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Accelerated Masters Program

Overview

The Accelerated Master of Science in Cybersecurity is an exciting opportunity for selected Boise State University undergraduate students. This program allows current Boise State undergrads to select three graduate courses (nine credits) that can be taken during their undergraduate career and applied to both their Bachelor’s degree and Master of Science in Cybersecurity degree requirements. Students accepted into the accelerated masters degree track may be able to complete their MS in as little as one year.

Admission Requirements

  • Admission to the MS in Cybersecurity program requires completion of no fewer than 75 credits towards a relevant bachelor’s degree, including completion of CS321 for students interested in a Computer Science Emphasis, MATH307 for Cryptanalysis and Signals Analysis Emphasis, and ITM305 for Management Emphasis. These prerequisites must be successfully completed no later than the end of the application semester.
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • GPA of at least 3.3 on a 4.0 scale in upper-division coursework

GRE Not Required

Applicants are not required to take GRE examination.

Program Acceptance

Meeting these eligibility requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the accelerated master’s degree programs. The Dean of the Graduate College makes the final decision on whether an undergraduate student is accepted into this program. When students in the accelerated program complete their undergraduate degree requirements, they will receive their bachelor’s degree and will then be classified as graduate students to continue their studies in the master’s program.

Application Materials

Boise State undergraduates must submit all of the following application materials in order to be considered for the Master of Science in Cybersecurity program:

  • Submit an application to the Boise State University Graduate College. Under the “Academic Goal” section, be sure to indicate that this is an accelerated application. You must mark “yes” to be considered for an accelerated track.
  • Transcript. You will need to arrange for submission of official transcripts from all institutions you attended outside of Boise State University. Boise State Graduate Admissions will upload your official Boise State transcript directly to your application portal.
  • A resume/CV.  Please include a comprehensive description of your academic and professional credentials and achievements.
  • Personal Statement.  Please include information about your future career goals and how this program will help you achieve those goals, any work experience or academic successes, and any other information that could provide evidence of your motivation, skills and character. Please limit your statement to fewer than 500 words.

NOTE: The GRE or GMAT scores are NOT required. Submission of one recommendation letter is strongly encouraged, but not required.

Registering for Classes

After being admitted to the accelerated master’s degree program, undergraduate students must follow these steps to register for graduate classes:

  1. Contact the Program Coordinator at mscybersecurity@boisestate.edu to help arrange a consultation with a faculty advisor who will help to find the graduate courses you should take.
  2. Complete the “Permit for Seniors to Take Graduate Courses” form (available on the Registrar’s website) for each graduate course you are taking. Be sure to choose Option III – Graduate Courses to be applied toward accelerated program on that form and indicate “MS in Cybersecurity” as the designated graduate program.
  3. Collect a signature from the course instructor and send the completed form to the MS in Cybersecurity email address at mscybersecurity@boisestate.edu.
  4. The Registrar’s Office will process the enrollment for you. Do not attempt to enroll in these graduate courses independently.

NOTE: Please be aware that you will be charged graduate tuition and fees for the graduate courses you take.

Once the undergraduate degree is completed, students will be fully admitted to the MS in Cybersecurity graduate program and will enroll in graduate courses using my.BoiseState.