Five students last month became the first to earn their degrees from a unique Carnegie Mellon University graduate program designed to train students to manage the military's top cyber security and information technology needs.

The Master of Information Technology Strategy (MITS) draws on expertise from Carnegie Mellon's School of Computer Science, College of Engineering, and Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and focuses on big data and analytics, decision and science policy, information security, software engineering and systems engineering and networking.

"This program is unique because it takes a person experienced with technology and ties it in with a strategic perspective," said Rear Admiral Diane E. H. Webber, who worked with CMU leaders to start MITS. "Within the Navy, we have the technology and this course provides expertise in how to use it with a strategic purpose. Carnegie Mellon's MITS puts it all together and gives students practical experience during the program. It goes beyond book knowledge and teaches them how to apply it. It's pretty awesome."

"One difference between MITS students and others is that they enter the program with a clear understanding of the military environment," said David Garlan, professor of computer science and director of software engineering professional programs. "There is not another program in the world that brings together these topics in one degree."

For more information on MITS, which is open to military and civilian applicants, visit http://www.cmu.edu/mits.