DBA Academics and Curriculum

Curriculum

DBA Academics and Curriculum

The interdisciplinary EDBA-Cyber program aims to develop ethical security leaders who can improve security practice globally through applied, evidence-based analysis and rigorous evaluation of complex issues in play. This degree will enable our students to successfully employ skills learned to tackle the security problems in organizations. The program’s instruction will follow a blended learning approach involving a combination of traditional face-to-face lectures through limited residency cohorts, online learning, discussions, and seminars. 

The EDBA degree provides potential students with appropriate educational credentials to gain a vital edge in a competitive environment. Graduates will benefit from increased knowledge in cybersecurity and potential opportunities for career differentiation and advancement into leadership positions. The program is not designed to train students to pursue an academic career as tenure-track faculty.

Program Design

Residency Schedules

  • Fall 2022 Residency Dates

    Residency 1: September 9 - 11, 2022

    Residency 2: October 14 - 16, 2022

    Residency 3: November 11 - 13, 2022

    *subject to change

  • Spring 2023 Residency Dates

    Residency 1: February 3 - 5, 2023

    Residency 2: March 10 - 12, 2023

    Residency 3: April 14 - 16, 2023

    *subject to change

Curriculum (60 credits)

The EDBA Cyber requires 60 credits for graduation.  Students complete the following:

  • Year 1:  24 credit hours
  • Year 2:  18 credit hours
  • Year 3:  18 credits of dissertation research 

DBA in Cybersecurity Management (60 Credits)

Cybersecurity Foundations (9 Credits)

CYSM 6100

Cybersecurity Technologies

3 Credits

CYSM 6200

Enterprise Information Security

3 Credits

CYSM 6300

Cybersecurity Governance

3 Credits

Business Knowledge (12 Credits) choose from:

BUAD 7300 Digital Strategy and Innovation 3 Credits

MGMT 6200

Managing Organizational Development, Change, and Transformation

3 Credits

MGMT 7080

Organizational Theory and Research: Implications for Cybersecurity

3 Credit

STRT 7500

Strategic Management

3 credits

LEAD 8300

Leadership Excellence in Complex Organizations

3 Credits

Research Methods (9 Credits)

LEAD 7100

Intermediate Quantitative Research and Statistics

3 Credits

LEAD 7150

Intermediate Qualitative Research

3 Credits

LEAD 8100

Advanced Quantitative Research and Statistics

3 Credits

Cybersecurity Research (12 Credits)

QUAN 7110

Principles of Scientific Inquiry

3 Credits

CYSM 7120

Research Seminar in Information Security Management

3 Credits

CYSM 7130

Research Seminar in Information Privacy

3 Credits

CYSM 7190

Research Project

3 Credits

Dissertation on Cybersecurity Management Topics (18 Credits)

CYSM 8000

Dissertation

18 Credits

Student Learning Outcomes

The EDBA-Cyber is designed to equip students with the ability to:

  1. Develop skills for cybersecurity scholarship and research competency.
  2. Analyze and communicate issues impacting cybersecurity.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of information security research.
  4. Apply current research to address complex problems of cybersecurity practice.

The student outcomes will be assessed through the successful completion of coursework, proposal defense, and successful defense and completion of the dissertation.

Course Description

  • Digital Strategy and Innovation (3 credits)

    We are now living in a new era of business practice, value creation and delivery. Understanding the changes relevant in the research, design, and execution of digital business is only becoming more important for present and future managers. Whether the context is an existing business trying to figure out how to offer value in the transition to digital or a new, digital native business designing their value delivery and growth strategy, it is imperative to understand this new landscape. This class offers students the opportunity to become more familiar with digital business strategy and innovation through a close look at,1) digital business models and revenue structures, 2)  how to design and conduct a digital-business opportunity analysis, 3) how to create and deliver value through digital marketing channels, and 4) the unique parameters and tools for online growth. The students will develop the ability to evaluate research concerning the structural and strategic options for creating a digital business. Prerequisites: Graduate business students only.

  • Cybersecurity Technologies (3 credits)

    This course will examine cybersecurity technologies that are needed to ensure the protection of critical information systems. The focus will be on the technical aspects of cybersecurity. We will discuss cryptography, operating systems security, application security, and network security. The course content also includes topics of principles of computer security, user authentication, access control, malicious software, denial-of-service attacks, intrusion detection, firewalls, and Intrusion Prevention Systems. Prerequisites: Graduate students only.

  • Enterprise Information Security (3 credits)

    This course will provide an understanding to effectively implement the information security vision and strategy set forth by the executive management. The emphasis will be on cybersecurity management including information security policy and development of security program. The course focuses on establishing security processes, information security standards, risk management (models), business continuity, contingency planning tools, and SETA (security education, training and awareness). Prerequisites: Graduate students only.

  • Cybersecurity Governance (3 credits)

    This course will investigate the challenges and opportunities of effectively governing an organization’s information security requirements and resources. Cybersecurity governance lays out the vision for the cybersecurity program. This course will discuss what constitutes good cybersecurity governance, and the development of an effective security strategy and policy. We will also focus on how to improve information security accountability and maturity. Prerequisites: CYSM 6100, Graduate students only.

  • Principles of Scientific Inquiry (3 credits)

    This course explores the philosophy of science and applied scholarly research. It introduces the principles of scientific research along with different research paradigms. We discuss positivist, interpretive and critical research perspectives. Students will learn about design science research and its relevance to information security. The course also examines the effectiveness of various research approaches. Prerequisites: Graduate business students only.

  • Research Seminar in Information Security Management (3 credits)

    This course examines the philosophical and theoretical foundations of information systems security. The focus is on understanding distinctive research orientations regarding information security in organizations. The goal of the course is to provide an intellectual foundation for students to develop an appropriate research program in this area. Prerequisites: CYSM 6200, CYSM 6300, QUAN 7110

  • Research Seminar in Information Privacy (3 credits)

    This course examines the privacy issues regarding information systems. The focus is on understanding distinctive research orientations regarding information privacy. Discussions will emphasize critical evaluation of theoretical foundations of privacy in our modern technologically based society. The goal of the course is to provide an intellectual foundation for students to develop an appropriate research program in this area. Prerequisites: CYSM 6100, QUAN 7110

  • Research Project (3 credits)

    This course focuses on developing a conceptual paper in an area of interest in information security. It aims to provide students with a mentored, structured approach to develop critical skills required for dissertation. Students will apply the concepts, theories and methods learned in various courses. The paper may include plan for data collection and analysis. This preliminary research paper can serve as a basis for the dissertation proposal. Prerequisites: CYSM 7120, CYSM 7130.

  • Dissertation (18 credits)

    This course is designed to guide the students through various stages of the dissertation process beginning with the development of a proposal and ending with a successful dissertation defense. Students may repeat this course to meet the necessary requirements. Prerequisites: Instructor approval (program director or dissertation chair).

  • Intermediate Quantitative Research and Statistics (3 credits)

    Students learn and apply advanced methods of analyzing data with an emphasis on the use and interpretation of descriptive and inferential techniques. Topics covered include repeated measures ANOVA, power, multiple correlation, and regression, ANCOVA, MANCOVA, Factor Analysis, and selected packaged statistical programs. Open to Ph.D. students only. Prerequisites: Introduction to Statistics or equivalent.

  • Intermediate Qualitative Research (3 credits)

    Identify and discuss differing philosophical orientations in respect to knowledge and inquiry among qualitative researchers. Study traditions of qualitative research that have evolved within disciplines of anthropology, sociology, psychology, and organizational theory and critique various qualitative studies. Develop competency in various techniques for gathering, analyzing, and reporting qualitative data. Open to PhD students only. Prerequisites: Introduction to Statistics or equivalent.

  • Advanced Quantitative Research and Statistics (3 credits)

    Advanced methods of developing and analyzing complex data sets through the application of appropriate statistical measures, including time series analysis, SEM, and HLM; and develop skills to conduct and submit critical analyses of published research studies. Students also design, implement, and conduct research projects followed by the completion of professional-level research reports. Open to PhD students only. Prerequisites: Intermediate Quantitative Research and Statistics or equivalent.

  • Leadership Excellence in Complex Organizations (3 credits)

    Analyzes organizational metaphors and their application to complex organizations. Examines various theories on organizations and the role of process, structure, and communication in organizational effectiveness. Investigates the relationship between and among various systems. Students apply knowledge of adult human development and systems theory to organizational development and strategic planning. Open to PhD students only.

  • Managing Organizational Development, Change and Transformation (3 credits)

    In an environment of dynamic, non-stop change and increasing competition, organizations that have the best skills in developing healthy, high-performance organizations and managing change will have a competitive advantage. People who are trained in these skills can significantly increase their value to organizations. The course provides sound theory and practical training in how to successfully manage change, develop high-performing individuals, teams, and organizations, and transform organizations. Prerequisites: MGMT 6000 or business doctoral students.  Graduate Business students only.

     

  • Organizational Theory and Research: Implications for Cybersecurity (3 credits)

    This course bridges organizational theory and research with the applied needs of contemporary cybersecurity professionals.  The primary   goal   of   this   course   is   to   survey   the classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives and issues studied in organizational research. It provides a broad overview of the major theoretical debates within organization theory, and how they have influenced research in more applied fields. The overarching goal is to provide students with resources derived from organizational theory and research that will help develop innovative solutions to the multifaceted challenges inherent in the cybersecurity industry.

  • Strategic Managment (3 credits)

    The drivers of competitive advantage have changed as the pace of innovation has accelerated. Traditional defensive tactics such as cornering the market for key material resources, or securing legally defensible property rights, offer little protection against hacking, espionage, and theft of intellectual property in this new information economy. Knowledge, discovery, innovation, and technology are the essential competitive resources for the modern era. However, this transition to a new form of competitive dominance based on information power creates new opportunities and challenges for managers of organizations. This course offers an orientation to strategic management issues surrounding technology, and the attainment of competitive advantage through information-based power. It provides an introduction to work in the field of strategic management. The students will learn about different theoretical approaches to strategy research that are based on different disciplines. Students will also explore different areas of strategy research including corporate governance, global strategy, and organizational design. Prerequisites: Graduate business students only.