Earn professional GIAC certifications as you complete the program.
Designed for working professionals with 100% online option available.
Median salary of $162,000 USD based on reported earnings from program graduates.
Designated by the NSA as a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense.
This program supports DoD cybersecurity workforce readiness.
Ranked Among the Top 5 Master’s Degree Programs in Information Systems Security by Programs.com
Our Master of Science in Information Security Engineering (MSISE) is designed to be completed while you work full time, applying the cyber security concepts and technical skills you learn in class on the job. To help you balance work, school, and life, we offer a variety of course delivery options—including a 100% online option—and personalized support from a student advisor from start to finish.
Info Session: Crafting a Strong Master's Degree Application | Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 am (ET) | Register Now
SANS.edu offers a career-focused cybersecurity education with a lot more flexibility and personalized support than you'll find in a "traditional" college. Join a free online info session to learn how our world-class programs can help you meet your cybersecurity career goals.
Apply by Feb 1, May 1, Aug 1 or Nov 1.
Receive a decision 30 days later.
Start courses as soon as one month after admission.
Discover why 99% of our graduates would recommend SANS.edu to their peers.
Our programs are packed with hands-on labs and include GIAC certifications that employers trust.
Learn the latest skills and techniques from the world's top cybersecurity practitioners.
Start when you want to and learn on a schedule that fits your life—with 100% online options.
Make connections with some of the most talented students and teachers in the industry.
Get personalized guidance from experienced success coaches who support you from enrollment to graduation.
Receive SANS.edu academic pricing on SANS courses and GIAC certifications.
“There is no faster way to go from walking to flying in the cybersecurity industry than through the M.S. in Information Security Engineering program. The coursework knowledge was so valuable to my company that they promoted me before I finished the program.”
The core of the cybersecurity master's degree curriculum is a carefully designed sequence of hands-on technical courses, management courses with leadership experiences, student-designed research, presentation opportunities, and a capstone.
Our faculty has designed a system of 4 “blocks” to provide the optimal developmental pathway through the courses. In this structure, all course prerequisites are included in prior blocks. This is the curriculum order for this program.
The master’s curriculum begins with the development of baseline cybersecurity principles and skills for individual practitioners, including the technical and management foundational skills covered in the GSEC, GCIH, and GSTRT certification exams.
You’ll move onto more intermediary skills in Block 2, applying and synthesizing your knowledge at the organizational level, including skills required for the GDSA, GCIA, and SSAP exams. The first half of the program concludes with a hands-on group project and the Core Comprehensive Exam, which ensures you have mastered foundational skills before moving onto more advanced coursework.
In Block 3, you’ll dive into more specialized cybersecurity topics by taking your final management course (GSLC) and 2 elective classes. You can choose to do an optional Special Focus Area and may choose to take up to 2 additional electives.
Block 4 is a year of culminating practicums where you will integrate all foundational and specialized skills learned in the program. You’ll finish your electives, hone your skills in NetWars Continuous, demonstrate executive-level communication in a hands-on group project, and contribute to the cybersecurity community through a unique capstone research project of your own design.
In Blocks 3 and 4, students in the master’s degree program choose 3 different technical courses from those listed below. Each elective course is 3 credit hours and has a course term of 3 months.
As a cybersecurity degree candidate, you can choose from two options
Build your professional reputation by contributing to our collection of peer-reviewed graduate student research papers, considered for publication in the SANS Reading Room and industry journals.
Explore high-impact research from SANS.edu master's degree candidates, cyber professionals advancing solutions to today’s pressing cybersecurity challenges.
The risks of Large Language Models (LLMs) include triggering psychological drivers associated with malicious insider threat behavior. This study utilized AWS Bedrock to demonstrate that specific system-level configurations and guardrails can effectively mitigate these risks by reducing problematic human-AI engagement.
This study examines the accuracy, reliability, and operational behavior of three widely available LLMs using a dataset of 2000 human-written emails containing both legitimate and suspicious messages.
This research examines the possibility of developing an add-on for the open-source mitmproxy project to add drift detection for root Certification Authority (CA) certificates, incorporate policy-based controls over which CAs are allowed, and leverage an ensemble of existing technologies—some in novel ways—to reduce the level of trust placed in the public Web PKI.
Explore the SANS.edu graduate course catalog and a sample master’s degree plan.
SANS Technology Institute faculty members are rock stars of the cybersecurity field, with a broad base of expertise in government and industry. Their up-to-date examples and deep knowledge ensure what you learn in class is immediately applicable on the job.
Heather Barnhart is the VP of Curriculum at SANS Institute, where she shapes the future of all SANS courses and trainings. She is also Dean of Faculty at the SANS Technology Institute, the premier college for cybersecurity.
Learn more about Heather Barnhart
Eric Conrad, a SANS Faculty Fellow and course author, has 28 years of information security experience. Eric is the CTO of Backshore Communications and his specialties include Intrusion Detection, Threat Hunting, and Penetration Testing.
Learn more about Eric Conrad
Sarah Edwards is a pioneering force in Apple forensics, having revolutionized the field through the creation of APOLLO—an open-source tool that deciphers macOS and iOS pattern-of-life data.
Learn more about Sarah Edwards
SANS Fellow Frank Kim helps to develop the next generation of CISOs and cyber leaders while teaching LDR512 and LDR514.
Learn more about Frank Kim
Dr. Johannes Ullrich is the Dean of Research for SANS Technology Institute, a SANS Faculty Fellow, and founder of the Internet Storm Center (DShield.org) which provides a free analysis and warning service to thousands of Internet users and organizations.
Learn more about Dr. Johannes Ullrich
Joshua Wright, Senior Technical Director at Counter Hack Challenges and author of SEC504, has spent over two decades teaching and building tools that help defenders identify and counter real-world cyber threats through practical, hands-on learning.
Learn more about Joshua WrightThe SANS Technology Institute’s innovative, hands-on approach to cybersecurity education translates directly into success—in competitions and in the cyber workforce.
SANS.edu students delivered an exceptional performance in the Spring 2026 National Cyber League (NCL), earning the #1 Power Ranking in the Experienced division while securing both the #1 team and #1 individual player in that division. With five students in the top 10 and three teams finishing in the top five, the results highlight the strength of SANS.edu’s hands-on, career-focused cybersecurity training.
The SANS Technology Institute has been recognized as a global leader in cybersecurity education by Help Net Security, joining the ranks of top institutions like Stanford, MIT, Carnegie Mellon and Oxford.
Congratulations to the SANS.edu Sentinels for earning second place in the Division I category of the National Security Agency’s 2025 Codebreaker Challenge—and to the 8 SANS.edu students who successfully completed the challenge.
“SANS courses are fully aligned to what is happening in the industry. Course materials are continuously updated based on new developments in cybersecurity. It is rigorous, challenging, and relevant.”
“Every course I’ve taken at SANS has been directly relevant to my job. There’s no filler, just practical knowledge that makes an impact.”
“SANS is the Oxford of security studies, so expectations are naturally quite high. Living up to those is not a trivial accomplishment!”
“Having a SANS degree tells employers that you have what it takes to do the job. You have the hands-on experience to get the job done from day one. The SANS name truly opens doors.”
Tuition includes the cost of the course, textbooks, and certification tests that serve as mid-term or final exams for courses.
Application Fee: $100 USD
Students who have taken SANS training classes and have active GIAC certifications can waive up to 9 credit hours toward the cybersecurity master’s degree.
Graduates of the SANS.edu bachelor’s degree program who are admitted to the master’s program may apply up to 18 credits toward their master's degree.
Students who complete a SANS.edu graduate certificate program may receive credit for all eligible SANS.edu courses and GIAC certifications that apply to the master’s program.
A degree or certificate from SANS.edu is a great investment in your career. Explore funding options that can make your cybersecurity education more accessible.
Students pay tuition per course which allows you the financial flexibility to pay smaller amounts as you go.
Because we are regionally accredited, our tuition is eligible for most employer-sponsored education benefit programs.
All SANS.edu programs are eligible for US and Canadian Veterans Education Benefits.
Eligible students can spread out the cost of their degree or certificate program in monthly installments with no interest.
All SANS.edu programs are eligible for the education benefits available to US Federal Government employees.
529 College Savings Plan funds may be used to pay tuition for any SANS.edu cybersecurity degree or certificate program.
If you’d like to use a SANS Universal Voucher Account, confirm with your voucher administrator that course tuition is an eligible expense.
Explore funding options available to Canadian residents, including education benefits for Canadian veterans.
Explore independent cybersecurity scholarships administered outside of SANS.edu.
We’re happy to help. Join us for a free info session or request more information today.
