Washington University in St. Louis

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Benchmark this program against our national recognition pages and use the key guides below to evaluate ROI, admissions difficulty, and outcomes.

Admission Snapshot

Typical admitted student: A bachelor's degree and minimum 3.0 GPA are required; specific undergraduate majors are not mandated, though the program targets professionals in IT, cyber, engineering, and adjacent fields.[2] An introductory bridge course is available for applicants with limited cybersecurity background.[2

About This Program

This program prepares professionals to lead in cyber governance and risk assessment, focusing on protecting organizational assets through strategic management and technical defense.

Career Outcomes

Position as Cybersecurity Analyst in Cybersecurity AI with cybersecurity expertise

• 1. Cybersecurity Manager / Governance Leader
• 2. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
• 3. Cyber Risk & Compliance Manager
• 4. Security Operations Manager

What You'll Learn

• Design, assess, and maintain organizational cyber defenses while integrating technical knowledge with strategic security planning[1]
• Conduct risk assessments, threat modeling, and mitigation strategies using industry frameworks like NIST Cybersecurity Framework[1]
• Communicate cyber priorities and security governance to non-technical stakeholders and guide incident response planning[1]
• Develop compliance strategies aligned with federal, state, and international cyber laws and regulations[1]

Curriculum Highlights

Core coursework covers cybersecurity technical fundamentals, management and governance, day-to-day operations, and the architecture of secure enterprise networks.

Top Employers

Top employers in cybersecurity management include Microsoft, Cisco, IBM, government agencies (NSA, FBI, CISA), Fortune 500 financial institutions, and healthcare systems requiring robust cyber governance.[1

Admissions

A bachelor's degree and minimum 3.0 GPA are required; specific undergraduate majors are not mandated, though the program targets professionals in IT, cyber, engineering, and adjacent fields.[2] An introductory bridge course is available for applicants with limited cybersecurity background.[2

Application Materials

• Statement of Purpose: Required
• Letters of Recommendation: 2–3
• Resume: Required
• Transcripts: Official transcripts required

Academic Requirements

• Degree Required: Bachelor's degree
• GRE/GMAT: Optional
• TOEFL/IELTS: Required for international students (TOEFL 80+ / IELTS 6.5+)