Information Technology (Cyber Defense) - Master of Information Technology (Online)
The objective of this professional Masters of Information Technology (M-IT) program is to provide opportunities for working professionals and traditional technology students to increase their knowledge and skillsets in the growing field of Information Technology. This M-IT degree is a non-thesis, 100% online, professional development degree offered by the Department of Engineering Technology and Surveying Engineering (ETSE) in the NMSU College of Engineering. This degree is designed for working IT professionals and students interested in pursuing an advanced technology degree. Topics include system architecture, computer networking, development and application of software tools, cybersecurity, and virtual systems in the context of enterprise IT decision-making.
Advanced Information Technology topics are also included and differently emphasized according to the selected degree concentration:
- No Concentration - provides the ability to choose from various advanced IT-related topics
- Cyber Defense Concentration (this option) - focused on cybersecurity topics to prepare students for roles in protecting and defending digital systems.
- Enterprise Management Concentration - focuses on advanced enterprise management topics to prepare students for roles in designing, implementing, and overseeing large-scale IT systems and services.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Program Course List | ||
| Common-Core Required Courses | 9 | |
| Enterprise Architecture I | 3 | |
| Enterprise Architecture II | 3 | |
| Capstone Projects in Information Technology | 3 | |
| Cyber Defense Concentration Required Courses | 12 | |
| AI and Cybersecurity Risk in Critical Infrastructure Systems | 3 | |
| Advanced Enterprise Security | 3 | |
| Risk Management for IT Managers | 3 | |
| White Hat System Testing | 3 | |
| Elective Courses (Choose 3) 1 | 9 | |
| Recommended Electives: | ||
| Special Topics in Information Technology | 3 | |
| Virtualization | 3 | |
| Development and Operations | 3 | |
| Advanced Computer Networking | 3 | |
| Mobile App Programming and Development | 3 | |
| Other Pre-Approved Electives: 1 | ||
| Information Systems Analysis and Design | 3 | |
| Database Management Systems | 3 | |
| Business Analytics I | 3 | |
| Business Analytics II | 3 | |
| Database Management Systems I | 3 | |
| Bioinformatics Programming | 3 | |
| Artificial Intelligence I | 3 | |
| Introduction to Data Mining | 3 | |
| Applied Machine Learning I | 3 | |
| Advanced Engineering Economy | 3 | |
| Topics in Engineering Administration | 3 | |
| Advanced Quality Control | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
For guidance on selecting elective courses outside the department or college, or to request consideration of additional electives, please contact your faculty advisor.
The plan of study below was created with working professionals in mind. You will find guidelines for part-time students taking two courses per semester, including summer. Please note that the Masters of Information Technology program can be completed as a full-time student in one calendar year if that is your preference. Contact the program director or faculty advisor for other plans of study options and for further information. The program website is located at https://engr.nmsu.edu/Academics/pmp-it.html.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| E T 551 | Enterprise Architecture I 1 | 3 |
| E T 539 | Advanced Enterprise Security 2 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| E T 515 | AI and Cybersecurity Risk in Critical Infrastructure Systems 2 | 3 |
| E T 562 | Development and Operations 3, 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Summer | ||
| E T 585 | White Hat System Testing 2 | 3 |
| E T 595 | Capstone Projects in Information Technology 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| E T 552 | Enterprise Architecture II 1 | 3 |
| E T 555 | Virtualization 3, 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| E T 540 | Risk Management for IT Managers 2 | 3 |
| E T 577 | Advanced Computer Networking 3, 4 | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 30 | |
- 1
Masters of Information Technology required core course
- 2
Cyber Defense Concentration Required Course
- 3
Recommended Elective
- 4
Refer to the list of other pre-approved electives. For guidance on selecting elective courses outside the department or college, or to request consideration of additional electives, please contact your faculty advisor.
New Mexico State University's Master’s Accelerated Program (MAP) provides the opportunity for academically qualified undergraduate students to begin working on a master’s degree during their junior and senior years while completing a bachelor’s degree. Typically, a bachelor’s degree requires four years to complete, and a master’s degree requires an additional two years. The master’s accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to complete a graduate program in an accelerated manner. You can also check NMSU’s catalog for additional information about our programs.
Please talk to a faculty advisor about your MAP plan and develop a course plan in consultation with the advisor. The faculty advisor should preferably be from the area of your interest.
MAP Requirements
- The Graduate School allows qualified junior or senior students to substitute its graduate courses for required or elective courses in an undergraduate degree program and then subsequently count those same courses as fulfilling graduate requirements in a related graduate program.
- Undergraduate students may apply for acceptance to the accelerated master’s program after completing 60 semester hours of undergraduate coursework, of which a minimum of 25 semester credit hours must be completed at NMSU.
- The grade point average must be at a minimum of 2.75.
- Students must receive a grade of B or higher in this coursework to be counted for graduate credit. If a grade of B- or lower is earned, it will not count toward the graduate degree.
Accepted MAP Courses
The following pre-approved courses are accepted for use in the MAP program. Additional technical or field-related courses numbered 450+ (old numbering) or 4500+ (new numbering) may be considered with advisor approval. To apply such courses toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees, an exception must be made in the degree audit process.
| Prefix | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ICT 450 | Ethical Hacking | 3 |
| ICT 457 | Information Security Principles | 3 |
| ICT 458 | Web Development and Database Applications | 3 |
| ICT 460 | Advanced Software Development Concepts | 3 |
| ICT 463 | Enterprise Linux Network Administration Tools | 3 |
| ICT 467 | Communication Network Security | 3 |
| ICT 477 | Computer Networking II | 3 |
| ICT 487 | Data Security | 3 |