Program overview

Cybersecurity is one of the most difficult and pressing challenges facing our nation today and into the foreseeable future. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, there are 3.5 million unfilled cyber jobs globally as of 2021. In particular, New Jersey and its surrounding metro areas have an immediate and urgent workforce shortage for well-prepared cyber professionals.

Program requirements

Rider's online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program allows students the flexibility to design a plan of study that meets their personal and professional needs. Courses are offered in a six week, fully online format.

The curriculum teaches and reinforces skills in the cybersecurity subjects of data and software security, component and connection security, system and organizational  security, as well as human and societal security. 

Fingerprint image on a motherboard

Every industry needs cyber professionals

Cybersecurity professionals play a critical role in a variety of industries. In order to prevent a cyber threat, you must understand what types of threats are out there. There are two main areas of cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity
Preventing attacks against companies’ IP and digital infrastructure.

Cyberforensics
Investigating and solving cyber crimes after they happen.

Be prepared

Graduates with an online M.S. in cybersecurity degree from Rider will be equipped with the skills to handle all types of situations.

Learn to:

  • Apply security principles and practices to maintain operations in the presence of risks and threats
  • Design, implement and evaluate a computing-based solution to meet a given set of computing requirements in the context of cybersecurity
  • Analyze a complex computing problem and apply principles of computing and other relevant disciplines to identify solutions
  • Recognize professional responsibilities and make informed judgments in computing/cybersecurity practice based on legal and ethical principles
  • Communicate effectively in a variety of professional contexts
  • Function effectively as a member or leader of a team engaged in activities appropriate to the program’s discipline
Cybersecurity professionals discuss a project

On-Ramp to Cyber @ RiderU

Fill the gap of an undergraduate degree in a cyber-related field

This technical bridge program offers an accelerated pathway for students with a bachelor’s degree in an unrelated field to gain the foundational skills needed to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity at Rider University. Offered 100% online, this program can be completed in as few as 6 weeks through self-paced modules supervised by a faculty member.

Facts and figures

*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

32%

projected job growth in the U.S. through 2028*

32k+

new job opportunities in the U.S. through 2028*

$99,730

is the median salary for Cybersecurity professionals with advanced degrees*

Fikret Kahya ‘18, ‘22
Rider prepared me for my career in cybersecurity by providing me with the skills I need to handle the difficult and ever-changing cybersecurity landscape."
Fikret Kahya ‘18, ‘22
Cybersecurity analyst at Sonepar USA
View story

Accelerate your master's degree

Rider undergraduates pursuing a bachelor’s degree in either Cybersecurity (technical track) or Computer Science could earn a M.S. in Cybersecurity quicker through the accelerated program. A sample of graduate courses available for undergraduate seniors include:

CYBR 500, Beyond Code: Cybersecurity in Context
CYBR 510, Cryptography for Cybersecurity
CYBR 520, Managing Cyber Risks
CYBR 530, Mobile Computing and Wireless Security
CYBR 540, Secure Coding for Cyber Defense
CYBR 550, Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Analysis

Contact

Cybersecurity (M.S.)

Elizabeth K. Hawthorne

Lecturer I, Graduate Program Director of Cybersecurity

Department of Computer Science and Physics

Mike and Patti Hennessy Science and Technology Center

ehawthorne [at] rider.edu

Academic Focus: Cybersecurity

Facade of Science and Technology Center