z - slate - Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance

There is a hacker attack every 39 seconds. It's time to fight back.

It's time to fight cyber with cyber.

It's not a question of whether cyberattacks will happen, but when. The rise of serious threats on public and private institutions is the new norm.

From the moment you enroll in the Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance program at Boston College's Woods College of Advancing Studies, you join a powerful community of top cybersecurity experts who are building a safer future right now. With an emphasis on leadership, critical thinking, analytic problem solving, and communication skills, our program prepares professionals to meet and respond to the challenges of today’s cyber ecosystem.

Available online, on campus during the evening, or in any combination that works best for you, learn how you can help organizations protect their data, identify and manage cyber risk, and recover from cyberattacks in our 10-course master’s program.

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Learning Outcomes

Design, develop, and implement cybersecurity strategies that defend against and ensure recovery from cyber attack.
Develop and present the most cogent case for cybersecurity investment to senior executives, boards of directors, and government officials.
Cultivate and promote ethical principles that complement and advance company policies and government interests.
Bridge the communication gap between information technology security professionals and key business and government stakeholders.

Deep, Cross-Industry Expertise

Complex problems require multiple perspectives. Cybersecurity Leaders in Government, Business, and Academia

Government

"We need a thoughtful and sensible approach, one that may vary across business models and technologies, but—and I can’t stress this enough—we need to work fast."— Christopher Wray, Director, FBI

Business

“The CPG Program is at the right place at the right time. There is a critical need for security professionals that can cope with advanced threats and advanced adversaries and help to drive cybersecurity policy across enterprises.”—Cynthia J. Larose, Esq., Mintz

Academia

"Boston College is taking the lead in cybersecurity. We are bringing the top leaders and experts into our classrooms to provide our students with the necessary hands-on experience to succeed in defending organizations against cyber-attacks." – Kevin Powers, J.D., Founding Director

Ways to Take Action

Online

On-Campus

Hybrid

At a Glance

How many courses?

Ten courses—six core courses and four elective courses—are required to complete the M.S. in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance program.

Flexible

Study full- or part-time online, on campus during the evening, or in any combination that works best for you. Our program is tailored to the needs of business and government professionals.

How much does it cost?

Tuition and Fees

“Being able to attain an advanced degree from a prestigious university while working full time was extremely beneficial for me, as it allowed me to learn and make a career change at the same time. I was hired to my current information security role while I was a student in the program. The knowledge I gained at Boston College greatly assists the work I do every day.”

Dana Weston, Information Security Administrator at State Street Global Advisors, CPG Program '18
“The Cybersecurity Policy and Governance Program is helping me reduce the risk to our nation's critical infrastructure; the skills you learn have an immediate application in the real world.”

Jarret Wright, Protective Security Advisor, Department of Homeland Security, CPG Program '19
“The program strengths expand beyond coursework, and include an engaging network of cyber, risk, and security professionals as well as tabletop exercises that strengthen a student's knowledge and acumen. The CGP program prepared me for my exciting new career redirection. ”

Thom Shola, AVP RPS IT, Cyber Security Officer, John Hancock Retirement Plan Services, CPG Program '18

Meet Our Faculty

Our faculty are today’s top cybersecurity leaders in government, industry and academia who have come together at Boston College to shape a safer cybersphere for today and into the future.

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Cybersecurity Strategy

Phillip Aldrich

Phil is a risk management executive specializing in aligning risk management strategy to support business objectives at Fortune 500 companies.

Cybersecurity and Privacy Law & Policy

Katherine Fick

Katherine is Senior Counsel at IBM and has deep expertise on legal issues associated with cybersecurity and privacy.

Incident Response & Management

Kevin Burns

Kevin is an Information Security professional with over 25 years of experience protecting confidential information within private and public entities.

Resources

z - slate - Master of Science (M.S.) in Cybersecurity Policy and Governance

There is a hacker attack every 39 seconds. It's time to fight back.

It's time to fight cyber with cyber.