M.S. in Information Assurance

This comprehensive, interdisciplinary program will prepare you as an expert in information assurance. You will be equipped with information security technologies and knowledge to support and protect the nation's information infrastructure and conduct advanced research. You will develop skills in both management and technical areas.

Program Highlights

• Students are eligible to apply for the ​​Scholarship for Service ​scholarship from the National Science Foundation that includes a $34,000 stipend per year for up to two years, up to 24 credits of tuition per year, up to $2,000 for books and supplies per year, and up to $4,000 for professional development and travel to a cybersecurity job fair.
• Offered as a five-year undergraduate/graduate combined program through the Information Systems Track .
• Can be completed in 2-3 semesters
• Graduate assistantships available.
• Pre-requisite courses are available for those without a strong computing background.
• Offered through the Department of Information Systems together with the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology.
• Students may be able to apply for the Department of Defense (DoD) Cyber Scholarship Program (CySP.) Benefits to students may include: a per year stipend of $27,000 (undergraduate) or $32,000 (graduate), full cost of tuition, books, required fees (including health care), internship, employment and more! Contact Dr. Mark Schmidt, mark@stcloudstate.edu , for details

Program Distinctions

• All faculty hold a Ph.D. in their field.
• Designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance/Cybersecurity by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
• Designed using the Association for Computing and Machinery Model Curriculum and Guidelines and the National Security Agency Guidelines and Requirements.

University Facts & Statistics

• 90 graduate programs leading to graduate certificates, master’s and doctoral degrees
• More than  300 graduate assistantships awarded per year
• Graduate assistants receive up to a $9,250 stipend per year and tuition reimbursement for up to eight graduate credits per semester.

Requirements and Details

A baccalaureate degree in information systems, computer science, computer engineering, computer networking, telecommunication or related programs is preferred. A baccalaureate degree or higher in any field with two years of work experience in the information systems field is also considered.

Lack of an information system or computer science background is usually not a major concern since prerequisite courses are available if needed.

A background in the sciences and mathematics is essential.

Strong communication skills, verbal and written are needed for coursework demands.

Fully-qualified applicants will have one year of programming experience and have taken courses that cover the following topics:

• Database modeling
• Network structure/architecture
• Operating systems theory
• Discrete structures
• Statistics

Five-Year B.A./M.S. Track

The Five-Year Information Systems Track is an accelerated, rigorous program option available to St. Cloud State undergraduates who maintain a 3.0 GPA and who show the ability and discipline necessary to successfully complete an accelerated combination undergraduate program in Information Systems and graduate program in Information Assurance.

• Students may complete the Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Master of Science in Information Assurance with nine fewer required semester credits than if they chose to take the BS and MS through the traditional tracks.
• Students interested in the five-year track are encouraged to begin a discussion with the Information Assurance graduate directory early in the sophomore year. This will allow for the correct selection of course work.
• Students should apply and are eligible to be granted early provisional admission to graduate school upon successful completion of the undergraduate requirements detailed below:
  • After completing or registering for the 21 required core credits of IS 250, IS 356, IS 363, IS 443, IS 450, IS 451, and IS 460 , and before taking 500-level classes, students should apply formally to the School of Graduate Studies.
  • Following provisional graduate admission, students may select nine credits from any 500 level IS elective courses during the fourth year of the program.
• Provisionally admitted students will be coded as five-year students and a degree audit (DARS) created to reflect the requirements of the accelerated track.
• Students remain in undergraduate student status through the fourth year of the program which may affect financial aid eligibility. In addition, students will need to request permission and override to enroll in graduate-level courses through submission of the Undergraduate Permission to Enroll form .
• Credits completed at the graduate level are used to fulfill requirements at the undergraduate level.
• All credits required for the graduate degree will be completed at the graduate level.
• Students may opt-out early with a bachelor’s degree provided certain course requirements are satisfied. Graduate-level courses used to complete the undergraduate degree may not be applicable to a graduate degree program in the future.
• Students may enroll in culminating project credits, such as thesis, starred paper, or internship courses between their fourth and fifth years. Students are encouraged to begin work on their culminating project during the summer between their fourth and fifth years.
• Five-year students are eligible for graduate assistantship funding after completion of the Bachelor’s degree.
• Students must maintain at a minimum a 3.0 GPA in all 500- and 600-level courses

We're on a mission to unleash all that's within you.

Futures that begin here might seem unassuming at first, but like the mighty Mississippi River that flows alongside our campus, they quickly gather strength. Growing. Surging. Until they're seemingly unstoppable.

At St. Cloud State, an education is about far more than an education. It will be an opportunity to explore ideas, seek out unique perspectives and embrace new challenges – all of which will help you unlock your true potential.

If you're looking for choice, we've got that covered. We have more than 200 undergraduate programs of study and more than 60 graduate programs, holding nearly every available national accreditation.

Founded in 1869, St. Cloud State has evolved into a comprehensive university on our 100-acre campus along the scenic Mississippi RIver. We're on a mission to unleash ideas, imagination, promise, and purpose.

At a Glance

Quick facts by the numbers

• Founded in 1869
• More than 10,000 students
• 100-acre campus located along the banks of the Mississippi River
• Beaver Islands , a group of more than 30 islands are immediately downriver from campus
• 200 majors, minors and pre-professional programs
• More than 60 graduate programs and degrees
• Three  doctoral degree programs
• 24th on Forbes magazine's “Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers."
• Forbes magazine's " America's Top Colleges ."
• 200+ clubs and organizations
• Hundreds of courses offered online each semester
• 5-time Division II National Champions , Huskies Wrestling

St. Cloud Community

St. Cloud offers big-city culture and small-town charm on the banks of the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota.

Known as "The Granite City," St. Cloud is Central Minnesota's hub for arts, entertainment, health care, and education. The university campus is within walking distance of theater, live music and more.

The St. Cloud metropolitan area is 20th on Forbes magazine's 2019 “Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers." The City of St. Cloud has earned multiple awards for livability, city services, and amenities.

Local mass transit is free for St. Cloud State students on the Metro Bus system. The Metro Bus station near campus makes it easy to get to and from local stores and attractions. Through much of the year, there is a weekly farmers' market where you can buy locally-grown food.

Located an hour northwest of the world-class arts, entertainment, and shopping of Minneapolis-St. Paul, the University is also just a short drive from the best of what Mother Nature has to offer - including lakes, forests, and rivers.

Accreditations and Memberships

St. Cloud State University is a member of many academic and professional associations, including the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and Council of Graduate Schools in the United States.

It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association (30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602-2504, 800-621-7440). It is also accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.

College of Liberal Arts

• The mass communications department is accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC).
• The Applied Sociology concentration in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology is accredited by The Commission on Applied and Clinical Sociology (CACS).
• All College of Liberal Arts teaching licensure programs (Communication Arts and Literature, English, French, German, Spanish, History, Art and Music Education) are accredited by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).

School of the Arts

• St. Cloud State University is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
• The music department is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM).

College of Science and Engineering

• All College of Science and Engineering teaching licensure programs (Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Technology Education) are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Minnesota Board of Teaching.
• The chemistry program is approved by the American Chemical Society.
• The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology program is provisionally accredited by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

School of Computing, Engineering and Environment

• The Bachelor of Science in Computer Science program offered by the Computer Science Department is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of ABET. The program also follows the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) guidelines on the curriculum.
• The Atmospheric and Hydrologic Sciences department provides a meteorology program which meets the standards set forth by the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Service.
• The Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, and the Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering, offered by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET.
• The Technology Education degree is accredited by the International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) and the Council of Technology Teacher Education (CTTE).
• The Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department offers bachelor of science degrees in Manufacturing Engineering and Mechanical Engineering that are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission (EAC) of ABET.
• The Master of Engineering Management (MEM) program in the Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Department is certified by the American Society of Engineering Management (ASEM).

Herberger Business School

• The Herberger Business School is accredited by the AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business at both the bachelor's and master's degree levels.
• The Bachelor of Science in Information Systems, offered by the Herberger Business School Information Systems Department, is accredited by the Computing Accreditation Commission (CAC) of  ABET . The Bachelor of Science in Information Systems program also follows the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) guidelines on curriculum.

College of Education and Learning Design

• The College of Education and Learning Design is a member of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
• The Teacher Education Unit and all teaching licensure programs are approved by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).
• The Educational Administration programs are approved by the Minnesota Board of School Administrators (BoSA).

College of Health and Wellness Professions

• The Master of Science (M.S.) education program in speech-language pathology (residential) at St. Cloud State University is accredited by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.
• The Applied Behavior Analysis program in the Department of Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis (ABA).
• The master's program in Rehabilitation Counselor Education in the Department of Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy is accredited by the Council on Rehabilitation Education.
• The School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
• The baccalaureate degree in the nursing program at St. Cloud State University is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street, NW, Suite 750, Washington, D.C. 20001. 202-887-6791.
• Athletic Training Education Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE). St. Cloud State University Bachelor of Athletic Training is currently on probation by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE), 6850 Austin Center Blvd., Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731-3101. The program has chosen to Voluntarily Withdraw its Accreditation effective August 12, 2022. The program will remain on probation until the Withdraw is effective and the program is closed.
• The Department of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).
• The Medical Laboratory Science program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS).
• The clinical part of the Nuclear Medicine Technology program is accredited at our partner hospitals by the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT). The clinical part of the Radiologic Technology program is accredited at our partner hospitals by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).

School of Public Affairs

• The School of Public Affairs teaching licensure program (Social Science Teaching) is accredited by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).

Academic and Student Services

• Counseling and Psychological Services is accredited by the International Association of Counseling Services, Inc.
• Medical Clinic and Pharmacy Laboratory is accredited by the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation (COLA).
• Lindgren Child Care Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).
• Medical Clinic and Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
• The Senior to Sophomore Program has been awarded the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships (NACEP) Accreditation.