Program eligibility requirements
The Paulette Jones Cybersecurity Graduate Student Scholarship
This $1,250 scholarship is sponsored by ECMC Group, a nonprofit corporation focused on helping students succeed. They created this scholarship with the goal of supporting students in Cybersecurity careers with the hope of bringing more women to this field. This scholarship is for graduate students enrolling in their first term and taking at least 6 credits in the Cyber Operations MS program. Students must have a 3.0 GPA and be admitted to the program.
Applications are due by July 1 for the fall term.
Program requirements
The Masters of Science in Cyber Operations (MSCyOps) program bases admission decisions on the applicant's prior academic work, professional background/experience in computing/cybersecurity, and recommendation letters. The graduate director determines admission into the master's program and transfers coursework equivalency.
The following items are the minimum requirements for potential admission into the program. Meeting these requirements is not a guarantee of admission.
- A bachelor's degree (preferably in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or Computer Forensics) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00. GPA exceptions can be made on a case-by-case basis for those applicants who demonstrate a potential for academic success in other ways.
- A competency statement (two pages maximum) that describes the following:
- Applicant's knowledge and interest in cybersecurity discipline and human factors impacting personal use policies and monitoring.
- Applicant's ability to identify and analyze problems, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions, and provide solutions to individual and organizational problems.
- Applicant's ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listens effectively and clarifies information as needed; facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters an atmosphere of open communication.
- Two letters of recommendation from people (faculty, supervisor, etc.) qualified to judge the applicant's ability for graduate study in Cyber Operations.
- English language proficiency or permanent resident status, documented/demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- The applicant is a US citizen or permanent resident
- The applicant has a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from an English-speaking institution in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand.
- The applicant has a minimum TOEFL score of 80 (Internet-based) or 550 (paper-based) achieved within 24 months of intended enrollment.
- The applicant has an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher achieved within 24 months of intended enrollment.
Applicants who have a bachelor's degree in a non-technical field may be admitted to the program if they meet the following conditions:
- Completed undergraduate courses in Discrete Mathematics and Statistics with a minimum grade of B.
- Completed cyber-related undergraduate courses with a minimum grade of B and demonstrated competency in Python Programming, C Programming, Assembly Language, PowerShell, Basic Data Structures and Algorithms, Systems Administration, Computer Networking, and Linux Fundamentals.
- Have at least one year of proven IT or cybersecurity industry experience. Exceptions can be made based on the overall application package.
Application instructions
Metro State University is participating in the common application for graduate programs (GradCAS). Applications are only accepted via the CAS website.
CAS steps
- Select the term for which you are seeking admission (below), and navigate to the CAS website. Open applications include:
- Create or log in to your account and select the Cyber Operations (MS) program.
- Carefully review all instructions and complete all four sections of the application.
Specific application requirements for individual programs can be found on each program page in CAS. Carefully read the instructions that appear throughout the application pages. You can only submit your application once. If you need to update information you have submitted, please notify graduate.studies@metrostate.edu
Application fee
A nonrefundable $38 fee is required for each application. Applications will not be processed until this fee is received.
Active-duty military, veterans, and Metro State alumni can receive an application fee waiver. Contact graduate.studies@metrostate.edu.