Education Guide 7.26.26 - Flipbook - Page 3
| Sunday, July 26, 2026 3
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Graduate Programs Expand to Meet
Demand for Highly Skilled Professionals
Universities offer targeted graduate programs and certificates
designed to launch professionals into high-demand careers
By Megan Weeden, Contributing Writer
A
s industries such as national
security, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence evolve at a rapid
pace, Maryland’s colleges and
universities are responding with highly
specialized graduate programs aimed at
preparing professionals for today’s workforce. New offerings in these fields reflect
a broader shift toward flexible, career-focused education.
The University of Maryland’s school of
public policy has introduced a graduate
certificate in intelligence analysis. It is
designed for students and professionals
seeking to enter or advance in the national security and intelligence fields. The program, which consists of four three-credit
courses, emphasizes analytical thinking,
data interpretation, and decision-making
skills essential for understanding global
risks and informing policy.
“Most of the students are working
professionals in the intelligence field,
especially as they transition from the
technical aspect of the field to the policy
industry,” Michael Goodhart, director of
executive and cohort programs says. “It’s
a credential that shows employers that
they have the competencies. It builds on
their skills.”
Students enrolled in the program
include analysts assessing global threats,
contractors and professionals working on
domestic issues such as human trafficking. Others are drawn to the certificate as
a pathway into the intelligence field.
All courses are completed online and
most finish the program in 15 months,
Goodhart says.
As cyber threats grow more complex,
a bachelor’s degree alone is often no
longer enough for professionals seeking to advance in the field. Stevenson
University’s Master of Science in cybersecurity and digital forensics is designed to
help students build the specialized skills
needed to move into more advanced and
higher-responsibility roles.
The fully online program emphasizes
both defense and investigation, preparing
students to protect systems while also
analyzing and responding to cyber incidents. Coursework includes network and
cloud forensics, incident response, pen-
etration testing and legal considerations,
giving students a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity in practice.
Graduate-level training can help professionals deepen their technical expertise, expand leadership opportunities and
remain competitive in a rapidly changing
industry, where new threats and technologies are constantly emerging.
Stevenson’s curriculum is aligned with
industry standards and designed for both
experienced IT professionals and those
looking to enter or transition into cybersecurity, with multiple pathways into the
program.
A central component of the program
is digital forensics – the process of identifying, preserving and analyzing data from
computers, networks and other devices to understand cyber incidents and
support investigations. The field plays a
key role in modern cybersecurity, helping organizations uncover how breaches
occur and respond effectively.
“Digital forensics is an essential part
of understanding what happened during
a cyber incident and how to prevent it in
the future,” said Zamira Simkins, Ph.D.,
interim graduate program director for
cybersecurity and digital forensics. “At
the graduate level, students are not just
doing the technical aspects but they’re
gaining leadership and management
skills needed to manage teams. We want
students to have both the defensive and
investigative skill sets.”
Stevenson’s curriculum is directly aligned with industry standards and
serves both experienced professionals
and those looking to change careers,
with a couple of pathways to the master’s
degree.
For Marisa Massimini, a student in the
program, that flexibility was a major draw.
“I wanted a career that would allow
me to solve problems, think critically, and
make an impact,” Massimini says.
Massimini, who first earned her undergraduate degree in cybersecurity and digital forensics at Stevenson, is now completing her master’s through Stevenson’s
dual-enrollment pathway that allows students to begin graduate coursework as
undergraduates. She expects to graduate
in spring 2027, just one year after completing her bachelor’s degree.
“I got a lot of encouragement and
advice from professors and people in the
field,” she says. “I feel Stevenson gave
me the resources to continue building my
Graduate Programs,
continued on page 11
