Online MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis
Online MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis
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Cybersecurity is a significant concern in every industry and sector that relies on information technology.1 Businesses need to protect their own proprietary information, as well as their customers’ sensitive data. The program is a way to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the IT department. Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business is pleased to offer the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Emphasis in Cybersecurity degree to professionals who wish to focus their careers on protecting computer systems and digital information.
Number of estimated cybersecurity jobs needed globally1
Pursue a career in cybersecurity and work to protect organizations and individuals. Apply today to earn online MBA: Cybersecurity emphasis at GCU.
The Colangelo College of Business seeks to graduate fully capable business leaders and future executives. When you graduate with your MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis, you may position yourself to pursue a decision-making role in any organization that understands the importance of cyberdefense.
It is expected that cybercrime will result in a loss of $8 trillion globally in 2023, with estimates of $10.5 trillion in losses annually by 2025.2 With the growth of cybercrimes, there is a critical need for business executives who understand the dynamics of cyberattacks and threat intelligence to mitigate the risk.
Estimated losses globally by 2025 due to cybercrime. 2
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)
Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer
Admission Requirements (Master's)
OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and
Admission requirements may differ based on degree level, program and modality, or transfer status. Some programs of study may require a higher GPA and/or other qualifying criteria for admission. Please review full admission and program requirements in the University Policy Handbook.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).
GCU’s MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis provides a comprehensive survey of modern business issues and cybersecurity concerns. There is an emphasis on examining the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. In addition to cybersecurity courses, this MBA program includes coursework in business analytics and management.
Some of the core topics you will study include:
Organizations and leadership
Cyber warfare prevention and countermeasures
Design of enterprise security and infrastructure
Operational and strategic management
Security solutions that align with business plans
Financial forecasting
Management of working capital
Cost behavior and budgeting
The online MBA: cybersecurity emphasis allows you to work through course materials when and where it is convenient for you. GCU’s interactive e-learning platform is designed to foster collaboration and communication amongst learners, providing pathways for professional networking and exposure to diverse perspectives.
At GCU, our mission is to provide greater accessibility to quality education that can prepare you to pursue your intended career pathway. We are proud to be institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission — a reflection of our tradition in academic excellence. The Colangelo College of Business shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies.
As you reflect upon your choice of degree programs and your potential career outcomes, it can be helpful to conduct some background research on the field. GCU has compiled the following frequently asked questions and answers for your consideration.
A cybersecurity emphasis MBA may provide opportunities to develop a strong foundation of competencies from which to position yourself to potentially further your career. The need for cybersecurity professionals creates the opportunity for growth in the field. Due to the shortage of cybersecurity professionals, there is a need for nearly 3.9 million cybersecurity jobs globally.1 Earning your master’s in cybersecurity may also help you position yourself for possible advancement in your current career.
Many cybersecurity positions do not require knowledge of coding. There are opportunities for professionals with either technical or non-technical backgrounds. Indeed, soft skills are considered as important as hard skills in this field. These essential soft skills include:3
There are various degrees that focus on cybersecurity preventive techniques and countermeasures, such as Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management. In these degree programs, you’ll have the opportunity to take a deep dive into the cybersecurity field by exploring advanced security-specific techniques and evaluative methods, as well as completing a capstone course where you’ll demonstrate the competencies you’ve been taught.
Whether a degree in cybersecurity or computer science is better for you depends on your career goals and skill set. A career in computer science focuses on various programming languages and coding. It is a technical discipline that will teach design, software and data-related computer processes. In contrast, a cybersecurity career focuses on learning how to protect data from hackers and how to defend against cybercriminals, data breaches and attacks.4
Cybersecurity may be the right choice for you if you’re passionate about protecting the security of information and computer systems within organizations.
Cybersecurity is critically important, both for organizations and individuals. Individuals often have a great deal of personal data stored in organizational computer systems — ranging from healthcare facilities to governmental entities. This creates the potential for identity theft and financial loss. A data breach may compromise sensitive data. For organizations, a breach of computer systems by black hat hackers can also lead to the potential for damage and theft. Cybersecurity professionals work to protect organizations and the individuals they serve.5
This MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis blends topics in modern business management with a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum. By earning your degree, you can prepare to meet the diverse challenges of the modern workplace. The skills taught in this MBA program are transferrable across a broad range of cybersecurity jobs and industries.
As a graduate, you’ll be expected to understand how to design effective cybersecurity programs to prevent and correct security weaknesses.
An MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis may be beneficial in these areas:
Business growth planning
Best practices in industry cybersecurity research
Critical application analysis
Ethical decision-making
Complex problem-solving
Secure business strategizing
1 ISC2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. (2023). How the Economy, Skills Gap and Artificial Intelligence Are Challenging the Global Cybersecurity Workforce. ISC2. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
2 Morgan, S. (2022, Oct. 17). Cybercrime to Cost the World 8 Trillion Annually in 2023. Cybercrime Magazine. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
3 Chin, K. (2023, April 6). Does Cybersecurity Require Coding? Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
4 Master’s in Data Science. (2021, July). Cyber Security vs. Computer Science. Master’s in Data Science. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
5 Tunggal, A. T. (2023, July 18). Why is Cybersecurity Important? UpGuard. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
In addition to cybersecurity, GCU offers a variety of emphases within our MBA program. Explore your options below.
