An online doctoral degree in cyber security may equip students with the training and skills required to ensure the safety of sensitive electronic information. These three to five-year programs may allow students to perform evidence-based research for the purpose of analyzing and critiquing current and future information security practices. Program coursework may include dissertation research courses as well as core courses including business and security risk analysis, legal and ethical practices in information security, and development of security controls.

Upon graduation, students may choose to pursue employment in their chosen capacity of cyber security. Possible employment venues for doctoral-level graduates may include government security, computer systems design, finance, telecommunications, and education.

Program Overview

• Prerequisite: Bachelor’s Degree at minimum
• Program Length: Three to five years to complete
• Post-Grad Options: Employment
• Projected Employment Growth: 22% (2010-2020)*

Program Coursework

The curriculum for online cyber security doctoral programs may consist of research-heavy dissertation coursework alongside major-specific courses. These classes may teach students the methods of identifying, analyzing, and mitigating cyber security threats on both national and global levels. Possible cyber security courses may include the following:

• Information Security Systems and Organizational Awareness
• Legal and Ethical Practices in Information Security
• Business and Security Risk Analysis
• Security Policies, Standards, and Procedures
• Design, Development, and Evaluation of Security Controls
• Forensic Evaluation and Incident Response Management
• Research Methods in Information Security

Career Options

Doctoral-level graduates may gain employment in industries such as telecommunications, web development, post-secondary education, government security, and computer systems design. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for information security analysts are projected to increase by 22% from 2010-2020.*

Possible careers include:

• College Professor
• Information Security Analyst
• Computer Network Architect
• Cyber Security Senior Engineer
• Nuclear Cyber Security Specialist

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook