MADISON, Wis.—UW Extended Campus, in partnership with several University of Wisconsin System campuses, will offer two new online degrees starting in September 2020—the Associate of Arts and Sciences and the Master of Science in Cybersecurity. Applications are now being accepted for the degree programs.
“Adding the Associate and Cybersecurity degree programs expands our ability to meet the broad range of educational needs in Wisconsin and beyond,” said Aaron Brower, executive director of University of Wisconsin Extended Campus. “These two new programs take great advantage of the UW’s ability to offer high-quality education as a whole state system. They’re fantastic additions to the UW’s growing array of online programs.”
The new 60-credit UW Associate of Arts and Sciences provides degree-seeking students with a broad liberal arts background and satisfies the general education requirements, and other prerequisites, at UW campuses and most other universities outside the UW System. The associate degree program provides students with an online option that can reduce time to graduation.
The new 12-course online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program, which is designed for working adults, features four unique tracks of study allowing students to tailor their education based on their career goals and interests. The four tracks are digital forensics, cyber response, governance and leadership, and security architecture.
This new online graduate program aims to prepare students to meet the high demand for cybersecurity talent worldwide. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity-related jobs in the U.S. will see a 13 percent increase over the next decade.
“There is an incredible need for cybersecurity professionals, especially now, as organizations adapt to virtualizing business in a way we’ve never seen before,” said George Kroeninger, chief academic officer of UW Extended Campus. “The program was designed and developed with the help of industry professionals to ensure the curriculum meets market needs and provides students with the skills that employers are looking for.”
UW Cybersecurity master’s degree graduates will be prepared for positions such as cybersecurity engineer, information security analyst, network architect, and cybersecurity manager among others. Admission to the program requires a bachelor’s degree with courses in computer science and calculus or statistics. Standardized tests such as the GMAT and GRE are not required.
The UW Associate of Arts and Sciences and the Master of Science in Cybersecurity degrees join a growing array of flexible, online degree and certificate programs designed for adult learners that are offered in partnership with many UW campuses and UW Extended Campus. The associate degree is a collaboration among UW-Eau Claire, UW-Milwaukee, UW Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Whitewater. The new Cybersecurity graduate degree is a collaboration among eight UW campuses: UW-Green Bay, UW-La Crosse, UW Oshkosh, UW-Parkside, UW-Platteville, UW-River Falls, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Superior.
Prospective students seeking more information are encouraged to explore these programs at uwex.wisconsin.edu/aas and uwex.wisconsin.edu/cybersecurity.
To speak with an enrollment adviser, call 1608-262-2011 or 1-877-895-3276, or email learn@uwex.edu.
About UW Extended Campus
The University of Wisconsin System is one of the largest and most widely respected public higher education systems in the country. UW Extended Campus (uwex.wisconsin.edu) partners with all UW System campuses to offer online degrees and certificates, as well as continuing education and lifelong learning opportunities. Through UW Extended Campus, people of Wisconsin and beyond can access university resources and engage in online learning, wherever they live and work—fulfilling the promise of the “Wisconsin Idea.”
The University of Wisconsin System serves approximately 170,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the UW System is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live. More than 80 percent of in-state UW System graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree. The UW System provides a 23:1 return on state investment. UW System institutions also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy. wisconsin.edu