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Honestly, the best decision I have ever made, I graduated with my Master's in May and I don't see how it's any different than a traditional program (which I attended for my Bachelor's.) They have many services and tools to help you find work during and after school, I have not had a single issue with the administration/financial aid (they probably have improved from the many complaints). Some of the classes were easier then others, and some professors more agreeable then others. If you want to learn... Read More and do well, it rests with you. If you want to bs your way through- its also up to you. However I can say when I was attending a traditional program, it was the same exact principle. I know more than two professionals who attended UMUC for an MBA and hold VP positions. Ofcourse people say its not the best school but like a previous poster, I am proud to have it on my Linkedin account. It honestly opened doors for me.

I strongly support University of Maryland's online learning environment because, as a working professional, I have the convenience of attending class at my leisure. Love, Love, Love! Unfortunately, I do have concerns in regards to the financial strain of attending grad school at the University of Maryland. As for job placement after graduation, that option is only for student that live near the college. After graduating with a BS in Information Systems Management I was responsible for acquiring interships... Read More and employment without any assistance from the college.

I can say UMUC Graduate program I successfully completed was challenging and very demanding. Be prepared to write and use your critical thinking skills. The key is to log on every evening including weekends to stand above your peers. Take no more than 2 classes at a time. The professors are tough and demanding. On the other hand, the effort you put into the program will pay off. Stay focused and participate beyond the minimum during collaboration time with your colleagues. Like any graduate program,... Read More it requires discipline, lots of research, and above average writing skills.

The graduate program is Cybersecurity is a great program through UMUC. The degree is completely online, which means it is flexible. You can also double major with an MBA for just a few more courses if you decide to after finishing the Cybersecurity courses. Also, the courses cover topics and knowledge you will use in IT Security roles, and also covers important information for IT certifications that are essential. Even though I am completing the degree remotely, the academic offices have very flexible... Read More hours and I can reach someone to help with courses or registration when needed. I have found it very helpful.

The pros of this program are it is an intensive program and requires a great amount of out-of-class study time. By the same token, this is a field that is growing in demand tremendously. An educational institution cannot afford to turn out half-baked graduate students in a world where cybersecurity is so critically important. The cons of this program are, in my opinion, practically non-existent. As with anything, you get out of it that which you put into it. I guess my only con would only be meeting... Read More one night per week, but if you consider the fact the instructor and fellow students are available for consultation or assistance, etc., easily it is only a minor negative.

I'm already in the career field, and I began my Master's in order to expand job opportunities in the future. I started at UMUC due to their relations with military personnel. Even being in the career field already, it was a lot of work -- but not in a bad way. I found the degree program to be truly challenging. Much more challenging than my undergrad business degree at another brick and mortar school. Also, I have a coworker in a comparable program at another online university, and I've done way... Read More more challenging work for my program than he has. The vast majority of my professors were PhD's who were working in the career field. Overall I had pretty good student service's experience. It's very easy and fast to get a hold of someone for a quick answer. When there is an in depth issue, watch out. I had a simple overage balance on my account, and I had to move a mountain to get that credited back -- to include explaining dollar for dollar where the overage came from. It shouldn't be that tough. One true "complaint" I would have is the lack of career/job placement. I attended an online job fair with only several companies even relatively interested in people in my career field. Maybe the in-person career fair is better. I also applied to Syracuse and was accepted but did not go through with the program. Looking back, if you have the money to pay for it and can get in, that might be the way to go. It will take a little longer but there is more prestige and you'll do a comparable amount of work. If not, I would recommend UMUC as a solid option.

The Master's program gives you a very good management and technical overview, and you will be brought up to speed on modern IT concepts. However, the program could use more hands on-labs to demonstrate the concepts in a more real world setting. The workload can be difficult to handle with a demanding job. Lot's of papers to submit! The program can be very challenging if you come from a field outside of IT, but if you put the extra effort to learn the foundational materials on your own you can easily... Read More do well. The instructors are qualified but some care more than others. Bottom Line: UMUC is good for working IT professional in analysts, business, consulting or management careers and paths. But, not so good for pure technologists.