We all depend on the internet to conduct our everyday business, whether at home or at the workplace. Safety is of utmost importance, although unfortunately, in today’s world, everything we do, comment on or the business we conduct online is at risk. Larger organizations, such as our U.S. Government, FBI and Department of Homeland Security, are always at risk due to hackers and cyberterrorists who continually try to sabotage and compromise our national security and global economy. So, experts in the field of cybersecurity are needed now more than ever.
If you are already established in the field of cybersecurity, would you like to advance in your career? Conduct research? Or be an educator? Why not earn your doctorate degree? Online Doctor of Cybersecurity programs are easily accessible and are designed to provide convenience and flexibility for adult distance learning students. Most online programs use an asynchronous format; therefore, you can access your assignments at anytime and from anywhere.
Although doctoral degrees are not necessary to be in the field of cybersecurity, having the accolade will set you apart from the competition. Most students who are striving to complete an online Doctor of Cybersecurity program are interested in research opportunities. The process of earning this degree will give you the pertinent experience you need, especially through the completion of the required dissertation.
Schools prefer applicants that are original thinkers and can offer a significant amount of time and thought to their doctorate programs. They appreciate the determination and knowledge required to complete the extensive research needed to make a significant contribution to the filed of cybersecurity, therefore, the prerequisites for entering an online Doctor of Cybersecurity program can be intense. You will need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. (Depending on your program, a master’s degree may not be required, however, it may be awarded after the second to third year of graduate coursework is completed.) You will also need a GPA of 3.0 or higher in your computing and math courses. Other admission requirements include exceptional GRE test scores, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, previous professional experience relevant to the field, as well as, evidence of previous research work and publications.
Typically, your program will take three to seven years to complete. You will spend about two years on graduate level online coursework and three to five years preparing an original piece of research and then defending your dissertation in front of a committee of experts. Earning your online Doctor of Cybersecurity is not for the faint of heart, for it requires much time, energy and consideration to complete the program, but is so worth it!
Within your doctorate program, although it may vary, you can expect coursework such as, security risk management, cyber law, data warehousing, theory of computation, artificial intelligence, homeland security, as well as, computer systems, information theory, networks and architecture, graphics and visualization, network security, software engineering, advance algorithms and applied cryptography. You can also expect classes focused on the analysis of malicious code, software exploitation, penetration testing processes, machine learning and applied probability.
With a genuine interest in protecting the betterment of tomorrow’s technological advances, the field of cybersecurity will provide you with a rewarding, lucrative and secure future. Possible job titles include corporate researcher, university faculty or policy advisor. If you are interested in pursuing this degree, please see our picks for the Best Online Doctor of Cybersecurity Degree Programs.
