@schallacombe19 wrote:
My current university offers two different MS in Cyber security. They are Cyber Operations and Cybersecurity Policy. I have worked in both fields, for a few years each, and I do thoroughly enjoy both. I also like to think I can excel in either one.
Having worked in higher ed during a prior life, I know one of the challenges of developing academic programs was the lengthy period (in our case about 7 years) it took to get approval. The mileage of your university may vary, of course, but it is something to consider and research. It really gets reflected in the mix of classes (not necessarily their content). Against that backdrop, while "Cyber Operations" sounds engaging, the peril would be something more concept based because it is hard to teach most-current practices and tools. In contrast, policy is a more evergreen topic. Understanding policy and its role in overall governance is sorely lacking at many organizations.
I guess what I am saying is I see more upside and differentiation on the policy topic than operations. I think it also lends itself to more academic research than operations. Operations is much more applied. That said an operations program that focuses on real-world dynamics and constraints would be great, but it is hard to imagine how to deliver it in an academic setting.
The good news for you is I see these specializations as reflecting some real thought into the program as opposed to something more generic.
