Wisconsin Online Collaboratives is excited to announce changes to the UW Cybersecurity program that will help students build their knowledge of cybersecurity fundamentals more quickly while also focusing on specialized skills to reach their career goals.
What’s new with the Cybersecurity program?
We’ve revised the Master of Science in Cybersecurity curriculum to better meet the needs of students looking to upskill, prepare for future cybersecurity jobs, or move into a management position.
The curriculum is developed by expert faculty and an advisory board made up of cybersecurity professionals. The courses are updated on a regular basis and are designed to reflect real-world challenges, emerging technologies, and the skills employers need most.
The curriculum has been streamlined into two tracks of study:
- Digital Forensics, which is intended for roles such as a cybersecurity engineer. Some example job titles for the Digital Forensics track could include: a Chief Information Security Officer, Digital Forensics Analyst or Security Auditor.
- Secure Systems Design, which is intended for those interested in a cybersecurity management role. For the Secure Systems Design track, one might pursue roles as a Security Engineer, Cybersecurity Architect, or in Cloud Security.
To help students complete the degree faster without compromising rigor or quality, the curriculum has been compacted to 31 credits, down from 34. Another highlight of the program is the applied capstone project, where students apply their skills to solve real-world cybersecurity challenges and demonstrate their expertise to current prospective employers.
Why do cybersecurity skills matter in today’s workforce?
A recent report from SANS Institute notes that 60 percent of chief information security officers cite the cybersecurity skills gap as a primary workforce concern. The primary driver of this gap is AI, and hiring alone won’t solve the problem. According to the report, there aren’t enough highly skilled AI-security practitioners to go around. Senior and expert-level cybersecurity professionals are hardest to find.
The Fortinet 2026 Cybersecurity Skills Gap Global Research Report found similar concerns. About 63 percent expect more need for AI oversight and governance roles on cybersecurity teams over the next three years, and like the SANS report, 51 percent say that they need senior-level cybersecurity skills most of all.
What’s it like taking a course in the UW Cybersecurity program?
Courses in the UW Cybersecurity program are 100 percent online, providing an asynchronous learning environment that you can fit alongside your other life commitments. Instead of attending lectures with instructors and classmates at set times, you can watch instructor videos on your own schedule. Complete coursework each week at your convenience, allowing for maximum flexibility.
Learn from expert faculty among multiple Universities of Wisconsin campuses to gain specialized expertise in cybersecurity while building confidence and career momentum in a rapidly changing field.
Learn more about Cybersecurity
With the UW Online Collaboratives Cybersecurity program, you can build on your current expertise to learn new skills while advancing your career. Start your journey today and find out more about the program by contacting an enrollment adviser at 608-800-6762 or learn@uwex.wisconsin.edu.