- Online
- On Campus
- Hybrid
Master of Science in Information Technology
The Graduate Program That Keeps IT Professionals Competitive
Duration
Graduate in 12 to 24 months
Class schedule
Weeknight classes available
Formats
Choose online, on campus (Thousand Oaks) or a hybrid options
Class size
Fewer than 15 students
Next start date
October 26, 2026
Make the Next Move in Your IT Career
You’ve put in the work. You’ve earned the experience. But to advance, you need something deliberate, especially in a field that never stops changing.
The California Lutheran University MSIT is built for IT professionals who don’t want to get stuck responding to tickets. The program refreshes your technical foundation, broadens what responsibilities you can take on and gives you practical, portfolio-ready expertise.
Based in Southern California’s tech corridor and delivered to students nationwide, our curriculum reflects what’s happening in the industry today and your faculty helped lead that development.
Pick the Track That Matches Where You’re Headed
Cal Lutheran offers specialty tracks in Cybersecurity, Data Analytics and IT Management. Pick the one that fits your goals, or choose the general MSIT and take classes from across all areas.
- Cybersecurity: Identify risks, build defenses and respond to threats
- Data Analytics: Work with large datasets, build models and translate findings into decisions
- IT Management: Learn how to lead at the intersection of tech and business
Designed for Students With Busy Lives
Most of our MSIT students work full time, so we designed the program to accommodate them and anyone balancing multiple responsibilities. Classes meet on weeknights, and most students take two courses per term for about 20 hours of coursework a week.
You can attend online, on campus in Thousand Oaks, or as a hybrid. (If you pursue a specialty track, you’ll need to take your elective courses on campus.)
Request Information
To learn more about the Graduate Degree Programs offered by the Cal Lutheran School of Management and download a brochure, please fill out the form. You can also get in touch with an enrollment specialist directly by calling us at 805-521-9856.
Why Choose the Cal Lutheran MSIT?
Flexibility That Works With Your Life and Goals
Choose your format, your start date and your area of focus — Cybersecurity, Data Analytics, IT Management or a general track.
Skills You Can Use Immediately
Every course is built around what IT professionals actually do, and your labs and projects use the same tools as you will at work. Faculty leverage Southern California’s tech, defense, biotech and financial services economy for real-world examples.
Mentorship That Moves You Forward
Cal Lutheran professors are active in the industry. They know what employers are looking for right now, they keep in touch after a course ends and they are genuinely interested in where you’re headed. We also offer one-on-one advising that centers your goals.
Nationally Recognized for Real Outcomes
Cal Lutheran holds the Carnegie Classification designation for higher access and higher earnings, a distinction earned by only 16% of U.S. colleges and universities.
“When you are out in the field, you can get stuck in a routine. Sometimes you forget that technology is a growing industry and that you have to keep learning, reading and studying.
Going through the MSIT program helped me learn more about what is happening right now, what technology is currently being used by different companies, and what their preferred security approaches are.
I have learned so much and gained so much from this program. I am proud to say I went through it.”
What Will You Learn in the MSIT Program?
The MSIT consists of 36 credits total. You’ll complete eight core courses, then choose four elective courses from a specialty track or across the options for a general MSIT.
Core Courses Include:
- Information Technology Management
- Data Management
- Software Planning and Development
- Data Communications and Networking
- Project Management
- Information Security
- Data Analytics
See the full course list and curriculum info: Download our brochure or explore the curriculum page.
MSIT Program Outcomes
- Plan and lead IT strategy that aligns tech decisions with business goals
- Design, implement and secure complex systems that keep organizations running
- Translate data and technical insight into clear action plans
Talk To Someone Who Knows the MSIT Program
Our enrollment specialists are some of the best people to talk to when you’re considering Cal Lutheran’s MS in Information Technology. They know the program deeply, they ask good questions and they genuinely want to help you make the right call.
Call Us: 805-521-9856 or Request a Call
Choose your track
Specialize in cybersecurity, data analytics or IT management to gain the focused expertise that sets you apart in the job market and prepares you for your dream role.
Who Is the Cal Lutheran MSIT Program For?
No two MSIT students arrive with the same story, but a couple of profiles show up often.
One is the experienced IT professional, often a decade or two into the field, who knows the work but wants a formal credential and current expertise in areas the industry has moved toward since they last sat in a classroom.
Another is the career changer who already has a technical foundation and wants to specialize in something specific, usually cybersecurity, data analytics or IT management. Most students in both groups are working full time while they complete the program.
What ties them together is the kind of program they’re looking for. Classes stay under 15 students, professors know your name and your goals, and the people you meet often become long-term references and mentors. If you’d rather be known than be one of thousands, the MSIT is built for that.
Ready to join us? See our admissions checklist and start your application.
Career Outcomes: What Can You Do With an IT Master’s?
“The MSIT program prepared me for a position at a large endpoint security company. I use the skills I learned in digital forensics, ethical hacking and cloud security on a daily basis in the workplace.” — Grant Bagne, Cal Lutheran MSIT Alum
The hiring market looks different than it did a few years ago, especially in tech. Specialized expertise gives you something concrete to point to in a hiring conversation or performance review. An MSIT is a great way to build that case.
Plus, a master’s credential has a direct and measurable effect on earnings. MSIT graduates earn an average of $14,000 more per year than those with a bachelor’s in IT alone, according to Payscale. With Cal Lutheran’s tuition rate, most students earn back their tuition investment within about two and a half years.
Here’s a look at the careers a graduate IT education can lead to.
Learn more in our article, “Top Career Paths You Can Pursue With a Master’s in Information Technology.”
Frequently Asked Questions: MSIT Degree
The two programs overlap but emphasize different things. Very generally, a master’s in information technology focuses on the technology itself, such as building, securing and maintaining the systems, networks and infrastructure that organizations rely on.
A master’s in information systems leans more toward how technology supports business strategy, with more attention to analyzing organizational needs and deciding which systems best serve them.
If the hands-on technical work is what draws you, the MSIT is usually the better fit. If you’re more interested in the strategic and analytical side, the MSIS may serve you better. Our enrollment specialists can help you decide further. Call them at 805-521-9856.
The right track usually comes down to the kind of role you’re working toward next. The summaries below are a starting point, but the clearest way to decide is to look at the course list for each track and then talk to an enrollment specialist who can help you compare the options with your goals.
- Cybersecurity is for professionals who want to specialize in identifying risks, building defenses and responding to threats.
- Data analytics is for those who want to work with large datasets, build models and translate findings into business decisions.
- IT management is for professionals moving toward leadership roles that sit at the intersection of technology and business strategy.
If your goals cross more than one of these areas, the general MSIT might be the best option for you. It lets you take electives from across all three tracks.
Call an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 to talk one-on-one.
Most students finish the Cal Lutheran MSIT in 12 to 24 months. The standard pace is two courses per term while working full time, which works out to about 20 hours of coursework a week. Students who want to move faster can take more courses per term, and students who need more time can spread the program out further.
For the core courses, you have your choice of completing the program online, on campus in Thousand Oaks or as a mix of the two modalities (hybrid format).
Please note for the specialty tracks: if you pursue a specialty track (cybersecurity, data analytics or IT management), you’ll need to complete your elective courses on campus.
Yes. Every course is built around the work IT professionals actually do, with labs and projects that use the same tools and frameworks you’ll see on the job.
The program also includes a required capstone, either an internship or an IT project, that gives you something concrete to point to when you finish.
Yes, Cal Lutheran offers a variety of funding options from internal and external sources. These include:
- Scholarships
- Grants
- Credit reductions
- Veterans benefits
- Employer discounts
Visit our financial aid page for detailed information. You can also talk with an enrollment specialist at 805-521-9856 to discuss funding your education.
If the Cal Lutheran MS in Information Technology is a good fit for you, here’s what to do next:
Explore on your own: Download a brochure, see the curriculum or review admissions requirements.
Talk with someone who knows the program: An enrollment specialist can answer questions and help you figure out if this is the right fit. Call 805-521-9856 to talk one-on-one.
