Cybersecurity — Accelerated 5-Year Bachelor's to Master's Programs

Description

  • Option 1: Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Systems - Cybersecurity major; Master of Science in Information Assurance - Cybersecurity major
  • Option 2: Bachelor of Science in Computer & Information Systems - Cybersecurity major; Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis

University of Detroit Mercy's College of Liberal Arts & Education combined bachelor's to master's degree programs will increase your knowledge and skills in cybersecurity as a full-time student for 10 semesters (five academic years) before entering the workforce. This program features a Bachelor of Science with a major in Cybersecurity and a Master of Science in Information Assurance (cybersecurity major) or a Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis.

Cutting-Edge Curriculum: The First in Metro Detroit to Meet the CSEC Guidelines for Post-Secondary Degree Programs

 In January 2018, the Joint Taskforce on Cybersecurity Education (CSEC2017) released the first framework of its kind to directly focus on cybersecurity. This framework is significant to the academic sector since the Joint Taskforce on Cybersecurity Education is represented by the following organizations which are the leading research organizations in Information & Technology systems:

  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM)
  • IEEE Computer Society (IEEE-CS)
  • Association for Information Systems Special Interest Group on Security (AIS-SIGSEC)
  • International Federation for Information Processing Technical Committee on Information Security Education (IFIP WG 11.8)

Detroit Mercy's undergraduate cybersecurity curriculum has steadily adapted to the emerging needs of the cybersecurity workforce. Beginning with the fall 2018-2019 academic year, our curriculum has been fully aligned with eight knowledge areas in the CSEC2017 guidelines that address the cross-cutting concepts within the disciplines of Information Technology, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, as well as other technology-based disciplines.  These knowledge areas of Cybersecurity are Data, Software, Component, Connection, System, Human, Organizational and Societal.

A National Center of Academic Excellence in CyberDefense Education

University of Detroit Mercy is recognized by the National Security Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as a Center for Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education for 2017-2021. Having held designation as a Center of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance from 2004-2016, University of Detroit Mercy has more than a decade of expertise behind each class that drives you as a professional to be the best in your field.

You will receive an outstanding and well-rounded education that will not only teach you the foundations of the field but also will hone your ability to think critically and analytically, adapt to change and communicate effectively.

From there, the program allows students to grow their skills in information assurance or criminal justice.

In order to complete both of the bachelor's and master's degrees in five years, the student must:

  • Be very well prepared as an incoming freshman or transfer student;
  • Satisfy all the admission criteria (see below); and
  • Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 at University of Detroit Mercy, in order to take graduate-level courses while still an undergraduate.

This program allows incoming freshmen to complete both the bachelor's and master's degrees by being a full-time student for five academic years (10 consecutive semesters). Juniors at University of Detroit Mercy and transfer students may be admitted into the program with the permission of the department and Dean’s Office.

To obtain both the undergraduate degree and graduate degree in Option 1 of this accelerated program, the student must fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate degree by completing the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the undergraduate major, and a minimum of 120 credit hours AND fulfill the requirements of the graduate program and the 30 credit hours of the degree. Both graduate and undergraduate requirements total a minimum of 156 credit hours.

To obtain both the undergraduate degree and graduate degree in Option 2 of this accelerated program, the student must fulfill the requirements of the undergraduate degree by completing the University Core Curriculum, the requirements for the undergraduate major, and a minimum of 120 credit hours AND fulfill the requirements of the graduate program and the 33 credit hours of the degree. Both graduate and undergraduate requirements total a minimum of 159 credit hours.

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    Admission to the Program

    Qualifications for the Cybersecurity Accelerated 5-Year Bachelor's to Master's Program:

    • Enter the accelerated/five-year option as a full-time incoming freshman;
    • Have a high school ACT composite score of 24, with a minimum of 22 in each section;
    • Have a high school grade point average of 3.4 overall on a 4.0 point scale; and
    • Place into appropriate-level freshmen math and writing courses at University of Detroit Mercy.

    Detroit Mercy students enrolled in another Detroit Mercy major can transfer into this program up to their first term as a junior if they maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.25 each term throughout their undergraduate program.

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    Program Requirements

    • Must maintain full-time status throughout undergraduate and graduate segments.
    • The bachelor’s degree must be completed in four years and the master's degree must be completed in the fifth year.
    • All undergraduate and graduate requirements must be met.
    • May take up to four graduate classes in the senior year (maximum two a term).
    • Must maintain at least a grade point average of 3.25 each term throughout the undergraduate program.
    • May experience different financial aid packages for onsite and online graduate programs.
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    How It Works—Save Time and Money

    The student pays full-time undergraduate tuition during the first four years and regular graduate tuition for the fifth year. One economic benefit to the student is that the cost of the first 12 graduate credits (two courses in the fall and two courses in the winter) has been covered by the normal undergraduate tuition meaning that no additional costs are incurred in the fourth-year-full-time tuition rate. Since the graduate program will be reduced by the 4 graduate courses taken while an undergraduate student, the graduate program can be done faster and more economically. Certain financial aid benefits are also applied to the entire five-year program usually resulting in more cost-savings.

    The student MUST maintain full-time status during the first three years. Depending on the program and the student’s incoming record such as AP Credits, full-time status usually means 15 to 18 credit-hours per semester. This will result in the student having 102 to 108 credits entering the senior year. During the senior year, the student must remain full-time, finishing their undergraduate degree while taking up to 12 credits of graduate work. A maximum of 12 graduate credits are allowed in the undergraduate portion of the program (six credits in fall and six in winter). For freshmen, this program MUST be completed in five years from start to finish. If the student does not finish within the five years, then the program reverts to the costs associated with earning a master's degree outside of the five-year program and other financial aid benefits may be lost. Students who transfer into the program MUST maintain full-time status until the completion of the program.

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    Degree Information

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    Sample Five-Year Program

    (Note: Full-time status must be maintained in all semesters)

    • First Year: 36 undergraduate credits
    • Second Year: 36 undergraduate credits
    • Third Year: 36 undergraduate credits
    • Fourth Year:
      • First Semester: 9-12 undergraduate credits, 6 graduate credits
      • Second Semester: 9-12 undergraduate credits, 6 graduate credits
    • Fifth Year
      • First Semester: 9-12 graduate credits (depending on program)
      • Second Semester: 9-12 graduate credits (depending on program)

Program Contact Information

Cybersecurity & Information Systems

Department Chair: Gregory Laidlaw, DMIT, CISSP
Briggs Building, Room 213
McNichols Campus

Email: laidlags@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-993-3337
Fax: 313-993-1166

Intelligence Analysis

Program Director and Interim Department Chair: Erick Barnes
Briggs Building, Room 221
McNichols Campus

Email: barnese@udmercy.edu
Telephone: 313-578-0363

Fax: 313-993-1166