Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Catalog (ARCHIVED) 2020-2021 
    
Graduate Catalog (ARCHIVED) 2020-2021 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Cyber Defense, Ph.D.


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Program Description

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Cyber Defense program addresses important technical aspects of cyber defense, yet infuses cyber defense leadership, ethics and management concepts to ensure will rounded graduates.  Students learn how to work in a variety of research methodologies to support innovation in technical careers, research and develop tools to advance the field of network defense, cyber and privacy risk management, software assurance, Internet of Things security (IoT), 5G network security, digital forensics, penetration testing, incident response, vulnerability scanning, network security monitoring and response, data privacy, multinational cyber security defense, IT governance and compliance, and privacy enhancing technologies. 

The program provides a particular emphasis on research and applying ethical frameworks to security decisions to integrate cyber ethics into leadership and decision-making; and research and develop models to measure cyber security and date privacy effectiveness in both public and private sector organizations.

The Ph.D. in Cyber Defense takes a holistic, interdisciplinary approach to cyber defense, including important technical, leadership, ethics, and management concepts.  Graduates are prepared for careers in private industry, government agencies, the military, research labs and academia.  At DSU, we have a recognized excellence in cyber security, education, and research from the National Security Agency (NSA) and The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that is central to our technological mission.  DSU currently holds four prestigious Center of Academic Excellence Designations from NSA and DHS, including the most technical for Cyber Operations and the prestigious Cyber Defense Consultative Regional Resource Center.

Residency Requirements

This program is offered entirely online.  However, students are required to complete three on-site research seminars (CSC 890 , one credit each, taken three separate times) in a face-to-face setting on the Madison, SD campus. These research seminars will be held annually and take place over multiple days. 

Program Completion

The program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis, with classes offered in three academic terms: fall, spring, and summer. Full-time students with a master’s degree in cyber, data privacy, computer science or a technology-oriented degree should be able to complete this program in 3 years. The program must be completed within 7 years of the semester of the students admission.

Admission Requirements Specific to the Ph.D. in Cyber Defense

Dakota State University seeks highly motivated individuals with education and professional credentials that will enable them to be successful doctoral students. Students must have a bachelors or master’s degree in cyber, data privacy, computer science or a technology-oriented degree to apply.

Admission Requirements

  1. Baccalaureate degree from an institution of higher education with full regional accreditation for that degree. International students must have an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree that is the equivalent to a four-year undergraduate degree in the U.S. Students must have a bachelors or master’s degree in cyber, data privacy, computer science or a technically-oriented degree.
  2. Minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on an alternative grading system).

Program Faculty:

Kevin Streff, Program Coordinator
Bramwell Brizendine, Kyle Cronin, Edward Dennis, Philip Egeberg, Michael Ham, Ashley Podhradsky, Pam Rowland, Kevin Streff, Josh Stroschein, and Yong Wang

Dissertation (27 Credits)


Students will be required to complete three on-site research seminars (CSC 890, 1 credit each, taken 3 separate times) in a face-to-face setting at the Madison, SD campus.  These research seminars will be held annually and take place from 3-5 days.  The research seminars are intended to acquaint students with contemporary cyber security research issues, allow students to report, present, and discuss articles pertinent to cyber defense research and provide students an opportunity to meet faculty, identify a dissertation advisor, present their dissertation proposal defense, as well as completing the final dissertation defense and oral comprehensive exam.

Course Rotation


Core Requirement


Course# Course Title FA
20
SP
21
SU
21
FA
21
SP
22
SU
22
FA
22
SP
23
SU
23
INFA 702 Prin. of Data Privacy                  
INFA 710 Cybersecurity Program Design & Implementation                  
INFA 713 Managing Security Risks X     X     X    
INFA 720 Incident Response X     X     X    
INFA 730 Physical Security                  
INFA 731 Personnel Security                  
INFA 733 Vendor Management                  
INFA 754 Intrusion Detection X     X     X    
INFA 758 Security Metrics                  

 

Research Core


Course# Course Title FA
20
SP
21
SU
21
FA
21
SP
22
SU
22
FA
22
SP
23
SU
23
CSC 803 Introduction to Cyber Security Research X X X X X X X X X
CSC 804 Cyber Security Research Methodologies X X X X X X X X X
CSC 807 Cyber Security Research X X X X X X X X X

 

Dissertation


Course# Course Title FA
20
SP
21
SU
21
FA
21
SP
22
SU
22
FA
22
SP
23
SU
23
CSC 809 Dissertation Preparation X X X X X X X X X
CSC 890 Dissertation Seminar I X X X X X X X X X
CSC 898D Dissertation X X X X X X X X X

 

Electives


BADM 765 Management and Leadership FA
20
SP
21
SU
21
FA
21
SP
22
SU
22
FA
22
SP
23
SU
23
CSC 748 Software Exploitation                  
CSC 791 IS: Collaboratin Cyber Security Research                  
INFA 723 Cryptography   X     X     X  
INFA 735 Offensive Security     X     X     X
INFA 742 Ethics and Information Technology                  
INFA 745 Compliance and Audit                  
INFA 751 Wireless Security X     X     X    
INFA 792 Topics                  
INFA 794 Internship                  

 

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