop a thorough understanding of information security technologies as well as the economic, legal, behavioral, and ethical impacts of cybersecurity. Students graduate as competitive candidates in the job market with connections to UC Berkeley alumni and professionals in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A Leadership-Focused Curriculum
The interdisciplinary MICS curriculum provides students with hands-on practical experience with secure systems and applications, and the ability to lead, manage, and contribute to building cybersecurity solutions.
Students master core technical skills and become fluent in the business, political, and legal context of cybersecurity. They can expect to graduate with a comprehensive understanding of the following:
- Secure coding
- Government and national security
- Network and web security
- Usable privacy and security
- Cryptography
- Operating system security
- Security in context: legal, behavioral, and ethical issues
- Privacy engineering
- Cyber risk
The online MICS program is 9 courses (27 units) and can be completed in 20 months. Students complete foundation courses, electives, and a capstone project. They also attend one in-person immersion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The curriculum includes the following courses:
- Beyond the Code: Cybersecurity in Context
- Network Security
- Software Security
- Cryptography for Cyber and Network Security
- Operating System Security
- Managing Cyber Risk
- Government, National Security, and the Fifth Domain
- Usable Privacy and Security
- Privacy Engineering
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Why a Master’s in Cybersecurity from UC Berkeley?
Cybersecurity permeates almost all aspects of the human experience. Individuals, organizations, and societies are protected from cyber threats constantly without even realizing they occur. This is thanks to professionals who understand the complex relationship between human behaviors and advanced technology in securing information.
UC Berkeley is where the brightest minds from across the globe come together to explore, ask questions, and improve the world. Our MICS program does more than create experts in information security: it shapes leaders who understand the implications of cybersecurity across all industries and want to drive the future of innovation in cybersecurity.
Developed by faculty from the School of Information and the College of Engineering, the interdisciplinary MICS curriculum focuses on the intersection of technical, social, political, economic, legal, national security, and ethical components of cybersecurity. Students graduate with versatile knowledge needed to lead cybersecurity in private, public, or philanthropic sectors and with connections to the nearby technology hub Silicon Valley.
What Can You Do with a Master’s in Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity’s growth is turning it into a massive market with an increased demand for skilled cybersecurity labor. Due to constant evolution and escalation of threats, cybersecurity has become one of the most important and exciting career fields of the 21st century.
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of information security analysts to grow 35% from 2021 to 2031, equating to an average of 19,500 new positions each year.¹
The cybersecurity industry is met with the challenge of not only filling the growing demand and talent shortage but with finding highly skilled professionals who can be trusted to effectively protect information systems. This creates an opportunity for graduates of the MICS program to enter the in-demand market as competitive cybersecurity experts.
Career Opportunities in Cybersecurity
No organization that operates online can ignore cybersecurity. With cyber threats growing and constantly changing, businesses, governments, and nonprofit organizations are making significant investments in cyber defense and hiring increasingly large numbers of cybersecurity professionals.
MICS graduates are poised to enter this market in leadership roles with the requisite multifunctional skill sets and a strong network provided by the program.
Cybersecurity Salaries
Salaries for cybersecurity professionals range from $85,000 to $151,547 per year.¹
Featured Courses
Cryptography for Cyber and Network Security
Students learn about the mathematical and practical foundations of cryptography and the many different cryptosystems.
Operating System Security
Students compare approaches to security taken among several modern operating systems and learn techniques for establishing trust across a set of interoperating systems.
Privacy Engineering
Students survey privacy mechanisms applicable to systems engineering, with a particular focus on the inference threat arising due to advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning.