Online Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Cyber Engineering

Earn an Online Master of Philosophy in Cyber Engineering and gain the expertise to lead teams, organizations, and research around emerging technology and industry demands.

Keeping up with new technologies, tools, and their expanding applications isn’t a choice in today’s business world – it's a necessity. Organizations of all kinds are under constant pressure to stay competitive in a fast-paced market with rapidly changing demands for specialized expertise, such as protecting themselves from cyber threats. The need for experienced professionals in the field of cyber engineering is growing, as these individuals are crucial to developing greater strongholds against the increase in cybercrime targeted at our many technology-reliant systems.

Keeping up with new technologies, tools, and their expanding applications isn’t a choice in today’s business world – it's a necessity. Organizations of all kinds are under constant pressure to stay competitive in a fast-paced market with rapidly changing demands for specialized expertise, such as protecting themselves from cyber threats. 

As technology advances, cyber engineering, an interdisciplinary field that crosses cybersecurity, computer engineering, systems networking, and business management, continues to evolve with new learning opportunities to keep pace with the changing landscape. 

The Online MPhil in Cyber Engineering is a research-intensive program that provides enhanced expertise to professionals in related fields to combat the rise in cybercrime targeting our many technology-reliant systems. Graduates will be poised to support, expand, and advance practices vital to the safety and success of our society.

Under the guidance of a designated thesis chair, you’ll conduct original research in an area of cyber engineering that interests you and you will graduate having successfully produced and defended your dissertation and contributed new knowledge to the field. 

What you’ll gain with an MPhil in Cyber Engineering: 

• Interdisciplinary cyber engineering knowledge in cybersecurity, computer engineering, systems networking, and business management
• Comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles, qualitative and quantitative methodologies, human factors, risk assessment, and legal and ethical considerations
• Technical expertise in applying assurance techniques for system architectures, networks, and databases to detect vulnerabilities and malicious content in existing software and services 
• Exposure to the academic publishing process and practical research experience
• Specialized expertise in your area of interest that enables you to serve as a top leader in your field 
• Practical experience applying critical analysis skills in information and cyber security, computer engineering, systems networking, and business management
• In-demand workplace skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, attention to detail, resilience, and the ability to work under pressure
• Insight into global perspectives, environmental considerations, economic solutions, as well as the socio-technical systems in which technologies operate
• The opportunity to contribute new knowledge and ideas to an evolving area
• Enhanced career prospects as a subject matter expert in an interdisciplinary field 
• The mindset for continuous learning in emerging areas of cyber engineering

As a cyber engineer, you’ll be at the forefront of a dynamic, rapidly growing field that promises not only excellent career prospects but also a chance to make a real impact in our increasingly digital world.

Whether you're a cyber professional seeking to upskill or a visionary eager to uncover new research around ethical and societal issues, the MPhil in Cyber Engineering positions you as a highly flexible and adaptable professional with a broad knowledge base that enables you to navigate and shape the cyber landscape of tomorrow. 

An MPhil in Cyber Engineering prepares you to lead in these roles:  

• Application Security Engineer
• Business Information Security Officer
• Cyber Engineering Instructor/Professor 
• Cyber Engineering Researcher/Scientist 
• Cyber Incident Detection 
• Cyber Operations Manager 
• Cyber Planner
• Cyber Specialist 
• Cybersecurity Leader/Team Leader
• Design Engineer 
• Director of Cyber
• Hardware Reverse Engineer 
• Information Security Crime Investigator/Forensics Expert 
• IT Specialist 
• Network/Data Architect 
• Program Security Advisor
• Quality Assurance Specialist
• Research Compliance/Data Specialist
• Risk Assessment Specialist
• Security Auditor
• Security Software Sales Manager 
• Software Security Engineer 
• Solutions Architect/Engineer
• Supply Chain Risk Management Specialist 
• Systems Architect/Engineer 

Graduates apply their expertise as subject matter experts, team leaders, and innovators in private corporations across the cyber industry and beyond, such as insurance companies, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies to support our nation’s defense, critical infrastructure, and position as a world leader in cybersecurity. They pursue careers in academia, teaching and conducting research. Many choose to expand upon their research in PhD programs, with several cyber-related tracks offered at Capitol Tech, including our PhD in Offensive Cyber Engineering. 

Characteristics of an MPhil 

The MPhil is a research-intensive degree designed for experienced professionals who want to explore research studies to acquire highly specialized knowledge and skills  before starting a PhD program, or to conduct original research in a field specific to career advancement. 

Students pursue an MPhil degree to:

• Gain practical research skills and experience
• Develop advanced expertise in a specific area 
• Become familiar with the academic publishing process 
• Quickly engage in research, without the length of a PhD program 
• Build credibility by conducting and publishing original research 
• Advance career with specific expertise and in-demand skills 
• Prepare for a Ph.D. program and other advanced research opportunities
• Contribute new knowledge to emerging fields

The Online Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Cyber Engineering delves into the crossroads of cybersecurity, computer engineering, systems networking and business management through interdisciplinary methodology,  cutting-edge courses, and an opportunity to conduct original research in an area of cyber engineering that interests you. The program enables you to quickly engage in research, publishing, and leadership with the flexibility to balance your studies with your career and design your thesis to your goals, while contributing significantly to the emerging areas of cyber engineering.

Career Opportunities

Market Demand for Cyber Engineering Expertise

With nearly 2,000 attacks reported per organization each week in 2022, the education and research sector experienced the most attacks worldwide for every month in 2021 and 2022. 

With its extensive sensitive data and limited cybersecurity resources, the education sector has been an appealing target for cybercriminals for a few years now. 

Since 2018, ransomware attacks on the sector, including K-12 and higher education institutions, have cost the world economy over $53 billion in downtime alone. These attacks breached over 6.7 million personal records across 561 incidents, reports Comparitech. 

Ransomware remains a major threat – the education sector reports the highest attack rate out of all industries in 2023. According to IBM, the average cost of a data breach in the higher education and training sector in 2023 was $3.7 million.

Nearly 95% of all digital breaches come from human error, reports Cybint. As emerging technologies, such as AI, become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, our safety depends on placing more effort into initiatives to educate people about how to use these tools safely and effectively.  

The cybersecurity workforce shortage continues to grow each year due to increasing demand coupled with the annual departure of large numbers of existing data professionals reaching retirement age. In an effort to increase the pipeline of students into the field, there’s been a trend in education of non-STEM teachers increasingly being trained in how to teach cybersecurity in their classes. 

Many institutions are looking for instructors who can incorporate cybersecurity expertise into education at all levels, but are struggling to find people with master's degrees in the domain of cyber science and teaching experience, or experience leading cyber initiatives.

An MEd in Cyber Science prepares you to respond to the challenges that arise with new technology and their impact on education. The demand for expertise in cyber science education will continue to grow as expanding technology applications call for education initiatives to fill the gaps in public knowledge so that these tools can be used safely.