Overview

The M.Sc. Information Assurance at Saint Cloud State University is an interdisciplinary graduate programme designed to develop high-level expertise in protecting critical information infrastructure. Students gain a sophisticated blend of technical proficiency and strategic management skills necessary to lead in the evolving cybersecurity landscape. This curriculum prepares graduates to conduct advanced research and implement robust security technologies across various sectors.

Candidates typically possess a strong background in mathematics and science, often holding undergraduate degrees in fields such as computer science, networking, or telecommunications.

Why Information Assurance at Saint Cloud State University?

Saint Cloud State University is distinguished as a National Centre of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance and Cybersecurity, a prestigious designation awarded by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. This recognition ensures that the curriculum meets the highest national standards for security education and professional preparation.

The programme is meticulously aligned with the Association for Computing Machinery Model Curriculum and the National Security Agency guidelines. Instruction is delivered by expert faculty holding doctoral degrees in Information Systems, Informatics, and Data Science. Additionally, eligible students may have the opportunity to apply for the Department of Defense Cyber Scholarship Programme, providing unique pathways for professional development.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 10147 per year
National fee: USD 10146 per year
Local fee: USD 10146 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum is designed to cover essential domains of security and systems management. Modules may include:

Information Assurance
Information Security Technologies
Database Modelling
Network Structure and Architecture
Operating Systems Theory
Discrete Structures
Statistics
Information Systems Management

Careers with Information Assurance

Graduates of the Information Assurance programme are prepared for specialist roles dedicated to supporting and protecting national and corporate information infrastructures. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree allows for career progression into both technical engineering roles and strategic management positions within the cybersecurity industry. Professionals often find opportunities in government agencies, financial institutions, and global technology firms focused on data integrity and system resilience.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Network Security and Firewalls
Risk Management in Information Assurance
Digital Forensics and Incident Response
Security Policies and Compliance
Cryptography and Secure Communications

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-01-13 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-15 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2026-10-15 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-05-19 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-05-01 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2027-02-15 00:00:00 , International
Starting 2027-08-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-08-01 00:00:00 , National
- Apply before 2027-06-15 00:00:00 , International

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

105

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TOEFL^® IBT

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IELTS

6.5

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Credits

30 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Saint Cloud, United States

Disciplines

Operations and Quality Management View 53 other Masters in Operations and Quality Management in United States

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Academic requirements

GPA

2.7

GRE^®

Required

GMAT

Required

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

105

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Upload unofficial transcripts: Provide unofficial transcripts during the application process.
Request official transcripts
Statement of Intent: Submit a statement outlining your academic and career goals.
Resume: Include a resume detailing your educational and professional skills and experiences.
Writing samples: Provide writing samples as part of the application.
Other entrance and proficiency exams: Submit scores for exams like GMAT, IELTS, PTE, and Duolingo directly to the School of Graduate Studies as designated recipients within those platforms.
Application fee: Pay the application fee online with a credit card or request a PayPal invoice to complete the application process.

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

10147 USD / year

≈ 10147 USD / year
Out-of-State

10146 USD / year

≈ 10146 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

10146 USD / year

≈ 10146 USD / year

Living costs

Saint Cloud

United States

900 - 1400 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Information Assurance.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Information Assurance

About

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Saint Cloud

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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