M.S. in Cybersecurity: Malware Analysis Specialization
Defend Against the Growing Threat of Malicious Software
Defend Businesses from Malware
Hands-On Practice With Cutting-Edge Tools
Industry-Experienced Faculty
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- Duration 2 years
- Cost per Credit $895
- Credit Hours 30
Program Benefits
- Gain the expertise to address cybersecurity problems
- Participate in a virtual two-day immersive residency
- Study at a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD)
Protect Organizations in Any Industry
Understand the nuances of finding and mitigating malware and graduate with the skills to defend against — and recover from — targeted attacks with Utica College’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity with a Malware Analysis specialization.
Malware is a growing threat to organizations, as advances in technology and inter-connectivity have increased the sophistication and intensity of cyberattacks. Malicious code can compromise both the hardware and software integrity of a computer or network and cause these to behave in undesirable ways.
Through 18 core credits and 12 specialization credits, you’ll learn to think like a malware author and gain the expertise to address cybersecurity problems and protect your organization.
Career Outlook
No matter the size of the organization, one of the most important considerations for cybersecurity is to understand how, rather than if, an attack will occur.
In the Malware Analysis specialization, you’ll learn specialized techniques to understand the characteristics of real-world malware and reverse engineer this malicious software to determine what it does, who it talks to, and how to defend against it. With these skills, you’ll graduate ready to act as an invaluable asset to organizations, regardless of industry.
CAREER SPOTLIGHT: MALWARE ANALYST
$90,633/year
As a malware analyst, you would examine malware samples — such as trojans, viruses, worms, and more — to determine exactly what the software does, as well as its potential impact on a given computer or network. Through reverse engineering, professionals in this position determine how to mitigate malware issues and defend against future attacks.1
CAREER SPOTLIGHT: REVERSE ENGINEER
$89,758/year
As a reverse engineer, your responsibilities would be similar to a malware analyst. You would work backward from a malware attack to determine computer or network vulnerability. These professionals then design solutions to close gaps and protect an organization’s systems and data.2
Other titles you may qualify for:
- Intrusion Intelligence Analyst
- Cyber Incident Response Analyst
Curriculum: Innovative Methods and Cutting-Edge Tools
Delve into the intricacies of cyberattack methods and techniques (including malware) with the Malware Analysis specialization. Through discussions and virtual hands-on exercises, you’ll gain an in-depth understanding of malicious code and use cutting-edge tactics to combat it.
Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to utilize tools from Utica’s Malware Analysis Laboratory. Located in a secure, controlled facility, the lab is designed to safely analyze suspect malware and houses over 100 GB of recent malware samples.
Many of the state-of-the-art tools used in the lab by our cyber faculty to conduct real-world research and analysis on malware are also available to you as a student in the online malware analysis specialization.
Course Spotlight: CYB 641 – Computer and Network Operations
Develop an appreciation and depth of understanding of computer network operations (CNO) and its three pillars of operation: Attack, defense, and exploitation. Cultivate skills in system vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
Explore CoursesCourse Spotlight: CYB 691 – Malware Practicum
This practicum is designed to give you supervised, practical application of previously or concurrent studied theory in malware mitigation and analysis. You’ll learn the nuances of finding and mitigating malware and gain a deep understanding of the technical methods of malicious code (malcode), specialized malware analysis tools and environments, and enterprise-wide mitigation methods.
More Options for Your Degree
Frequently Asked Questions
Advancing your life and career with an online degree comes with lots of questions, and we want to ensure your search for answers is effortless. If you have a question we haven’t covered, call (866) 295-3106 to speak with an enrollment counselor.
The online M.S. in Cybersecurity program is designed for professionals who work full-time and is offered part-time, which allows you to achieve a realistic balance between work, school, and personal responsibilities and gives you the opportunity to fully absorb the information in your coursework. To see the curriculum, view our courses page.
The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Utica College as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CD) through the academic year 2024.
Our cybersecurity programs have also been recognized for their excellence by the:
- Defense Cyber Crime Center (DC3)
- EC-Council, one of the premier certifying cybersecurity bodies
Read more about the M.S. in Cybersecurity.
The first step toward applying to the M.S. in Cybersecurity is to start your online application. Then, you’ll need to gather official transcripts, a personal statement, two letters of recommendation, and a résumé. Read more about admission requirements for the M.S. in Cybersecurity.
Yes, the M.S. in Cybersecurity offers these specializations:
- Computer Forensics
- Cyber Operations
- Cyber Policy
- Data Analytics
- Electronic Crime
- Intelligence
- Malware Analysis
You can review courses now.
Yes, as part of the M.S. in Cybersecurity, you’ll complete a two-day online virtual cybersecurity residency. Learn more about the curriculum.
The M.S. in Cybersecurity prepares you for industry certifications like CompTIA A+, Security+, and CISSP—among others.
Sources
- PayScale (n.d.). Average Malware Analyst Salary. Retrieved April 26, 2019, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Malware_Analyst/Salary
- Glassdoor Inc. (n.d.) Reverse Engineer Salaries. Retrieved April 26, 2019, from https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Malware_Analyst/Salary