Cyber Operations, BS
Program Quick Facts
Credits
120
Start Terms
Fall
|Spring
|Summer
Available
On Campus
|Online
Tuition
$8,956.50
estimated cost per semester
As technology advances, so do the risks and the need for skilled defenders. A bachelor's degree in cyber operations will prepare you to identify, analyze, and respond to real-world cyber threats, from data breaches and malware to software vulnerabilities. You’ll go beyond simply understanding attacks–you’ll learn to think like an attacker, analyzing their methods, motivations, and techniques.
Through a strong foundation in programming, networking, and cybersecurity, combined with hands-on lab experiences, you’ll gain practical skills in areas like malware analysis and software exploitation.
Curriculum & experience highlights
Hands-on cyber training
The Madison Cyber Labs provide a dynamic, hands-on environment where students gain real-world experience across cybersecurity and technology. Through practical exercises in areas like programming, networking, and cyber defense, students work in realistic scenarios to analyze threats, identify vulnerabilities, and strengthen systems–building skills that directly prepare them for the professional field.
Your experience beyond the classroom
As a Cyber Operations student at DSU, you’ll have access to a wide range of opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. From competing in national cybersecurity competitions and attending industry conferences to joining student organizations and participating in hands-on projects, you’ll build real-world experience while growing your network. You can also take advantage of specialized scholarship programs, including cybersecurity-focused initiatives, that support your education and help launch your career in the field.
Notable courses
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of cyber operations, including security principles, system vulnerabilities, legal and ethical considerations, applied cryptography, and wireless communications. Students will also begin analyzing security scenarios and exploring mitigation strategies through introductory exercises in reverse engineering and penetration testing.
This course introduces the fundamentals of local area networks (LANs), including network topologies, media selection, protocols, and data transmission techniques. Students explore network planning and installation considerations, as well as common hardware and software components. The course also covers troubleshooting methods, giving students practical experience in identifying and resolving network issues.
This course provides a foundation in malware analysis, focusing on both static and dynamic techniques for examining unknown binaries. Students explore advanced concepts in malware behavior and detection while using industry-standard tools to analyze, debug, and reverse engineer malicious code.
This course explores the theoretical and practical aspects of network penetration testing. Students learn the five phases of ethical hacking–reconnaissance, scanning and vulnerability assessment, exploitation, maintaining access, and covering tracks–through hands-on labs and real-world scenarios. Emphasis is placed on current tools and methodologies used in the field.
This course covers the theoretical and practical aspects of firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Topics include configuration, implementation, rule creation, and traffic filtering, along with current developments in network defense. Students gain hands-on experience with both host-based and network-based intrusion detection, as well as application and enterprise-level firewall technologies.
Why choose DSU for cyber operations?
Designated cyber excellence
The Bachelor of Science in Cyber Operations is designated by the National Security Agency's National Cryptologic University as Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), one of only 20 such designations in the nation. Our program meets some of the highest cybersecurity education standards in the nation.
Learn from leaders in cybersecurity
At DSU our facutly are experts who are actively engaged in the cybersecurity field, attending conferences, conducting research, and contributing to open-source projects. Their real-world experience shapes what you learn, keeping it relevant and current. With regularly updated courses and an evolving curriculum, you’ll graduate with the up-to-date skills employers are looking for.
"When you come to DSU, you might think small university, small opportunities, but I don’t think that could be more wrong. I think DSU is one of those sleeping giants. And everyone I’ve talked to in the professional field seems to know the name DSU, even though it’s a small university."
- Ashton Ruesch, cyber operations graduate student
Faculty
Your future in cyber operations
With a degree in cyber operations, there’s no limit to what you can accomplish. You can seamlessly continue into DSU’s master’s program or step directly into the workforce with in-demand skills. DSU graduates are highly sought after and have been hired by leading organizations such as the National Security Agency (NSA), Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory, Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, the Department of Defense, Sandia National Laboratories, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. They also work across industries including finance, healthcare, and cybersecurity firms nationwide, protecting critical systems and shaping the future of digital security.
