Nova Southeastern University · College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity

MS in Computer Science — Cyber Defense Concentration

Master'sMSConcentrationOn campusOnline

Overview

A 30-credit MS in Computer Science with a 12-credit Cyber Defense concentration, offered 100% online or on the Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus.

Official program name: M.S. in Computer Science — Cyber Defense Concentration
Awarded degree: Master of Science · major: Computer Science
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Degree level: Master's
Cybersecurity focus: Cybersecurity concentration — Cyber DefenseA formal cybersecurity concentration, track or specialization inside a broader degree such as computer science or information technology. The awarded degree is the broader one.
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
School: Nova Southeastern University — College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FLFor the online option this is where the school is located — not a residency requirement, and not a guarantee that you may enroll from your state.
Specializations: Cyber Defense — formal concentration / track (“Cyber Defense concentration”)
Tracks / concentrations: Cyber Defense
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Required credits: 30 credits (10 courses)
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Duration: as little as one year (minimum; condition not stated)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Start terms: Fall (August), Winter (January), Summer (May)
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Why this program is listed

Named Cyber Defense concentration with its own security course list in the MS in Computer Science.

Formal Cyber Defense concentration requiring four courses chosen from Fundamentals of Cybersecurity, Applied Cryptography, Database Security, Computer and Network Forensics, and Advanced Network Security.

Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

We list cybersecurity bachelor's, master's and research doctorates at institutionally accredited US schools — dedicated degrees and formal concentrations, never certificates or electives-only degrees. Eligibility rules

Format and attendance

Formats, online delivery, campus visits, internships and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the school states it.

Formats offered: On campus · Online
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Online delivery: Fully onlineAll coursework is online and the institution states no required campus attendance for the online option.
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Campus visits (online option): Campus visits: not verified
Class schedule (online option): Not verified
Internship: Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity: Not verified

The program page does not say whether the online option requires campus visits. Ask the school before you apply — missing information is not “no requirement”.

Curriculum

Curriculum details: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Prior degree: RequiredBachelor's degree
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test: Not requiredNo GRE/GMAT required
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
GMAT: Not required
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Category	Amount	Basis and year
All students — Graduate tuition rate, applies to all students	$989	per creditCalculated tuition$29,670 = 30 credits × $989 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
All students — Estimated total tuition	$29,670	entire programSource: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026
All students — 2026-27 COA for graduate degrees, tuition without scholarships/program discountsFrom the school-wide rate table for this level	$989	per credit · 2026-2027Calculated tuition$29,670 = 30 credits × $989 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Scholarships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for its level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; service scholarships require government service after graduation. Scholarships & funding guide

DoD Cyber Service Academy (DoD CSA) Service scholarship
Undergraduate: full tuition, books, fees, health insurance, $27,000 stipend/yr; Graduate: full tuition, books, fees, health insurance, $32,000 stipend/yr · Maintain a 3.2 GPA (undergraduates) or 3.5 GPA (graduates).
Eligibility: 18 or older; U.S. citizen at time of application; enrolled at a CAE in Cyber Defense; ability to obtain a security clearance; eligible juniors/seniors, master's students or doctoral students in the College of Computing, AI, and Cybersecurity.
Obligation: Work for the Department of Defense as a civilian employee for one calendar year for each year of scholarship assistance.
How to apply: Two letters of reference, resume and transcripts required.
Deadline: January 15 of every year for the following Fall term
Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

School-wide awards are listed because they apply at this degree level; eligibility conditions apply.

Accreditation, ABET and CAE

Three different things: the school's institutional accreditation, ABET accreditation of this exact program, and the school's NSA CAE designation.

Institutional accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

ABET program accreditation

This program does not appear in ABET's accredited-program database. ABET accreditation is program-specific and optional; the school's other programs or its institutional accreditation do not imply it.

NSA CAE designation (school)

CAE in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) · 2005 - 2026Published period has endedValidated program(s) of study: M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity (POS-CyberAI); M.S. in Cyber Defense (POS-CD); M.S. in Cybersecurity Management (POS-CD)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026
CAE in Cyber Research (CAE-R) · 2023 - 2028Validated program(s) of study: M.S. in Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity (POS-CyberAI); M.S. in Cyber Defense (POS-CD); M.S. in Cybersecurity Management (POS-CD)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026

A CAE designation belongs to the institution and its validated program of study; it is not accreditation and does not certify every degree. Accreditation & CAE explained

State authorization (online students)

Not verified — check the school's state authorization page before applying from outside Florida.

International applicants

F-1 students must pay a $500 enrollment deposit to process the I-20; an I-20 cannot be issued to a provisionally admitted student.Source: computing.nova.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 11, 2026.

computing.nova.edu/admissions/tuition-fees.html — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 11, 2026
computing.nova.edu/degrees/doctoral/cybersecurity-management.html — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
computing.nova.edu/degrees/masters/computer-science.html — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
computing.nova.edu/graduate/scholarships.html — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
NCAE-C institution directory (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) — Source, verified October 11, 2026
DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026

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Key facts

Format
Campus · Fully online
Attendance
Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Focus
ConcentrationCyber Defense
Length
as little as one year (minimum; condition not stated) · 30 credits (10 courses)
Tuition
$989 per creditAll students — Graduate tuition rate, applies to all students
Next deadline
No upcoming verified date
ABET / CAE
Not ABET-listedSchool: CAE-R
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL

Official program page

Also at Nova Southeastern University

Cybersecurity Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Nova Southeastern University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.