MAEd in Reading/Literacy
Maryville University, located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, offers a Master of Arts in E...
M.S. in Secure System Design
St. Louis, Missouri
INTAKE: Jan & Aug
Program Overview
Maryville University, located in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, offers a Master of Science (M.S.) in Secure System Design, an advanced program tailored for professionals aspiring to excel in cybersecurity, particularly with a focus on AI security and secure software development. This program is designed to blend practical skills with theoretical knowledge, addressing contemporary cyber threats and preparing graduates for advanced cybersecurity roles. It emphasizes the critical need for developers proficient in AI security, given the sensitive data often handled by AI systems and the necessity to safeguard user privacy and build robust, trustworthy AI models. The program is flexible, offering accelerated 8-week terms and can be completed in as little as 15 months.
STEM-designated: Yes, Maryville University's M.S. in Secure System Design program is STEM-designated. This is a significant advantage, especially for international students on an F-1 visa, as it qualifies them for the STEM OPT extension, allowing for up to 36 months of Optional Practical Training in the U.S. after graduation. This designation highlights the program's rigorous focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics principles as applied to cybersecurity.
Curriculum: The M.S. in Secure System Design is a 30-credit hour program that provides a deep dive into crucial areas of cybersecurity. The curriculum is structured to offer innovative content and prepare students for immediate impact. Key areas of study include cryptography, AI-enhanced cybersecurity, machine learning algorithms for encrypted data analysis, secure software development principles, threat modeling, secure coding practices, security testing, and secure deployment strategies. The program also offers "stackable certificates" in Secure Software Development, Systems Architecture Security, and Artificial Intelligence Security, allowing students to earn valuable credentials throughout their master's journey. Coursework combines lectures with hands-on exercises, interactive discussions, and labs, providing a practical and immersive learning experience.
Research Focus: Maryville University's M.S. in Secure System Design program incorporates a significant research focus by delving into advanced topics such as AI security and machine learning algorithms for analyzing encrypted data. The program aims to equip learners with the ability to analyze and process encrypted data, which inherently requires a strong understanding of underlying research principles and methodologies. While specific dedicated research courses like a thesis might not be explicitly outlined as a mandatory component in all program descriptions, the emphasis on innovative content, cutting-edge technologies, and solving complex cyber threats implies a curriculum that is informed by and encourages engagement with current research in the field. Students learn to critically evaluate and apply advanced concepts, preparing them to contribute to the evolving body of knowledge in secure system design.
Industry Engagement: Maryville University's M.S. in Secure System Design program demonstrates robust industry engagement. The program is designed to provide "access to industry experts" and to prepare graduates for advanced cybersecurity roles by integrating theory with industry-relevant skills. The focus on practical skills and real-world application, through hands-on learning, projects, and labs, ensures that graduates are ready to address contemporary cyber threats effectively. The program's content, particularly its emphasis on AI security and secure software development, directly aligns with the current demands of the cybersecurity job market. Maryville also highlights training for early career students to pursue jobs such as software security engineer, application security analyst, security consultant, and security architect, indicating strong connections to career pathways in the industry.
Global Perspective: The M.S. in Secure System Design program at Maryville University inherently fosters a global perspective due to the inherently global nature of cybersecurity threats and solutions. Cyber threats know no geographical boundaries, and the principles of secure system design, cryptography, and AI security are universally applicable. The program prepares professionals to safeguard user privacy and ensure the reliability and trustworthiness of AI-driven judgments, which are critical considerations on a global scale. While specific international study components are not typically a feature of this technical program, the skills acquired are highly transferable and crucial for working in multinational corporations, international security organizations, or global tech companies. The curriculum's focus on universal best practices in cybersecurity prepares graduates to operate effectively in a globally connected digital world.
Location
St. Louis, Missouri
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 16700
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 92 or higher.
- PTE: Overall score of 62 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 115.
Maryville University in the United States offers a variety of scholarship opportunities specifically designed for international students to help make higher education more affordable and accessible. Recognizing the diverse backgrounds and talents of its global student community, Maryville provides merit-based and need-based scholarships that reward academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.
Merit-Based Scholarships: International students applying to Maryville University are automatically considered for merit scholarships based on their academic achievements, standardized test scores, and overall application strength. These scholarships can significantly reduce tuition costs and are renewable for multiple years provided students maintain satisfactory academic performance.
International Student Scholarships: Maryville offers exclusive scholarships tailored for international students to encourage global diversity and inclusion. These scholarships support students from various countries and academic disciplines, promoting cultural exchange and enriching the university community.
Program-Specific Scholarships: Certain colleges and departments within Maryville University provide scholarships targeted at students enrolled in specific programs such as business, nursing, education, and technology. International students pursuing degrees in these areas can apply for additional funding opportunities aligned with their fields of study.
A Master of Science (M.S.) in Secure System Design from Maryville University is a highly specialized and in-demand degree for those looking to build secure digital infrastructures and combat evolving cyber threats. This STEM-designated program particularly focuses on the crucial intersection of cybersecurity and AI, equipping graduates with the expertise to secure AI systems, develop secure software, and safeguard sensitive data. The curriculum blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on, practical skills, ensuring graduates are prepared for advanced roles in this critical field.
Software Security Engineer: These professionals embed security measures throughout the entire software development lifecycle, from design and coding to testing and deployment. They identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in applications, ensuring secure software products.
Application Security Analyst: Focusing on the security of specific software applications, these analysts conduct security testing (e.g., penetration testing, vulnerability assessments), analyze code for weaknesses, and recommend remediation strategies to protect applications from attacks.
AI Security Engineer/Analyst: A highly specialized and emerging role, focusing on securing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems. This involves protecting AI models from adversarial attacks, ensuring data privacy in AI training, and establishing the trustworthiness and ethical use of AI.
Security Architect: These senior professionals design and build robust security architectures for an organization's IT systems, networks, and applications. They define security standards, select security technologies, and ensure that all new systems are designed with security in mind from the ground up.
Cybersecurity Consultant (Secure Software/AI Focus): Graduates can work for consulting firms, advising various clients on secure software development best practices, AI security strategies, threat modeling, and implementing secure system designs to protect their digital assets.
Cloud Security Engineer: As more systems move to the cloud, these engineers specialize in securing cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). They implement cloud security controls, manage access, and ensure compliance with cloud security best practices and regulations.
Threat Hunter/Analyst: These proactive cybersecurity professionals actively search for and identify advanced threats that may have bypassed traditional security defenses. They use their understanding of system design and attack vectors to uncover hidden malicious activity.
DevSecOps Engineer: This role integrates security practices into the DevOps pipeline, ensuring that security is a continuous part of software development and operations. They automate security testing, implement secure coding standards, and foster a security-first culture within development teams.
Research and Development (R&D) Cyber Specialist: In larger tech companies or research institutions, graduates can contribute to the development of new cybersecurity tools, techniques, and technologies, particularly those focused on AI security, cryptography, and advanced secure system methodologies.
Security Auditor/Compliance Analyst: While not purely technical, this role requires a deep understanding of secure system design. These professionals assess an organization's security posture against industry standards, regulatory requirements, and internal policies, identifying gaps and recommending improvements.
