Why Champlain College?

Champlain College, a small private college in Burlington, Vermont, offers an online Master of Science in Information Security degree aimed at working professionals. Applicants should have 2 years of relevant work experience, but applicants who do not meet this requirement may be competitive for admission depending on education and experience. Students without the necessary technical background will be required to take additional courses while in the program. 

Standardized test scores are not required, and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 is expected.

Program Snapshot

University Name	Champlain College
Location	Burlington
State	Vermont
Niche.com Grade	B-
Name of Degree	Master of Science in Information Security
School or Department Administering Program	Champlain College Online
Credits	33
Cost per credit	$795.00
Tuition for Entire Program	$26,235.00
Test Requirements	No
Minimum GPA	2.5
Campus Visit Required?	No
Typical Time to Complete	1-2 years
When Can Students Start the Program?	6 starts per year
Program Concentrations	·   Management ·   Operations
Synchronous Classes	No
Required Courses	·   Information Technology and Security ·   Managing Risk in it Organizations ·   Security Design and Architecture ·   Threat and Vulnerability Analysis ·   Incident Response and Event Management ·   Capstone
Does the Program Include a Capstone?	Yes
Does the Program Include a Practicum or Internship?	No
Other Features that Make the Program Unique	Active military discounts, Senator Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation & Cybersecurity, National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U,S, National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security since 2006, National Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence by the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Fast Start Formula Career Course and other career coaching
Program Objectives (quoted directly from the program)	Develop system and data classification criteria based on both stated and innate levels of value and sensitivity, Evaluate systems and data resources using established criteria to prioritize their value and respond strategically, Assess attack strategies through the use of analysis techniques and recommend defenses to those attacks, Identify vulnerabilities within an enterprise system, and propose and implement effective remediation/response, Recommend strategies to improve existing network and system protection schemes based on observed attack patterns, Analyze common intrusion patterns to identify potential attack vectors and strategically enhance defenses, Protect systems through informed selection and application of exploits, based on known or observed vulnerabilities, Propose appropriate data sources and create methods of analysis to aid in tracking and detection attacks, Determine appropriate controls to detect suspicious behavior within systems and networks and provide recommendations to leadership
Program Description	Requiring students to complete 33 credits, this degree is designed for those currently working in the field who wish to advance their careers. Two concentration options are offered. A capstone is required. The program follows an accelerated course schedule, allowing students to graduate faster and reap the benefits of their degree.

 

What will I Learn?

Students learn to develop system and data classification criteria based on both stated and innate levels of value and sensitivity. They are equipped to evaluate systems and data resources using established criteria to prioritize their value and respond strategically, sssess attack strategies through the use of analysis techniques and recommend defenses to those attacks, and Identify vulnerabilities within an enterprise system, and propose and implement effective remediation/response. Communication and managerial skills are a key component of the curriculum.

Required courses are as follows: Information Technology and Security, Managing Risk in IT Organizations, Security Design and Architecture, Threat and Vulnerability Analysis, Incident Response and Event Management. Remaining course choices allow students to specialize in either the Management or Operations concentration. All students are required to complete a capstone.

Champlain College has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U,S, National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security since 2006. It has also been named a National Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence by the Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3) Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The College is home to the Senator Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation & Cybersecurity. 

How much will the program cost?

Students finish their degree within 1-2 years and pay $795.00 per credit for a total of 33 credits, or $26,235.00 in total.

How does the program fit into my life?

All courses are asynchronous, meaning that students complete coursework on their own schedule each week, including watching pre-recorded lectures and participating in online discussion. No campus visit is required. Most students complete the program within 1-2 years. 6 starts per year are offered.

To support students, Champlain offers a Fast Start Formula Career Course and other career coaching.

Summary

Aimed at professionals wishing to further their job skills and offered by an accessible university, this program is comparable to peer programs in terms of cost. Offering an accelerated curriculum, the degree allows students to finish their program more quickly and re-enter the workforce with expanded skills. A capstone is required, and two concentrations are offered.

Despite the college’s small size, the cybersecurity program has two distinguished designations from the US military and an active cybersecurity research center. However, some applicants may wish to pursue education at a larger and more prestigious institution.