Dakota State University students walking around campus

Preparation + opportunity = success

That's the DSU equation. We're a four-year university with nationally recognized programs, cutting-edge facilities, and the brightest thinkers. But we're also a tight-knit, inclusive community. Small class sizes mean hands-on training and individualized attention. All this with an affordable, public school price that's among the best values in the region.

Majors & Degrees

Search

Popular searches

smiling woman

Is DSU the right fit for you?

Even the best brochures and postcards (and yes, even websites) can only tell you so much about a college. The only surefire way to know if DSU is right for you is to see for yourself.

Visit DSU

Home ― Cyber Operations Doctor of Philosophy (PHDCO)

Cyber Operations Doctor of Philosophy (PHDCO)

Pair computer science with IT security

Gain a foundation in cyber operations while specializing in data collection, software exploitation, analysis of malicious code, and reverse engineering. Our PhD in Cyber Operations is a technical program grounded in computer science with an emphasis in cyber security.

In addition to online curriculum, complete three on-site research seminars designed to acquaint you with cyber security issues. Discuss articles pertinent to cyber security, meet faculty, and present your dissertation proposal. These research seminars are held annually and take place over multiple days. Because of this, there is a residency requirement for this program.

Only US residents and those holding a Permanent Resident Card are allowed to apply to this program.

DSU CYBER 27

Next Steps

The Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences

Grow your connections

When you attend DSU, you make connections with real-life professionals and organizations. Our partnerships with these organizations help fill the national need for cyber security professionals and researchers nationwide. After graduation, you’ll have commanding knowledge of cyber security, making you an essential attribute to any company.

We have ties with – but not limited to – the following organizations:

  • National Security Agency (NSA)
  • Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
  • Navy SPAWAR
  • Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
  • Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Lab
  • Army INSCOM
  • Carnegie Mellon’s Software Engineering Institute
  • MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory

Possibilities

We are experts in cyber security. We leverage our expertise in all things tech to give you an innovative doctoral degree that meets the needs of a vast array of organizations.

  • Professor
  • Researcher for private industry firms
  • Researcher for government agencies

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the Doctor of Philosophy in Cyber Operations, students will:

  • Be able to articulate the importance of software reverse engineering
  • Evaluate various types of cyber vulnerabilities, both internal and external, to reduce organizational risk.
  • Conduct viable research that reflects complex abilities to model, analyze, and design cyber operation processes and systems.
  • Communicate complex technical information, both orally and in writing, that meets the needs of diverse audiences.
  • Formulate operational cyber security components (e.g., goverance, policy, risk and compliance.)

Faculty

Kyle Cronin

Kyle Cronin

Associate Professor, Coordinator for Ph.D. in Cyber Defense
Michael Ham

Michael Ham

Associate Professor
Andrew Kramer

Andrew Kramer

Assistant Professor
Yong Wang

Yong Wang

Professor / Associate Dean of Beacom Graduate Programs