Cybersecurity Master of Business Administration

The cybersecurity MBA is a specialized MBA degree program that integrates foundational cybersecurity knowledge, practices and techniques to core business concepts.

The increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals has precipitated the development of dozens of cybersecurity MBA programs throughout the United States. These programs combine instruction in leadership, business fundamentals, strategic decision-making, and finance with technical cybersecurity skills such as computer forensics, security breach detection and response, and computer security laws and policy.

Graduates of reputable cybersecurity MBA programs are well positioned to be successful in cybersecurity leadership roles in private corporations and federal and local government agencies and nonprofits.

According to CyberSeek.org, “From April 2020 through March 2021, there were 144,700 openings for Information Security Analysts, but only 131,000 workers currently employed in those positions – an annual talent shortfall of 13,700 workers for cybersecurity’s largest job.”

Many of these jobs are senior-level roles, such as cybersecurity engineers and cybersecurity architects. Cybersecurity careers  are among the most lucrative and sought-after in the technology space.

Take for example cybersecurity engineers. CyberSeek’s data from April 2020 to March 2021 suggest that these professionals earn an average salary of $106,000 a year, and there were roughly 63,000 job openings for this role nationwide at the tine of the data collection.

Of the online job listings posted during that time, 21 percent required a graduate degree.

Most industry experts agree that it’s not enough to have the technical skills when you’re aspiring to advanced-level roles within a company. Individuals at this level must possess a solid business foundation, as well as the “soft skills” — such as presentation and communications skills, active listening skills, and strong written and verbal skills.

A cybersecurity MBA can put you on track to becoming a well-rounded professional with technical aptitude and business savvy. The combination of technical cybersecurity expertise and business acumen will give you an edge over the competition when you’re out there vying for one of these coveted positions.

Utica College

Utica College’s Master of Business Administration with a specialization in cybersecurity is a two-year course that requires a total of 30 credit hours.

Upon completion of the degree, graduates will be well positioned to serve their organization in a leadership role by applying their business expertise to general business problem solving as well as protecting the company’s sensitive data.

The college is a designated National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance/Cyber Defense Education. The program doesn’t require a GRE or GMAT, and it can be completed 100 percent online.

Students may transfer up to six credits from regionally accredited colleges — as long as the courses are deemed equivalent to those taught in the Utica College Master of Business Administration program.

You’ll need to submit the following when applying to the MBA:

  • Application form ($50 nonrefundable fee)
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Official bachelor’s degree transcript
  • Resume that emphasizes relevant experience

In an effort to provide flexibility to its diverse student population and allow them to work at a pace that is suitable for their work schedule and lifestyle, the program does not follow a cohort model.

The estimated total cost of the cybersecurity MBA program is $21,000.

University of West Alabama

The University of Western Alabama offers an MBA with a concentration in cybersecurity, cybercrime, and policy.

The concentration consists of nine hours from electives cybersecurity-related courses.

The 33-credit hour program is offered fully online as well as on campus. It is delivered in eight-week terms and can be completed in one year.

First-time students must submit official transcripts from all previously attended institutions along with an application form.

Courses offered in the cybersecurity concentration include:

  • Cybersecurity and Society
  • Cybersecurity Organizational Policy and Management Issues
  • Cybercrime and Legal Issues
  • Software and Systems Reliability and Safety
  • Globalism, Cybersecurity, and Cybercrime

The estimated cost per credit hour is $429.

Florida Institute of Technology

The Princeton Review named Florida Tech’s MBA program among one of the top 50 online MBA programs in 2020; and in 2021, Fortune Education ranked it in the top 100 online MBA Programs.

Specialization courses in this two-year program include:

  • Introduction to Information Security Management
  • Security in the Enterprise
  • Host Based Security
  • Secure Networks and Communication.

The program comprises a total of 36 credits.

Students are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores. Applicants are required to complete an online application — for which there is no fee — and submit a transcript request form.

For information on transfer credits, students should contact their enrollment representative.

Throughout the eight-week courses, students “will gain specialized knowledge regarding the interconnections between security solutions and the enterprise, security-related aspects of host-based computer security, as well as secure networks and communications.”

The estimated total cost of the MBA is $32,256.

Drake University

Drake University, located in Des Moines, Iowa, offers an MBA program with a specialization in cybersecurity management. The cybersecurity management specialization is delivered online only.

The specialization requires nine credit hours from a group of cybersecurity-focused electives that include:

  • Cybersecurity Management
  • Cyber Attack Prevention and Mitigation
  • IT Auditing
  • Fraud Examination
  • Internal Auditing
  • Operational Risk Management
  • Practical Contract Interpretation

The total number of credit hours required to complete the MBA with a specialization in cybersecurity management is 39. Required courses make up 27 credit hours, nine credit hours make up the cybersecurity specialization, and an additional three credit hours are earned through professional development seminars.

Students who wish to apply for the program must submit an application, a resume, a one-page personal essay, two letters of recommendation, and official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities.

The estimated cost per credit hour for the program is $700.

Cedarville University

Ranked No. 164 in its Best Online MBA Programs by U.S. News and World Report, Cedarville University’s accredited online MBA in Cybersecurity Management presents general business topics and concept from a biblical perspective.

The thorough coverage of cybersecurity topics in courses that include Cybersecurity Law and Policy, Foundations of Risk Management and Enterprise Security Architecture complements the traditional business course offerings. This interdisciplinary approach prepares students for leadership roles with a focus on defending an organization’s private information.

The university’s Cybersecurity MBA webpage states that students will learn to identify security risks and develop solutions through a biblical study path that emphasizes:

  • Excellence in personal standards and discernment
  • Kingdom influence through serving others
  • Stewardship of God-given talents
  • Leadership with a servant’s heart

Course curricula includes practical case studies, student-selected projects, simulations, and personal development.

The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools & Programs (ACBSP).

Applicants to the program must have completed a bachelor’s degree in any field from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 2.75 or higher. Upon application to the program, you must submit official transcripts from previously attended colleges or universities, a professional recommendation and a Christian leader recommendation.

The estimated total cost of the online MBA in Cybersecurity Management is $22,428.

American University

American University in Washington, D.C., has developed an MBA with a focus area in cybersecurity, intended to “provide compelling consideration of cybersecurity through a management lens.”

Courses offered in this 48-credit MBA program include:

  • Cybersecurity Risk Management
  • Database & Big Data
  • Cybersecurity Governance
  • Forensic Accounting: Fraud Examination Litigation Support

The university also offers an accelerated program. The One-Year MBA is designed for students who are not full-time employees and can sustain the accelerated workload.

According to American University’s website, students in the accelerated program can pursue the cybersecurity focus area, as the course sequence accounts for three elective courses — each worth three credits. This meets the nine-credit total, which is required to complete the focus area.

The estimated cost per credit hour for the cybersecurity-focused MBA is $1,812.