National University

What you'll study

Curriculum emphasizes practical technologies and secure administration across networks and operating systems plus policy and applied techniques:

• Foundation technologies for cybersecurity — introductory networking (LAN, WAN, wireless), network security concepts and secure router configuration.
• Operating system fundamentals — architecture and functions of OSs, hardware/software integration; Windows and Linux basics and core OS hardening topics.
• Introductory cybersecurity — confidentiality, integrity, availability, cybersecurity policy and ethical/legal considerations.
• Data security — protecting data at rest and in transit, encryption, authentication, access control, and basic database security; (note: some courses list prerequisites such as CYB 206 and CYB 202/CYB 204).
• Cloud and virtualization — cloud deployment and service models, public vs private cloud, virtualization, and an introduction to devops/continuous integration (prerequisite noted as CYB 215).
• Programming for cybersecurity — scripting and automation using tools such as PowerShell and Python to implement system security.

Core sequences advance those foundations into applied administration and assessment:

• First cybersecurity core sequence — secure Linux administration (automation and standards-based measures), secure Windows desktop/server administration, advanced security automation (managing security-related code, integrated scripts, devops tools), technical writing for clear technical-to-nontechnical communication and project planning, and system architecture design that maps regulatory/technology conditions into secure system designs.
• Second cybersecurity course sequence — system/network security audit and assessment frameworks and tools, IT audit frameworks (government and non-government), and legal/ethical issues in auditing; additional courses explore tools and techniques to collect and analyze cyber threat information (some courses list prerequisites such as CYB 340 and portions of the first core sequence).

Entry requirements

The program application carries no fee and does not require essays or entrance exams. Students should consult the university's undergraduate admission procedures for full evaluation policies and transfer-credit rules; in the absence of transfer credit, additional general electives may be needed to reach the 120-credit total.

Career prospects

Graduates are prepared for roles such as security analyst, computer network defender, and computer incident responder. The curricular mix of systems administration, security automation, auditing/assessment and legal/ethical instruction targets technical positions responsible for protecting networks, investigating incidents and implementing security controls.

Scholarships & funding angle

The program page notes an application fee of $0; for scholarship, grant and financial-aid opportunities students should review National University's centralized financial aid and scholarship resources. Transfer credit and course load affect total cost and time to completion, so confirm funding eligibility early—especially if you plan to use the BS-to-MFS transition pathway that may reduce graduate coursework.

Additional academic pathway

Students with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 who are within six courses of finishing the bachelor’s degree may enroll in two Master of Forensic Science electives (FSC621, FSC631, or FSC647) as part of a formal transition program; those courses must be ones without prerequisites and must be completed with a grade of B or better. The transition can reduce the number of MFS courses required after graduation.