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CybersecurityDegrees
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Temple University · Department of Computer and Information Sciences, College of Science and Technology

Professional Science Master's in Cyber Defense and Information Assurance

Master'sPSMDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

A 30-credit Professional Science Master's in Cyber Defense and Information Assurance with evening classes on Temple's Main Campus, required courses in systems security, digital forensics and ethical hacking, 15 elective credits and a capstone project completed through an internship or a project at Temple.

Official program name
Professional Science Master's in Cyber Defense and Information Assurance
Awarded degree
Professional Science Master's · major: Cyber Defense and Information Assurance
Source: temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Degree level
Master's
Cybersecurity focus
Dedicated cybersecurity degreeThe degree itself is in cybersecurity or a closely related security field (information security, information assurance, cyber operations, digital forensics…).
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
School
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Specializations
Digital Forensics — core of the degree (“Required: Introduction to Digital Forensics; Ethical Hacking and Intrusion Forensics”)Cyber Defense — core of the degree (“Cyber Defense and Information Assurance”)Information Assurance — core of the degree (“Cyber Defense and Information Assurance”)
Orientation
Technical
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Required credits
30 credit hours
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Duration
Can be completed in two years
Source: temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Start terms
Fall, Spring
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Why this program is listed

Dedicated 30-credit professional master's in cyber defense and information assurance, evening classes on Main Campus.

Degree title is Cyber Defense and Information Assurance; required courses are Computer Systems Security and Privacy, Introduction to Digital Forensics, Ethical Hacking and Intrusion Forensics and Operating Systems and Architecture, with a security capstone; curriculum is 60% technology.

Source: temple.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
Source: temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Internship
Optional internship
Source: temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Study intensity
Full-time, Part-time
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Curriculum

Capstone

  • Capstone project on a real security problem: compliance analysis, technical vulnerability and forensics work, and presentation to the affected organization.
    Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Certification exam preparation

Preparing for a certification exam is not the same as earning the certification. We list a certification as included only when the school says the exam or credential is part of the program. Degrees vs certifications

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”.

Technical preparation

Prerequisite courses
RequiredA data structures course and a computer architecture, operating systems and networking course
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's degree or equivalent in a STEM field
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Transfer credit
OptionalUp to 6 graduate credits (grade B or better)
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Statement / essay
RequiredStatement of goals, up to 500 words
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two letters of reference
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Résumé / CV
RequiredCurrent resume
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Interview
OptionalMay be required case by case
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
Optional
Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
TOEFL iBT
Required — minimum 85Applicants whose bachelor's language of instruction was not English (unless they later earned a U.S. master's). IELTS 6.5, PTE 58, Duolingo 110 also accepted.
Source: bulletin.temple.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.

  • Priority deadline

    Rolling admission · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
    Rolling

  • Priority deadline

    Rolling admission · for Spring

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: bulletin.temple.edu · verified October 11, 2026
    Rolling

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.

Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

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

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

  • Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — 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) · 2024 - 2029Validated program(s) of study: Information Technology Auditing and Cyber Security Master of Science Cyber Security Concentration (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

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 11, 2026.
  1. bulletin.temple.edu/graduate/scd/cst/cyber-defense-information-assurance-psm/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 11, 2026
  2. bulletin.temple.edu/graduate/scd/fox/information-technology-auditing-cyber-security-ms/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 11, 2026
  3. NCAE-C institution directory (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) — Source, verified October 11, 2026
  4. DAPIP — MSCHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
  5. temple.edu/academics/degree-programs/cyber-defense-information-assurance-psm-st-cdia-psm — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026

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Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Carnegie Mellon University logo

Carnegie Mellon University

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Tuition: $30,755 per semester · All students — INI tuition, 2026-27 · 2026-2027
Next deadline: December 1, 2026 · Fall 2027
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Specializations: Cyber Defense · Cyber Operations · Digital Forensics · Incident Response
View program

Champlain College

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Attendance: Online attendance requirements not verified
Duration: 1 year estimated time to completion with 2 courses per term (2 courses per term) · 33 credits
Tuition: $608 per credit · All students — Online graduate tuition, Fall '26 - Summer '27 · 2026-2027
Next deadline: December 29, 2026 · Spring 2027 (term 1, Jan 11)
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View program

Champlain College

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Master'sMSDedicated degreeMaster of Science
Format: Online
Location: Burlington, VTSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Online attendance requirements not verified
Duration: 10 months estimated time to completion with 2 courses per term (2 courses per term) · 30 credits
Tuition: $608 per credit · All students — Online graduate tuition, Fall '26 - Summer '27 · 2026-2027
Next deadline: December 29, 2026 · Spring 2027 (term 1, Jan 11)
Accreditation and designation: School designated CAE-CDNSA CAE designation of the institution, not accreditation
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View program

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