Cyber Security Engineering (MS)
Program Summary
100% Online
Credits: 30 total
Degree:
College/School: College of Engineering and Computing
Start Date: 8/24/2026
Request Info
Program Description
The Master of Science in Cyber Security Engineering (MS-CYSE) provides students with highly technical knowledge and skills, cyber security expertise, and a comprehensive systems engineering perspective.
The program provides theory and practice on the design, planning, and management of systems and procedures for protecting critical physical and cyber infrastructure from external threats, including terrorism. Students gain a strong foundation in software, hardware, networking, and cryptography, while also developing skills in systems engineering methods for safeguarding critical infrastructure against evolving threats. Coursework spans areas such as information assurance, vulnerability and threat assessment, contingency and redundancy planning, disaster response, and homeland security policy.
Banner Code: EC-MS-CYSE
Concentrations:
- Concentration in Secure Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains (SAMS)
- Concentration in Autonomous Vehicles Cyber Security (AVCS)
- Concentration in Cyber Secure Artificial Intelligence Systems (CSAI)
Careers
- Cyber Security Engineer
- Systems Security Engineer
- Cyber‑Physical Systems Engineer
- Security Architect
- Incident Response or Threat Analysis Specialist
- Critical Infrastructure Protection Specialist
- Defense, intelligence, or homeland security analyst
As a George Mason University student, please contact University Career Services for more career information and counseling.
Courses
Program requirements are subject to change; please refer to the George Mason Course Catalog for the most up-to-date requirements.
New to online learning? Visit our Online Learning Tips and Strategies page to learn more about what to expect and how to succeed in an online course at George Mason.
Details
Who should apply?
This program is designed for applicants with a technical undergraduate background in engineering, computer science, cybersecurity, IT, or a related field who are interested in engineering secure, resilient cyber‑physical systems.
- early‑ to mid‑career professionals in cybersecurity, systems, software, hardware, or network engineering; individuals working in defense, energy, transportation, aerospace, or other critical infrastructure sectors; and military, government, or contractor personnel supporting national or homeland security missions.
- professionals seeking to transition from general IT or engineering roles into advanced cybersecurity engineering, with interests in secure system design, threat modeling, risk assessment, and lifecycle security, spanning both defensive and offensive techniques.
Financial Aid
For information on loans, scholarships, and other types of financial aid, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Why choose George Mason University?
- Offered in collaboration with George Mason’s College of Engineering and Computing (CEC).
- As an R1 university, George Mason University is among an elite group of institutions known for performing research at the highest level of productivity and impact.
- George Mason University is world-renowned for its systems approach to cybersecurity, with expertise in key areas of advanced manufacturing and supply chain security, such as cyber-vulnerabilities research, 5G security, AI-based intrusion detection, autonomous system security, and secure adoption of smart technologies.
- From our roots in information and communication technology engineering, our cybersecurity researchers are building inroads into uncharted territories of a future that will be more efficient, safer, healthier, and more prosperous.
Ready to Apply?
Application Requirements
- Applying to graduate programs at George Mason Engineering and Computing is a multi-step process. All applications are processed through central admissions.
- An earned baccalaureate from an institution of higher education accredited by a George Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts.
- For applicants whose initial post-secondary three-year bachelor degree is earned from a full member country that follows the Bologna Process, as verified from official transcripts, the degree is considered sufficient.
- For those applicants who have an initial post-secondary bachelor three-year degree plus a post-graduate diploma or certificate, master’s, or doctoral degree in a similar discipline, verified from official transcripts by George Mason Admissions and was earned from an institution of higher education accredited by a George Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency, or international equivalent, the degrees will be considered sufficient.
- For applicants whose initial post-secondary degree is an integrated master’s degree or higher (no baccalaureate degree was earned), the earned graduate degree is sufficient if earned from an institution of higher education accredited by a George Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency, or international equivalent, as verified from official transcripts.
- Enrollment beyond the first semester in any graduate program requires official transcripts showing degree conferral from all previously earned degrees, including undergraduate bachelor’s degrees and higher, as well as any graduate coursework that the student wishes to be applied to the George Mason degree program.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study.
- The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs.
- The university, at its discretion, may, in evaluating the meeting of this requirement, additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, any/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study.
- For students with post-baccalaureate credits, a separate GPA is calculated for each institution.
- For applicants whose initial post-secondary degree is an integrated master’s degree or higher (no baccalaureate degree earned), the university, at its discretion, will evaluate those applicants based on that initial degree.
- All George Mason graduate applicants must meet the University’s English proficiency standard.
Contact
Program contact:
Program website
MS in Cyber Security Engineering (MS-CYSE)
Department/College contact/website
