New York Cybersecurity Degree Programs

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New York Cybersecurity Degrees Overview

A convenient way of pursuing higher education in cybersecurity is through online coursework, and New York institutions provide many opportunities to accomplish this. The majority of their bigger and smaller universities have at least a hybrid format that gives students flexibility to learn on their own time.

There are nine institutions in the state of New York that offer Master's degrees in cybersecurity and hold accreditation from the CAE - Excelsior College, Fordham University, Mercy College, New York Institute of Technology, Pace University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, University of Buffalo, and Utica University. Some of these schools also offer graduate certification and have online courses for those that are looking to continue their professional career.

Jump to list of campus and online New York cybersecurity degrees.

Are there NSA CAE designated cyber security degrees in New York?

Yes. Here is a list of New York universities that are NSA CAE Designated Institutions and have a cybersecurity degree.

Mohawk Valley Community College
New York University Tandon School of Engineering
Pace University
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rockland Community College
Syracuse University
Utica University

Why consider NSA CAE designated institutions for cyber security in New York

The state of New York offers a number of cybersecurity degrees that have been recognized by the National Centers of Academic Excellence. This is a joint accreditation partnership between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Security Agency (NSA).

Designations are divided up into the following designations: cyber defense for undergraduate and graduate programs, cyber defense for associate degrees and certifications, cyber defense research, and cyber operations. All schools must reapply for this recognition every five years in order to establish the program's proficiency in cybersecurity education.

Colleges can be found in Albany, Buffalo, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, and West Point.

Online Cyber Security Programs in New York

Most of the online programs are geared toward those obtaining a Master's degree. This format is ideal for those that are looking to continue their professional work while gaining an education in their free time.

Courses can be offered in synchronous format, where students can watch lectures remotely and participate in a virtual classroom, or they can watch on-demand videos of recorded lectures from the professor. Coursework can usually be done at any time of the day, and this will either be done at the students' own pace or they will need to meet weekly deadlines to keep up with the rest of the class. All communication is done through the university's content management system, with tools such as chat rooms, discussion boards, and instant messaging.

The Engineering and Computer Science department at Syracuse University has a fully online Master of Science in Cybersecurity. There is 30 credit hours needed to complete the degree with the curriculum being divided equally between core courses and electives. Core courses feature the following classes: Computer Security, Internet Security, Assurance Foundations, Design and Analysis of Algorithms, and Principles of Operating Systems. Students are able to complete the program in just 15 months and are administered quarterly per year.

Master's in Cyber Security Degrees in New York

In order to get into a higher-level program to receive a Master's degree, there are a number of requirements that need to be met for admission. Holding an undergraduate degree, typically a Bachelor's degree, with a cumulative 3.0 GPA is at least recommended. Higher scores are especially beneficial in the later years of the program.

Prior coursework should be completed in multiple levels of calculus and computer programming. In some cases, entrance exam scores, such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), will need to be submitted, or they will be optional and prospective students can use them to enhance their application.

List of the best cyber security degrees in New York

Undergraduate Cybersecurity Degrees

Click to view all online Associate and Bachelor in Cyber Security degrees that are taking applications.

New York Graduate Cybersecurity Degrees

Click to view all online Graduate level Cyber Security degrees (Master and Doctorate) that are taking applications.

Getting Started Working in Cyber Security in New York

Within the state of New York, there are 15 institutions that have two-year programs or full undergraduate and graduate options in order to begin or advance a career in cybersecurity. Mohawk Valley, Rockland, and Westchester Community Colleges have notable associates programs that have been designated by the CAE, and more popular schools such as Fordham University, Syracuse University, and the University of Buffalo, have full programs within cyber defense and cyber research.

• Undergraduate Degrees:

  Utica University is a private institution located in central New York that has an online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity that is endorsed by the NSA and the Department of Defense. The 120-credit hour program does not require a background in cybersecurity or a related field to administered. There are four specializations to choose from when pursuing the degree: Network Forensics and Intrusion Investigation, Information Assurance, Cybercrime and Fraud Investigation, and Cyber Operations.

  The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Buffalo offers an Advanced Certificate in Information Assurance, which provides an education in securing information that is flowing through the internet and finding ways to limit vulnerability. Their goal is to provide answers as quickly as networks become more advanced and complex. Up to 15 credit hours are needed to complete the certification and students need to maintain at least a B average to stay in the program. There is a technical and managerial track that students can choose to pursue.

• Masters and Continuing Education:

  At the Rochester Institute of Technology, the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences offers a Master of Science in Computing Security. This Master’s degree has a 30-credit hour curriculum that can be completed within two years. There are three variances of the program to take, where the program will either be culminated with a thesis, project, or capstone. The difference between the latter two is the project idea must be submitted for approval by the department and can be a real-world scenario or controlled, and the capstone can be smaller or larger real-world problems. In order to gain admittance into the program, students will need to hold a Bachelor’s degree in a related field with at least a 3.0 GPA, and they must submit two letters of recommendation and official transcripts.

  Pace University has an online Master of Science in Information Technology program that has an area of emphasis in Cybersecurity. Typical subjects that students will explore in the curriculum include computer programming, cryptology, cloud computing, data mining, and forensics examination. Students can complete the program within 16 months at a full-time pace, but it is generally completed within two years. There is a two-week orientation that is required for new students, and the online learning system will be through Blackboard, which will be the host for course materials, participation in group discussion, and completing assignments. No GRE or GMAT scores are needed and holding a Bachelor’s degree is not required, but prospective students must have some four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited institution.

• Cyber Security Employment Options:

  For information security analysts, and many other related positions in cybersecurity, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that New York is one of the higher-paying locations. The annual mean wage is approximately $122,000, and this number is slightly higher when looking specifically at the New York, Newark, and Jersey City metropolitan locations. This segment also has one of the highest levels of employment (over 8,200), which is beaten only by the massive job opportunities in Washington, DC. More entry-level positions will sit at around $74,000, but the more higher-paying jobs are located in some of the most popular cities in the state, such as New York City, Brooklyn, and Bronx.

New York Cyber Security Careers

New York City provides the most opportunity to gain a cybersecurity position in the state at accounting firms and financial holding. Companies likes Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo require analysts and managers to protect the growing amount of sensitive information from being compromised by outside intrusions. A managerial role in digital risk solutions at PricewaterhouseCoopers requires a Bachelor’s degree and Salesforce certification, and they will identify any vulnerabilities as multiple clients become more integrated into cloud-based solutions for their data. PwC also has penetration testing, a key component of cybersecurity that tests if the company’s network defense is able to handle certain attacks and they can analyze how to neutralize attacks as they take place and measures to eliminate them in the future.

Top Cyber Security and Tech Employers and Organizations in New York

New York has a number of massive and important cybersecurity companies to work for. Flashpoint works at a worldwide level to improve business risk intelligence in the public sector and for other large organizations to keep their data safe and secure. Products they offer include the Flashpoint Intelligence System and API, which offer clients an abundance of resources when it comes to gathering intelligence and gives an inside look into what illegal activities are taking place and what current threats to look out for. Their alerting system provides instant notification ahead of time with any data that may be compromised in the future.

Accenture is another global-based professional services company that works with clients to create the best possible solutions for their organization. Specifically within cybersecurity, they offer the tools needed to protect information and they directly work with them in order to maximize defense, scale their operations, and how to stay ahead of any potential hacking and outside intrusion attempts with fusion centers in Washington, DC, and globally.