Online Master’s in Cloud Computing Management

The Online Master’s in Cloud Computing Management is offered by The George Washington University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science — whose online graduate engineering programs are ranked #5  by U.S. News & World Report, the highest ranking of any private university in the nation. The 30-credit Master's program is STEM-designated and blends cloud computing technical foundations with cloud security and management. Tuition is $1,250 per credit hour, with eBooks and software included. Classes meet live Online via Zoom and meet live one evening per week (6:30–9:30 PM ET, Monday–Thursday).  Recordings are available within 2 hours of class if you choose to participate asynchronously. 

Master’s Degree in Cloud Computing

The Master’s Degree in Cloud Computing is designed for professionals seeking to advance their expertise in designing, implementing, and managing cloud-based systems while continuing their careers. Offered in a flexible online format, the program delivers rigorous, graduate-level instruction in cloud infrastructure, platforms, and software services, with an emphasis on cloud architecture, data management, security, and virtualization. Guided by expert faculty, graduates are prepared to engineer, optimize, and manage cloud solutions and pursue advanced roles across government, industry, and technology-driven organizations.

Download the Program Flyer (PDF)

Program Overview

Through graduate-level coursework, students engage in an in-depth cloud computing curriculum that emphasizes engineering-based approaches to cloud infrastructure, system architecture, and secure operations. The program integrates theoretical foundations with practical application, enabling students to design and manage scalable cloud environments, apply DevOps practices, and ensure data security and compliance across complex cloud ecosystems.

Taught by expert faculty, the program prepares graduates to advance into leadership and engineering-focused professional roles supporting organizations that rely on cloud technologies for strategic advantage. The degree also supports professional development toward industry certifications and provides a strong foundation for students seeking to deepen their expertise in cloud systems engineering, management, or related technical fields.
 

Courses are delivered via Zoom one evening per week, with the option to participate asynchronously by watching the course recordings. 

Quick facts:

• Format: 100% online
• Class schedule: One evening per week (Monday-Thursday), 6:30-9:30 p.m. ET
• Session length: Nine-week sessions
• Enrollment structure: Students enroll in four nine-week sessions, with an optional fifth summer session
• Start options: Up to five start terms per year

Curriculum Highlights

The curriculum consists of 10 courses (30 total credit hours) designed to build advanced expertise in cloud computing systems, infrastructure, and management across core areas of the field. Courses combine synchronous and asynchronous learning, providing live instruction alongside flexible coursework.

Learn More About the Courses

CSCI 6012 Cybersecurity and Privacy: Overview of cybersecurity and privacy, including cryptography, authentication, malware, viruses, network security, anonymity, privacy and online privacy, risk management. Common cyberattacks and techniques for detection and defense. Policy and legal perspectives for managing cybersecurity missions supporting the private sector and government. Cyber technologies as applied to the stability of global information and communications infrastructure; government cybersecurity policies. (3 credit hours)

CSCI 6018 Cloud Applications Architecture: Cloud application design guidelines and software patterns. Survey of cloud services for scalable secure cloud applications. Trade-offs in cloud application design, container vs virtual machine deployments, and monolithic vs microservice. (3 credit hours)

ECE 6132 Secure Cloud Computing: A comprehensive guide to security concerns and best practices for cloud computing and cloud services. Topics discussed include cloud computing architectures, risk issues and legal topics, data security, internal and external clouds, information security frameworks and operational guidelines. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6540 Management of Information and Systems Security: Information security techniques and countermeasures in defense fundamentals; critical infrastructure protection; network defense–firewall systems and IDS, VPNs, cryptographic and internet security protocols and cyber security, information assurance. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6543 Managing the Protection of Information Assets and Systems: Advanced topics in protection of information assets and systems, including authentication, asset control, security models and kernels, physical security, personnel security, operational security, administrative security, security configuration management, and resource control. Prerequisite: EMSE 6540. (3 credit hours)

EMSE 6544 Auditing, Monitoring and Intrusion Detection for Information Security Managers: Methods for detecting problems with unauthorized activity in information systems and management challenges associated with those activities. Prerequisite: EMSE 6540. (3 credit hours) 

EMSE 6820 Program and Project Management: Problems in managing projects; project management as planning, organizing, directing and monitoring; project and corporate organizations; duties and responsibilities; the project plan; schedule, cost, earned-value and situation analysis; leadership; team building; conflict management; meetings, presentations and proposals. (3 credit hours)

SEAS 6411 Management and Compliance in Cloud Computing: Maintaining compliance in the cloud. Theory, methodology, and procedures related to cloud computing; proper audit procedures for discovering system vulnerabilities; documenting findings according to the standards of compliance-based auditing. Prerequisite: ECE 6132. (3 credit hours)

SEAS 6412 Cloud Migration Strategy: Migrating traditional IT services to a cloud-based environment. Technical and business considerations necessary to develop an effective cloud migration strategy for an organization. Decision analysis framework to prioritize migration applications. Prerequisite: ECE 6132. (3 credit hours)

SEAS 6413 Cloud and Big Data Management: Topics related to big data and cloud computing, including data centers, virtualization, hardware and software architecture, as well as system-level issues on performance, energy efficiency, reliability, scalability and security. (3 credit hours)

Academic Calendar

Session	Dates	Application Deadlines
Summer 2026	week of 6/1/26 – week of 6/29/26	5/16/2026
Fall-1 2026	8/18/26 –  10/15/26	8/10/2026
Fall-2 2026	10/20/26 – 12/17/26	10/5/2026
Spring-1 2027	week of 1/11/27 – week of 3/8/27	12/15/2026
Spring-2 2027	week of 3/15/27 – week of 5/10/27	3/1/2027

The course order is determined by academic advisors based on student progress. Course details are provided through Blackboard approximately one month before classes begin.

What Can You Do With a Master's in Cloud Computing?

Graduates of the online Master’s Degree in Cloud Computing are prepared for advanced professional roles focused on designing, engineering, and managing cloud-based systems, infrastructure, and services across technical and organizational environments. The degree supports career advancement for professionals seeking deeper specialization, increased responsibility, and opportunities to lead cloud initiatives that support scalability, security, and operational efficiency.

SALARY  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024), the median annual salary for Computer and Information Systems Managers — the closest occupational match for cloud-management roles — is $171,200, with employment projected to grow 15% from 2024 to 2034 (much faster than average), and about 55,600 openings projected each year. Information Security Analysts, who represent a significant share of cloud-security work in this program’s curriculum, earn a median of $124,910 with employment projected to grow 29% from 2024 to 2034 (nearly 3× the national average growth rate).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Computer and Information Systems Managers (11-3021) and Information Security Analysts (15-1212).

Admissions Requirements

Who Should Apply

The online Master’s in Cloud Computing is designed for applicants any academic background who are prepared for advanced, graduate-level study.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Applicants outside the United States should review international admissions requirements for additional criteria
• Applicants may also apply to a six-course graduate certificate in Cybersecurity. 

Application Materials

There is no application fee for GW’s online engineering programs.

A complete application includes:

• Resume or CV
• Transcripts from every college/university where you earned credits, including transfer credits.  If admitted, you will need to provide official transcripts for verification.
• Two professional letters of recommendation
• GRE scores (optional), which may be submitted if available to strengthen the application

After You Apply

Applicants are expected to remain engaged throughout the admissions process. You will receive email updates as your application is reviewed, and timely responses to requests for materials are required to keep your application moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of cloud systems and environments does this program focus on?

This Master’s Degree in Cloud Computing emphasizes the engineering and management of large-scale cloud environments used in government and industry. Coursework focuses on cloud architecture, infrastructure services, data storage and management, security and compliance, DevOps practices, and virtualization, preparing students to design, manage, and optimize cloud-based systems across diverse organizational settings.

Do I need an engineering degree to apply?

No, applicants are required to have received a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from an accredited institution. 

Is the GRE required?

No. The GRE is not required for admission to the online Master’s in Cloud Computing.

Can I work full time while enrolled?

Yes. The program is designed for working professionals. Courses are delivered live online with one scheduled evening class per week, with the option to participate asynchronously by watching the course recordings, allowing students to balance coursework with full-time employment.

Are international applicants eligible?

Yes. International applicants are welcome to apply. Additional documentation, including proof of English language proficiency, may be required depending on prior education and background.

How is GW’s online M.Eng. in Cloud Computing Management different from a generic cloud computing master’s?

GW’s program blends cloud computing technical foundations with cloud security and management. Six of the program’s ten courses cover information security, compliance, asset protection, auditing, monitoring, and intrusion detection (CSCI 6012, ECE 6132, EMSE 6540, EMSE 6543, EMSE 6544, SEAS 6411). Two courses cover program and project management (EMSE 6820, SEAS 6412 Cloud Migration Strategy). Two courses cover cloud architecture and big data (CSCI 6018, SEAS 6413). The program is designed for professionals leading cloud security, cloud migration, and cloud compliance work — not pure cloud engineering. Most competitor cloud computing master’s programs do not have this security and management blend.

Why choose GW Engineering’s online Master’s in Cloud Computing Management?

GW Engineering is ranked #5 in U.S. News’ Best Online Master’s in Engineering Programs — the highest-ranked private university in nation. The program is built around live evening classes (6:30–9:30 PM ET, Monday–Thursday) with the option to attend asynchronously by watching the course recordings — a structure designed for working professionals who want real-time faculty access with the flexibility to participate asynchronously.  The curriculum blends cloud architecture and management with cloud security, compliance, and asset protection — a combination directly relevant to cloud migration (FedRAMP, JWCC) and enterprise cloud security leadership roles. 

What employers hire GW Engineering Cloud Computing Management graduates?

GW Engineering graduates pursue cloud-management and cloud-security careers across the cloud-migration ecosystem (civilian agencies, defense and intelligence agencies undergoing cloud transformation, federally funded research and development centers, and cloud contractors), as well as in technology and software, finance and banking, healthcare systems, enterprise IT, and managed cloud services providers.

Explore Our Other Online Master's Programs

• Online Master’s in Cybersecurity — complementary program for cloud-security professionals who want a dedicated cybersecurity master’s as their primary degree
• Online Master’s in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning — natural pairing for cloud engineers working on AI/ML workloads, MLOps, and cloud-deployed AI
• Online Master’s in Engineering Management — natural pairing for cloud professionals moving into program-management and technical leadership roles
• Online Master’s in Systems Engineering — complementary for cloud architects working on large-scale enterprise systems integration

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