To earn the MSISPM degree, you'll need a total of 192 units:
- 90 units of required courses.
- 30 units of security electives.
- 36-48 units of general electives.
- 24-36 units of the capstone experience.
MSISPM Course Requirements
Carnegie Mellon’s core curriculum offers you a wide range of business and technology courses designed to position you as a thought leader in information assurance.. These course requirements form the key building blocks of your information security policy and management education. You'll gain valuable insight from internationally-renowned faculty and expert practitioners in their fields:
Required Courses (90 units)
- Financial Accounting
- Principles of Finance
- Organizational Design and Implementation
- Introduction to Information Security Management
- Economic Analysis
- Decision Making Under Uncertainty
- Statistics for IT Managers
- Security Policy Seminars: Healthcare, Finance, and/or Government
- Introduction to Security and Policy
- Telecommunications Management
- Information Security Risk Policy & Management
You'll also select among a diverse range of electives to help you prevail in the competitive marketplace.
Course Exemptions
What if you're well-versed in a particular subject area? By passing an exemption exam administered by Heinz College during orientation, you can waive one or more core courses. Exempting a course does not reduce the required number of units you must complete. However, you can add more elective courses to expand your knowledge base.
Internships
You're not required to complete an internship unless you're in the Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service program (see below). However, most MSISPM students supplement their education with an internship. Many gain valuable work experience as interns in the federal government, think tanks, consulting firms, and private sector organizations.
Scholarship for Service Internship Requirement
Are you participating in the Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service (SFS)? If so, you're required by the scholarship agreement to complete a summer internship with a federal government agency or a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) like CERT, RAND Corp, etc.
Technology Requirements
You'll also need a laptop during your enrollment period. Have your own or need to purchase one? Please read our technology requirements first.