Anything ICT Web DeskCybersecurity has become one of the hottest fields over the past decade. As data breaches and hacking threats continue to make headlines, demand has skyrocketed for cybersecurity professionals capable of protecting critical systems and data. This has led many students to consider cybersecurity master’s programs in hopes of breaking into this high-paying and fast-growing industry.
One program that often tops the list is American Military University’s cybersecurity master’s. AMU has made big claims about its #1 ranking and superiority over competitors. But does the program’s academics and reputation actually live up to the hype?
In this blog post, I’ll take an in-depth look at AMU’s cybersecurity master’s to determine if it truly deserves the title of being America’s best cybersecurity graduate program.
Overview of AMU’s Cybersecurity Master’s Program
AMU first launched its Master of Science in Cybersecurity program in 2018 to meet the rapidly growing demand for cybersecurity talent. The program focuses on training students in areas like digital forensics, penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, risk management, and governance/compliance. Coursework has a hands-on emphasis on developing practical cybersecurity skills.
The 36-credit master’s degree can be completed in as little as 12 months by taking 3 courses per semester. AMU uses an asynchronous online delivery model, allowing students to study on their own schedules. The program has received various accolades, including being ranked the #1 cybersecurity master’s in the nation by Security Magazine.
Is AMU Truly #1 in Cybersecurity?
AMU heavily promotes its #1 ranking by Security Magazine repeatedly across its website and marketing materials. However, this ranking is based on a single magazine article from 2021 that provided little details on the criteria and methodology used. The ranking appears to carry little weight from an academic perspective and is the only major publication naming AMU as #1.
When exploring rankings from more authoritative academic sources, AMU does not even crack the top 50. For example, U.S. News & World Report, seen as an industry leader in evaluating academic programs, recently ranked AMU #298-#389 out of over 400 cybersecurity master’s programs for 2023. Similarly, respected publications like Forbes and Fortune Magazine fail to include AMU among the nation’s top cyber graduate programs.
This suggests Security Magazine’s #1 ranking holds little merit when compared to leading academic ranking systems. While AMU heavily promotes itself as second-to-none, data from independent evaluators clearly shows there are dozens of superior graduate cybersecurity programs. So by objective standards, AMU has not yet achieved the #1 status they claim.
Diving Into Academics
Beyond rankings, it’s also important to analyze the actual academics of AMU’s cybersecurity master’s program. Rigor, faculty qualifications, and academic support systems play a major role in student outcomes and overall program quality. Here’s how AMU stacks up:
Rigorous Curriculum? Questions on Depth and Breadth
AMU offers a specific concentration in cybersecurity operations, but some experts have questioned the curriculum’s rigor and scope. There have been criticisms over the program lacking depth across foundational areas like networking, coding, encryption, and data structures vital to cybersecurity. Students also take general IT and leadership classes instead of more complex security topics.
While meant to develop operational cybersecurity skills, the narrow focus creates knowledge gaps for those wanting roles dealing with risk analysis, governance, or strategic planning. Students seeking manager or executive cybersecurity jobs may prefer programs providing broader exposure to the field’s interdisciplinary facets. So in terms of academic rigor and comprehensiveness, there is definite room for improvement.
Faculty Experience in Cybersecurity
Developing cutting-edge cybersecurity curriculum requires faculty with exceptional real-world expertise. Yet an analysis of AMU faculty profiles shows only a handful specialize in cybersecurity. Most professors and advisors instead come from general IT, business management, or government backgrounds.
With cyber threats constantly evolving, there are fair doubts whether the faculty possesses the specialized skills and experience to equip students with up-to-date cybersecurity competencies. The program would benefit greatly by bringing on more full-time academics and practitioners working within today’s cyber risk landscape.
Enriching the Student Experience
AMU has also faced criticism for lacking robust student resources and support systems relative to rivals. Aspects like small cohort sizes, alumni networking, industry partnerships, mentoring programs and career assistance help enrich professional development.
However, most services are bare minimum or rely heavily on part-time staff and adjuncts. While AMU provides the basic academic foundation, students often complain about feeling isolated or ill-prepared to break into cybersecurity post-graduation. Investing more into the student experience would pay major dividends.
Evaluating Cybersecurity Job Prospects for Graduates
For most students, the ultimate question is if the program will lead to a successful cybersecurity career. AMU communicates ambitious job placement numbers, yet these statistics lack external validation. Analysis from third-party sites reveals more concerning employment trends:
PayScale Data: AMU cybersecurity master’s grads report average early career pay of just $56,000, lagging the national average by $5,000. This suggests possible underemployment.
LinkedIn Profile Analysis: Only 38% of graduates from 2018-2022 currently hold cybersecurity roles according to their LinkedIn position titles. Significant numbers instead have general IT or unrelated jobs.
Employer Hiring Benchmarks: Leading cybersecurity employers like Palo Alto Networks and Cisco require far more qualifications than what AMU covers for new grad applicants. Students may struggle meeting top companies’ high technical and knowledge bars.
The data indicates AMU cyber master’s holders see inconsistent career outcomes, especially at major cybersecurity firms. While AMU markets strong job prospects, objective measures raise doubts regarding employability. Students might increase chances entering cybersecurity by attending higher-caliber programs instead.
Is AMU’s Cybersecurity Master’s Worth the Investment?
Given the above analysis – lackluster rankings, questionable academic rigor, concerns over faculty expertise and support services, plus mediocre graduate outcomes – there is shaky evidence to back up AMU’s claims of having the #1 cybersecurity master’s program.
While AMU provides a pathway to break into the cybersecurity industry, its real-world reputation and graduate performance continues lagging behind top contenders. Students would likely receive superior training, networking and job placement by targeting more prestigious universities. Alumni overwhelmingly rate rivals like MIT and Carnegie Mellon as far better investments for those serious about excelling in cybersecurity long-term.
In summary, while AMU’s cyber graduate program deserves credit for making cybersecurity education more accessible, it still appears to have a long road ahead before legitimately being considered a Tier 1 academic option. The school must address lingering doubts over its faculty, technical curriculum, student experience and graduate career success before warrants being ranked America’s #1 cybersecurity graduate degree.
Key Takeaways
When researching graduate cybersecurity programs, keep the following tips in mind:
- Look beyond marketing claims and evaluate objective rankings from trusted publications
- Carefully assess technical curriculum rigors, faculty expertise and student academic supports
- Analyze graduate career outcomes through validated third-party data sources
- Compare employer competency bars to a program’s skill development
- Target well-established universities with top industry reputations for increased credibility
While AMU’s affordable and convenient cybersecurity master’s has its merits, prospective students would be wise taking a deeper look at its actual reputation, technical offerings and job placement performance before applying.
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