Grand Valley State University combined degree programs offer students the opportunity to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree, meeting their unique personal, academic, and career goals. Pursuing a combined degree program can reduce the cost and total time required to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree.
An information technology specialist assumes responsibility for selecting hardware and software products appropriate for an organization, and installing, customizing, securing, and maintaining those applications for users. Cybersecurity is designed to help computing professionals expand their knowledge in the cybersecurity area, creating opportunities for advancement in the field. It will build skills to recognize, prepare for, defend against, and investigate current and future threats.
Career Outlook and Opportunities
313,735+ JOBS AVAILABLE
28% JOB GROWTH (2016-2026)
$92,600 MEDIAN ANNUAL WAGE
There is a strong demand for cybersecurity professionals. Job opportunities are projected to grow 28% by 2026 with a median annual wage of $92,600 (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Some of the job opportunities available to cybersecurity graduates, include:
- Cybersecurity Engineer
- Cybersecurity Analyst
- Network Engineer
- Architect Cybersecurity Manager
- Administrator Systems Engineer
- Software Developer
- Engineer Systems Administrator
- Vulnerability Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- Cybersecurity Consultant
Course Offerings
All university requirements, including general education courses, must be completed before the final (graduate) year of the combined B.S./M.S. program. In the final undergraduate year, students will normally take 12 credits of graduate-level courses. If any courses are dual-listed, students in the combined B.S./M.S. program must complete all assignments expected of graduate students and they will be evaluated in the same way as graduate students.
Students will be considered undergraduates for tuition, academic requirements and financial aid purposes until all requirements for the undergraduate degree are completed. Following this they will be considered graduate students, will pay graduate tuition, and will be eligible for graduate financial aid.
The School has identified the following courses that students may dual-count toward the B.S. and M.S. degrees. Up to 12 credits can be dual counted. Students are strongly encouraged to work with the graduate program director in cybersecurity to ensure all undergraduate and graduate requirements are met.
- CIS 518 in lieu of CIS Elective
- CIS 555 in lieu of CIS Elective
- CIS 616 in lieu of CIS 458
- CIS 617 in lieu of CIS 430
Visit the online catalog for course offerings and degree requirements.
Admission
Students will normally apply directly to the School of Computing and Information Systems for the combined B.S./M.S. program during their second academic year. Application requirements include:
- Overall GPA of 3.25 or greater
- Student must have been admitted to the information technology program
- 60 hours of academic credit have been completed or are in progress
- Two letters of recommendation
- Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are allowable)
- Letter of intent
Visit the online catalog for admission requirements for this program.
Related Programs
The following program is similar to this one:
- Combined Degree: Cybersecurity, B.S. and M.S.
- Combined Degree: Information Systems B.S. and Cybersecurity M.S.
- Combined Degree: Computer Science B.S. and Cybersecurity M.S.
Use the program comparison tool to compare these programs.