Contact Us: [email protected]
MS in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership
As an online student, most of your interactions with the university will be done through various websites. For example:
Michelle Moore, PhD
(703) 909-8115
Our number one priority is you! Our team has prepared a checklist of items that will set you up for success and clarify all action items as a new student. After you are enrolled for your first term and receive a confirmation email from a member of our team, please complete and review all of the following before classes start.
This webinar will go over a comprehensive look at your program and what to expect as an online learner including resources and tips for success. Each webinar should last around 30-40 minutes. Once you have been registered for classes and receive a confirmation email from our team, you will be given the link to schedule your new student check-in call.
In this call, you’ll “meet” a member of your Student Success Team for your program. This will be a chance for us to answer any additional questions you have before you start your first term. Please be sure to have any Canvas-related, program-related, or finance-related questions prepared.
Once you have been registered in your classes, you will be able to access your New Student Orientation Course on Canvaswithin 4 hours. When accessing Canvas, please make sure to use Firefox or Chrome as your browser.
The New Student Orientation course is designed to help you navigate your way around your course's layout prior to beginning your first class. You will learn where to find the syllabus, course schedule, assignments, and discussion boards.
Your Orientation is mandatory, and must be completed before the first day of class—so we encourage you to get started! Please plan to spend about 16-20 hours completing the Orientation course. You can move through the Orientation at your own pace, so schedule your time accordingly.
Looking for assistance?
We recommend that students start this planning early as some funding sources can take some time to process. Tuition payments should be completed in full by the first day of the semester. Visit the "Tuition and Payment Methods" section for more information.
Please make sure to review your student handbook prior to the first day of class, and reference it as needed throughout your program. The handbook is where you can find information on academic expectations, drop and refund policy, technology requirements, curriculum, frequently asked questions, and more.
Below is a list of significant dates regarding the registration process, payment deadlines, and other important academic and program deadlines.
Fall 2025 Dates and Deadlines
Important Dates | Date |
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Spring 2025 Dates and Deadlines
Important Dates | Date |
---|---|
Registration Opens | November 1, 2024 |
Application Deadline | December 2, 2024 |
Registration Deadline | December 16, 2024 |
Orientation Course Due Date | January 3, 2025 |
Last Day to Drop with 100% Refund | January 6, 2025 |
Payment Due Date | January 7, 2025 |
Semester Begins | January 7, 2025 |
First Course Start Date | January 7, 2025 |
Last Day to Drop with 95% Refund/ Drop Deadline | January 10, 2025 |
Last Day to Withdraw from Course A | February 3, 2025 |
First Course End Date | February 24, 2025 |
Second Course Start Date | February 25, 2025 |
First Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | March 10, 2025 |
Last Day to Withdraw from Course B | March 24, 2025 |
Second Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | April 28, 2025 |
Semester Ends | April 14, 2025 |
Summer 2025 Dates and Deadlines
Important Dates | Date |
---|---|
Registration Opens | March 3, 2025 |
Application Deadline | April 4, 2025 |
Registration Deadline | April 18, 2025 |
Orientation Course Due Date | May 2, 2025 |
Last Day to Drop with 100% Refund | May 5, 2025 |
Payment Due Date | May 6, 2025 |
Semester Begins | May 6, 2025 |
First Course Start Date | May 6, 2025 |
Last Day to Drop with 95% Refund/ Drop Deadline | May 9, 2025 |
Last Day to Withdraw from Course A | June 2, 2025 |
First Course End Date | June 23, 2025 |
Second Course Start Date | June 24, 2025 |
First Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | July 7, 2025 |
Last Day to Withdraw from Course B | July 21, 2025 |
Second Course Final Grade Submission Due Date | August 25, 2025 |
Semester Ends | August 11, 2025 |
You have most likely already filled out an Enrollment Agreement, which enables our team to register you for classes each term. No further action is required on your part.
If you are not able to register for both of your courses in a given term, please contact your program coordinator immediately. This often happens for students who need to take a leave of absence.
Students are required to have their textbooks on hand by the first day of class. Unless otherwise specified, students may select any vendor they prefer (such as Amazon.com, Half.com, Alibris.com, etc.) to purchase their course materials. In the event a specific vendor is required, it will be specified in the course materials list. The best way to ensure that you have the correct book is to search by the ISBN number(s) listed on the book list.
Physical copies of books are not on hand at the USD Torero Store. The USD Torero online store does offer price comparisons for different online vendors for some books.
Although all textbooks for all courses are listed, students only need to purchase the items for the classes they are taking for the semester.
If your course is indicated to have a "Digital Inclusive Access" textbook, you do have the option to use the integrated Vitalsource e-textbook without needing to purchase a textbook through an outside vendor. For more information, view the "Digital Inclusive Access" FAQs document.
By using Vitalsource e-Textbooks, students are able to use study tools in Bookshelf such as highlighting, printing limited pages/chapters, sharing notes, and using the Bookshelf CoachMe tool to test their learning while they read.
Tuition at USD is billed per semester, not per course. Payment (or enrollment in an official USD payment plan) is always due by the first day of the semester. Students may not carry balances from one semester to the next.
Accounts with outstanding balances after the official payment due date may be subject to course cancellations/removal or a student account hold during the semester; related holds can prevent upcoming registration, graduation, or obtaining transcripts.
Remember: tuition is always due by the first day of each semester.
Once you have been registered for your courses, your student account will reflect the appropriate tuition costs according to your program. Your program’s tuition is the following:
Students who need to re-take or withdraw from a course may need to pay additional fees according to the Refund/Drop Deadline policies listed in your Student Handbook.
If you have any questions about your Student Account, please reach out to the Torero Hub by submitting their inquiry form or phone at 619-260-2700. All costs and fees are subject to change and are based on the academic year of enrollment.
Please note that students in USD’s MS in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership, Sustainability and Health program are required to submit a one-time 5% non-refundable deposit. The payment will automatically be applied to your first-semester tuition.
Students will be registered for their prescribed courses each semester. All courses must be dropped prior to the first day of the semester to receive a 100% tuition refund and within the first three days of the start date of the semester to receive a 95% tuition refund. No refund (reversal of tuition) will be provided after the third day of the semester for any class.
You can track your progress toward earning your degree using the Degree Works feature in your MySanDiego student portal. Degree Works shows you which courses you have completed, grades, cumulative GPA, any outstanding graduation requirements, and more!
To access Degree Works:
Submitting your petition to graduate is a requirement for every student. About a semester before your final term, you will be reminded by your Program Coordinator to submit your petition to graduate. Once completed, your Academic Coordinator will review your academic record and contact you if there are any outstanding requirements or issues.
If you are planning on participating in the commencement ceremony (which means walking in your cap and gown here on campus), you will be invited to come to the University of San Diego in the month of May to participate in the ceremony. Commencement details and information will be sent from your Student Success Team around the month of February. Please note, there is only one commencement ceremony each academic year. Fall graduates will be invited to the commencement ceremony the May after they graduate, while Summer graduates will be invited to the commencement ceremony the May before they graduate.
The registrar will process their final audit of the degrees 6-8 weeks after grades are posted for your final semester. Once the degree is conferred in the system, the Registrar will order your diploma from the vendor and the vendor will send it to you directly to the address that was listed on your petition to graduate. Mailing time is an additional 6-8 weeks from the date of order, and you will likely receive your diploma in the mail in 3-4 months after you have completed your degree requirements. *Please note, if your mailing address changes after you submit your Petition to Graduate, please notify the Graduate Records office at (619) 260-2217 or [email protected].
The 31-unit MS-CSOL program consists of eleven courses – ten 3-unit courses and a 1-unit integrative capstone course. This 31-unit program can be completed in five semesters (20 months). You can start this program in any semester (fall, spring, or summer). Each semester is 14-weeks long and there are two 7-week courses offered. Note the capstone course lasts the full 14 weeks.
The 30-unit MS-CSOL program consists of ten courses – ten 3-unit courses including an integrative capstone course. This 30-unit program can be completed in five semesters (20 months). You can start this program in any semester (fall, spring, or summer). Each semester is 14-weeks long and there are two 7-week courses offered. Note the capstone course lasts the full 14 weeks.
This course will feature a comprehensive overview of concepts and tools essential to the cybersecurity professional and provide a review of the five types of cybersecurity techniques. The student will explore the history and evolution of cybersecurity as well as the future trends while identifying the roles leaders can play in enhancing, supporting, and promoting cybersecurity in organizations. The course will outline a taxonomy of modern cyber terminology. This course will also set the stage for the program by explaining and instilling the “Business of Cyber” as a cybersecurity professional. The student will learn to view information as an asset to the organization, learn types of cybersecurity attacks, what are threat actors and threat vectors, the various roles of a cyber-professional, and the beginnings of designing a cybersecurity program. The student will also identify different types of threats to information and to the infrastructure and the operations that support it.
This course will provide an introduction to modern applied cryptographic theory and practice, and how cryptography is used to support information security missions. It will be based upon open literature discussions that are most similar or applicable to advanced multi-level security systems and military grade defenses.
This course will introduce the student to the importance of architectural and network security at the enterprise level. Security architecture frameworks will be used to explore enterprise security architectures. Students will identify threats to today’s networks and learn to identify appropriate security tools to safeguard these networks. The course will discuss how to evaluate the complexities of securing new types of networks such as cloud configurations and the Internet of Things.
This course discusses and explains the fundamentals of risk governance, the processes to follow, compliance regulation, and the security controls to implement for specific cybersecurity environments and situations. Information and information systems are subject to serious threats that can have adverse impacts on organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, and reputation). Cyber-attacks are often aggressive, well-organized, well-funded, and in a growing number of documented cases, very sophisticated. There is also a geopolitical part to cybersecurity as well that is discussed throughout this course. Successful attacks on public and private sector information systems can affect organizational assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation by compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information being processed, stored, or transmitted by those systems. This can result in serious damage to the national and economic security interests of the United States.
This course provides students with a foundational background and understanding of the core concepts and principles of privacy and cybersecurity. The course will explore the history of cyber-crime, and will cover areas related to litigation and enforcement, law, policy, compliance, consumer data privacy and big data compliance, EU data protection, and HIPAA privacy and security.
This course will provide an in-depth study of the principles and tenets of the design and development process of secure software used to provide enhanced cyber security. It will review the traditional models of software development, with the idea that a developer or project manager must strategize for security before starting development. Students will understand how to gather and plan for security requirements in development. The course will explore how vulnerabilities can be mapped and planned for. Students will understand how to run an effective development process, culminating with implementation, and how to review and test software. Finally, the course will introduce the concept of software assurance and its role in the cyber security paradigm.
Active defense of an enterprise is not only the responsibility of the equipment, applications, and security processes of an organization but is ultimately driven by Blue Team actions. Whether as a team, designated position, or assigned set of additional responsibilities, understanding and performing Blue Team actions are essential aspects of an effective cybersecurity program. Some of the fundamental concepts for Blue Team operations include “Defending the Castle” by environment and threat landscape awareness, establishing “normal” vs “abnormal” for your environment, understanding Threat Hunting tools and techniques (including intel and open-source research), as well as the components of some of the more significant threats to your organization such as lateral movement, malware, ransomware, and Command and Control. This course will also briefly introduce the concepts and relationships between the Blue Team with the related White, Red, and Purple Teams.
This course will present and discuss how information superiority and information dominance is key to influencing operations associated with establishing and maintaining cyber security. Topics include overview of current and historical intelligence efforts and how those processes in various domains (human, electronic, digital) apply to cyber operations and security. Course specifically includes exploitation of “big data” and multi-format information collections (text, video, structured/unstructured) to support cyber situation awareness. It will feature discussions of modern versus classic data collection methods and Intelligence examples from current events.
This course will introduce the principles and general practice of incident response, including an overview to digital and network forensics. It will define what constitutes an incident, what is meant by incident response, the attack lifecycle, and goals of incident response. The course will discuss building an incident response team, the steps in the process, and preparing for incident response. Students will understand the process of detecting and characterizing an incident, collecting and analyzing data, and the process of remediation. The course will then provide a deeper dive into the practice of digital forensics, specifically focusing on computer, mobile, network, and database forensics. It will outline the investigative and analysis process, survey tools, digital evidence, and briefly touch on the law.
This Capstone course builds on the concepts of all of the courses taken within the CSOL program, guiding students to incorporate the knowledge learned from previous coursework into a comprehensive, investigative report, demonstrating their mastery in cybersecurity. The final report will also consist of a written report to the Board of Directors/CISO, showing the high-level leadership and communication learned throughout the program.
In the final course of the program, students demonstrate the specialized knowledge, principles, and strategies learned throughout the program by critically assessing a real-world cybersecurity problem. The Capstone is the culmination of all coursework from the program to prepare students to develop into skilled cybersecurity professionals. The final project is centered on a case study relating to a current cybersecurity issue, trend, and/or event.
This list is helpful resources that will set you up for success. Haven’t written in APA formatting since your undergraduate program? We’ve got you covered! Want to know what type of computer you will need? No problem. We have listed helpful resources below.
To complete the activities in your courses and to access course content, please verify that you have the following technologies and plug-ins available:
All writing assignments must be formatted according to APA standards. Discussion posts must contain the appropriate APA citations. If you want additional writing support, we recommend Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL@Purdue). In addition to general writing support, the website includes a special section dedicated to APA formatting guidelines.
Another helpful writing resource is the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) Graduate Student Writing Center. Enrolled students can submit assignments for review by a writing professional.
Students at the University of San Diego are able to download Microsoft Office 365 for free! If you don’t have it already, you can download the Microsoft Office 365 suite using your USD student email.
TimelyCare is a provider of 24/7, no-cost telehealth services for USD students to address common conditions that can be safely diagnosed and treated remotely. TimelyCare services are available at no cost to the student. Services include:
The handbook is where you can find information on academic expectations, drop and refund policy, technology requirements, curriculum, frequently asked questions, and more.
USD does not offer subject-specific tutoring resources, so students who are looking for tutoring support are encouraged to identify a tutor using Wyzant.com. Please note that Wyzant is not a USD-managed resource, so use them at your own discretion.
It is the policy of the University of San Diego to adhere to the rules and regulations as announced in this brochure or other University Publications. The University nevertheless hereby gives notice that it reserves the right to expand or delete or otherwise modify this online publication whenever such changes are adjudged by it to be desirable or necessary. Changes will be made periodically as needed.
In celebration of Women's History Month, Bestcolleges.com crafted a guide to help you celebrate International Women's Day and the achievements of women worldwide. Discover its history, its importance, and ways to celebrate. We invite you to check it out below:
USD's Case Management team has compiled a list of on-campus (local to San Diego) and national economic resources to help students find assistance with a variety of life aspects such as housing, food, mental health, parenting, etc. If you have a need or concern that isn’t addressed by the resources included in this list, please reach out to your Program Coordinator for further assistance. Based on the support, we may refer you to schedule an appointment with a case manager.
USD welcomes first-generation college and first-generation graduate students. Please view the resources below to connect with your first-gen peers!
USD provides student-focused services to all USD military-connected students, including student veterans, active-duty, dependent children, and spouses.
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Please view the USD information trifold for current and prospective students. It is also available in Spanish.
Review the Higher Ed Immigation Portal website which includes some useful information and connections to the undocumented student community, state and national policies, information on graduate and professional school access, retention and success. It is a living document that will be updated regularly and include any new resources that campuses and organizations develop.
Many students who attend USD are also parents. USD offers the following resources:
With the rise of AI writing assistants, students must ensure that they use this new technology ethically and honestly. Consult this document for guidance.
The USD Campus is available to all of our students and includes these additional resources.
In your program, you can think of Canvas as your virtual tool to share information with professors and peers. You will use Canvas to access your course content, find course syllabi, review your assignments, and more. Be sure to use your USD credentials to log in. If you have any difficulty logging into your course, be sure to contact ITS at (619) 260-7900 or [email protected].
The concept of netiquette covers proper communication online. Read our guidelines to help cultivate a supportive and productive online environment.
At USD, you join a community of individuals who are all committed to one common goal: your success. As you familiarize yourself with your team, take the opportunity to virtually meet and connect with the resources available to you as a student. Click on the profiles below to learn more about each office or staff member and watch a brief video about their role in supporting you through graduation.
Whether you're hoping to find a new job or earn a promotion, USD has a wealth of resources available to prepare you for your dream role.
Tuition for the MS-CSOL program is $965 per unit.
Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.
The MS-CSOL program is a total of 30 units.
Students will enroll in two prescribed courses each semester for a total of 6 semester units.
The University of San Diego considers 9 or more units as full-time student status. Your program is designed to be part-time, and students enroll in just 6 units per semester. There is no full-time option for this program.
All students are manually enrolled each semester by the USD Student Success team. If you are not able to enroll for a term or if you need to drop your courses, it is your responsibility to notify your Program Coordinator. All students will be held to the respective drop deadlines and refund schedule detailed in your Student Handbook.
Login to your my.sandiego.edu student portal. Under the “My Student Account” tab, review the tutorials for directions on how to view and pay your bill, set up a payment plan, and enroll in eRefund (Direct Deposit). View the “Tuition and Payment Methods” on your Student Success Center for further details.
Log into your my.sandiego.edu student portal and navigate to the “Torero Hub” section on the sidebar. Click on the “My Academics” tab and locate the “View My Grades” link in the top-middle section. Alternatively, you can view your program progress at a glance using the “Degree Works” link.
If you notice a grade inconsistency between Canvas and your MySanDiego portal, please email your instructor to verify what the final grade should be. Your instructor has the ability to update the posted grade.
Log into your my.sandiego.edu student portal and then use the “Degree Works” link to view your degree audit.
You can find the “Degree Works” link in the Torero Hub under the “My Academics” page. If you are interested in requesting a tailored degree plan, please email [email protected].
If you need to take time off from your program, please email your Program Coordinator or the Student Success team at [email protected]. Since you have submitted your enrollment commitment, our team will automatically register you in courses each term unless you have previously notified the team about taking a break.
To order your official, unofficial, or e-transcript(s), view the transcript ordering options page. Otherwise, you can view unofficial/order official transcripts through your MySanDiego portal. Under the “Torero Hub” sidebar option, click on the “My Academics” page, then click on “Request Official Transcript” under the “My Classes” section.
Congratulations on finishing your program! Diplomas are mailed about 6-8 weeks after the degree requirements have been met and processed. Diplomas are mailed to the current address on file at the time degree requirements are completed. (To check your address information, login to your my.sandiego.edu student portal and view your personal information under My Torero Services.)
You will first be emailed a copy of your e-diploma from Parchment prior to receiving your mailed physical diploma.
Throughout your program and after graduation, your Student Success team is here to help! We recommend contacting your Program Coordinator directly, but you can also email our team address at [email protected].
In addition to our team, your Academic Director is a great resource!
All writing assignments must be formatted according to APA standards. Discussion posts must contain the appropriate APA citations. If you are unfamiliar with APA formatting, or simply require additional writing support, we recommend referencing the Purdue Online Writing Lab (also called OWL@Purdue). In addition to general writing support, the website includes a special section dedicated to APA formatting guidelines.
To further support your writing, we highly recommend using the School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) Graduate Student Writing Center. Students are encouraged to submit written course assignments via the digital submission form for online feedback from a professional writing coach. See site for details.
This course moves very quickly, and it is important that you turn in all assignments on or before their due dates. If, because of an emergency, you have missed a week or more of course work, please contact your professor immediately to inform them. While there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to make up your work, informing your professor early is the best way to get back on track and finish your course successfully.
Please do not wait more than a week without informing your professor. If your instructor’s email is not already visible on the Canvas course, please use the USD directory to find their contact information.
The 7-week courses traditionally follow a weekly pattern with three important days:
Please note that there may be some exceptions to this structure. Always refer to the syllabus for deadline details. Please contact the course instructor with any questions.
The course surveys are an opportunity to give your feedback on the course assignments, instructors, pacing, workload, learning management system, accessibility, etc. The feedback is reviewed by school leadership and used to determine how courses should be improved for future iterations. All surveys are completely anonymous – which is why your instructors have to make public announcements asking for everyone to submit their surveys. Feedback in the survey will not affect your final grade.
Course surveys traditionally open during the final weeks of the course and close before final grades are posted. The instructors and USD Student Success Team will remind you to complete these surveys for each class. Your program appreciates the time you take to improve the student experience!
No, it is uncommon for institutions to offer Latin honors to graduate students because graduate programs already assume a high level of academic achievement and rigor. The idea is that earning a graduate degree itself signifies excellence, making additional distinctions unnecessary: graduate students are held to a high academic standard, and successful completion of a graduate program inherently reflects significant achievement. For this reason, most institutions, including USD, do not offer Latin honors for graduate students.
If you are looking for a way to highlight your high academic achievement at USD, we recommend including your GPA on your resume, LinkedIn, etc.