Is a Master's in Cybersecurity Worth Pursuing for a CS Graduate with SOC Experience?

The poster holds a Computer Science undergraduate degree with no prior specialization and has less than a year of experience working in a Security Operations Center (SOC). They are considering a master’s in Cybersecurity, seeking a program with internships, hands-on training, theoretical foundations, and strong post-study work opportunities, while also pursuing relevant certifications. They express confusion after encountering online opinions that dismiss the degree as 'useless' or a 'waste of time and money.' The post asks cybersecurity professionals whether a master’s is worthwhile, what benefits it provided for those who earned one, and what alternatives others pursued instead.