Beginning this fall, the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA) and University of Southern Maine (USM) will offer a Master of Science in Cybersecurity that will be available through the UMA Rockland Center completely online.

“This totally online cybersecurity program, one of the most affordable in the country, is currently accepting applications for its fall 2020 cohort,” said UMA Rockland, in a news release. “This also has the distinction of being UMA’s first graduate degree program.”

This Master’s in Cybersecurity program will prepare graduates for career opportunities in cybersecurity fields including security analysis, information assurance, digital forensics, intelligence, and cyber defense. With billions of dollars in global losses due to cybersecurity exploits and attacks, the need for trained experts is growing at an astonishing rate, according to URock.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that information security analyst jobs are growing faster than average, with an expected growth of 18% through 2024. Graduates with a M.S. in Cybersecurity will be prepared to fill these new positions.

“UMA is thrilled to offer its first graduate level degree,” said UMA President Rebecca Wyke. “It also furthers UMA’s mission of providing quality educational opportunities that help fill workforce needs with well-trained graduates for in demand, highly skilled, and well-paid positions.”

This online 30-credit graduate program was developed jointly by UMA and USM. Faculty from each institution designed the program to emphasize a theoretical framework with hands-on applications. UMA and USM are well-positioned to offer a joint graduate degree in cybersecurity, as both institutions are located adjacent to state government agencies, and the greater Portland area continues to attract professionals in information technology, biotechnology, law, and business, according to URock. Thus, students pursuing graduate education have opportunities to interact with numerous public and private entities.

“As one of Maine’s largest online graduate degree and certificate providers, USM is delighted to leverage our faculty expertise and information technology resources with our partners at UMA to provide a cutting-edge degree that meets private and public sector demands for online security,”said USM President Glenn Cummings. “I’m proud that we can offer students this new, affordable online master’s degree program as a direct pathway to careers in cybersecurity that are essential for our nation’s defense, economy, and civil society.”

Coursework includes activities with UMA’s Maine Cyber Range, a state-of-the-art training center that provides students with realistic and cutting-edge techniques for defending against malicious cyber-attacks, and USM’s two virtual systems clusters.

UMA transforms the lives of students of every age and background across the State of Maine and beyond through access to high-quality distance and on-site education, excellence in student support, civic engagement, and professional and liberal arts programs.

For additional information on this program, please visit: www.maine.edu/multi-institution/cybersecurity/.

For information about UMA Rockland and local access to this program, email umarockland@maine.edu