HPU's Master of Science in Cybersecurity is the first and only program of its kind in Hawai'i and in 2027 will be heading to the University's Las Vegas Campus.
In 2023, HPU launched its Master of Science in Cybersecurity, and it was (and still is) the first and only program of its kind in Hawaiʻi. In spring 2027, the program is making a big leap, heading to HPU’s Las Vegas Campus. The cybersecurity program will become the first new program to join the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degrees offered at HPU’s Las Vegas Campus.
The program is built to make the leap across the Pacific. Every course is taught both in person and online, which means the same class can run for a student in Honolulu and a student in Las Vegas at once.
At the center of it all is HPU Assistant Professor Cort Chambers, Ph.D., who chairs HPU's cybersecurity department and teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels at the University. Ask him why enrollment keeps climbing, and he points to the certifications students earn along the way.
"Three years in, the growth we have seen in this program has been remarkable, and a big reason is the CompTIA and Cisco certifications our students earn alongside their degrees," Chambers said. "Employers want those certifications, and our graduates are so sought after that companies recruit them on a regular basis. We are thrilled to bring that same opportunity to Las Vegas and reach even more students who want a career in cybersecurity."
That is the engine of the program. Rather than chasing credentials on their own time after graduation, students earn them alongside their coursework, one class at a time. Each course runs eight weeks. Students learn the material, drill through hundreds of practice questions, and are encouraged to sit for the matching certification before moving on.
"At the end of every industry certification course, students are encouraged to sit for the matching certification, and once they pass, they move on to the next one," Chambers said. "By the time they graduate, they have a stack of industry certifications and the confidence that comes with them. Employers know our students are knowledgeable, certified and ready to work on day one."
Bachelor's students stack up CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+, along with the Cisco CyberOps Associate. Master's students reach for the advanced tier: Server+, PenTest+ and CySA+.
Now the master's program is adding two more certifications, both among the most sought-after credentials in the field.
The first is built around CompTIA SecurityX, the most advanced certification CompTIA offers. It is an expert-level credential for security architects and senior security engineers, and very few universities teach to it. HPU's course prepares students to design and defend secure systems across complex enterprise environments, from cloud and hybrid infrastructure to cryptography, governance and incident response.
The second prepares students for CompTIA SecAI+, the first certification in CompTIA's new Expansion Series and one of the newest credentials anywhere. Launched in February 2026, SecAI+ answers a problem the whole industry is racing to solve: how to defend against AI-driven attacks while putting AI to work on defense. The course covers threat detection, automated response and responsible AI governance. Together, the two additions put HPU graduates at the front of a field that rarely stands still.
A computer science background is not required, and students do not need a bachelor's in cybersecurity to enter the master's program, simply the drive to learn, and self-discipline is enough. HPU's cybersecurity students have come from the military, from nursing, even from hairstyling backgrounds, to earn their degrees in our program.
"Our courses are designed for those who may be interested in changing careers, and for those interested in learning new skills and want to enter the lucrative field of cybersecurity," Chambers said.
The field is waiting for them. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of information security analysts to grow 29% from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the average for all jobs, with roughly 16,000 openings every year over the decade. HPU graduates move into those roles at companies like Google and Amazon and at agencies like the FBI and the National Security Agency.
Some get a head start before they finish. The Hawaiʻi National Guard and State of Hawaii have committed to offering internships to HPU students, part of an effort to build real-world experience directly into the program.
And because every course comes in both in-person/hybrid and online formats, students set their own pace.
The rhythm is the same whether the classroom sits in Honolulu or Las Vegas. A student finishes eight weeks, sits for the exam, and walks out with a credential an employer already wants. Come Spring 2027, some of them will be doing it on the Ninth Island.
To learn more about HPU's Master of Science in Cybersecurity, click here.
