Tulane University of Louisiana Online Master of Science in Cyber Technology

Tulane's online M.S. in Cyber Technology is the fastest and most flexible master's in this group of reviews: 30 credits, ten courses, one year, and four specialties. It's $900 per credit with no GRE, and a Fundamentals track admits applicants with no technology experience. It's a technology-management degree more than a deep security one, so choose the Cybersecurity specialty only if you want business context around the technical work.

Tulane University is a private nonprofit research university in New Orleans, Louisiana, and the online master's comes from its School of Professional Advancement. The program is 30 credits across ten courses, delivered asynchronously in eight-week terms with two courses per term. Tulane says you can earn the master's in one year, and there are five starts per year.

You also earn a graduate certificate in your chosen specialty along the way. The four specialties are Cybersecurity, Data & Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Technology Fundamentals and Technology Leadership.

Tulane says the program prepares you for Tech+, Network+, Security+, Data+, ACE, AWS, CEH and ServiceNow certifications. That's a wide range, from entry-level exams to ethical hacking. Which ones you can prepare for depends on your specialty, so ask which map to which courses.

Tulane itself is a private research university in New Orleans, so you earn the degree from an established school.

Where this degree can lead: Cybersecurity Degree Jobs.

Who It Fits

• Career changers without a technology background. The Fundamentals track admits applicants without technology experience.
• People who want speed. One year, eight-week terms and five starts per year make this the quickest route to a master's.
• Aspiring managers. Courses such as The Business of Information Technology and Enterprise Infrastructure Architecture suit people heading toward IT leadership.
• Students who want a certificate with the degree. You leave with a graduate certificate in your specialty.

Who Should Skip It

• Students who want a purely technical security degree. Only part of the coursework centers on security.
• Anyone who dislikes a heavy pace. Two courses every eight weeks is a full load.
• Applicants without a 3.0 GPA. Tulane lists a 3.0 minimum, plus an interview with the program director.

The core courses read like an IT management program. Enterprise Information Technology, The Business of Information Technology and Enterprise Infrastructure Architecture teach how technology fits into a company. Cyber Law and Policy and Security and Cyber Threats for Information Technology Managers bring in the security side from a manager's view.

The specialty is where you choose a direction. Cybersecurity is one of four, alongside Data & Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Technology Fundamentals and Technology Leadership. That's different from a pure security master's, where every course is about defense.

The hands-on pieces are course labs, cyber competitions and a project-based capstone, CPST 7100 Cyber Technology Program Capstone. If you're deciding whether you want a security career or an IT leadership career with security knowledge, this structure lets you find out.

Courses the School Names

• Enterprise Information Technology
• The Business of Information Technology
• Enterprise Infrastructure Architecture
• Cyber Law and Policy
• Security and Cyber Threats for Information Technology Managers

Standout Features

• Earns a master's degree and a graduate certificate in a chosen specialty in one year
• Fundamentals track admits applicants without technology experience
• Hands-on course labs and cyber competitions

Tuition is $900 per credit for 30 credits, which is $27,000 before any discount. Tulane lists minimal fees, a $50 application fee and a 20% tuition discount that may apply if you qualify, so ask which discounts you'd be eligible for.

Because the degree takes a year, the total includes less time out of the workforce than a two-year program. That's a real cost saving if you'd otherwise be earning less while you study.

30 credits at $900 a credit comes to $27,000 in tuition, before fees.

Classes are offered asynchronously, so you don't log in at set times. Terms are eight weeks long with two courses per term, and there are five starts a year. Tulane says you can apply anytime, with no test scores or letters of recommendation required.

Finishing in a year means roughly two courses at once for most of it. Plan for a steady weekly workload instead of occasional bursts. The interview with the program director is a good time to ask how many hours a week students actually spend.

Course labs and cyber competitions give you practice beyond reading and discussion.

The full rubric is on the methodology page.

• It's a technology-management degree, so you won't get as much pure security depth as in a dedicated security master's.
• Two courses every eight weeks is intense.
• Admission needs a 3.0 GPA, an IT or computer science bachelor's or significant tech work experience, and an interview.
• The specialties differ a lot, so choosing one early shapes which certification you can target.

• Which certifications does each specialty prepare me for?
• How many hours a week do students typically spend on two courses at once?
• Which 20% tuition discounts apply to me?
• How does the Cybersecurity specialty differ from the Fundamentals track?
• Can I slow down to one course per term if work gets busy?
• What do cyber competitions and course labs look like, and are they required?

Private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana; the online cyber technology master's is offered by its School of Professional Advancement.

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