Online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity

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Degree Level

Bachelor's

Class Setting

Online

Area of Study

Technology

Program

BS in Cybersecurity

Current Education Level

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Citizenship Status

U.S. Citizen

Military Affiliation

No military affiliation

Country

United States

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Overview

Develop Skills To Defend Against Cybersecurity Threats

The Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree at Grand Canyon University was developed with industry guidance to produce highly skilled, well-equipped cybersecurity professionals. As cyberattacks grow more advanced — especially with threat actors using AI to target high-value data — the need for skilled cybersecurity professionals is more critical than ever.^{(See disclaimer 1)} A cybersecurity degree can prepare you to defend against these evolving threats using the same advanced tools attackers rely on.

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Offered By

College of Engineering and Technology

Class Settings

Campus

Online

Tuition Rate

Campus: $8,250 per semester [More Info]

Online: $485 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 120

Campus: 15 weeks

Online: 7 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 90 credits, only 84 can be lower division

Credits: Fill out the Lopes Eval to find out what will transfer

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Bachelor's)

16+ years old
High School Graduate
3.0+ Unweighted GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

ACT: 19
SAT: 1000*

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.
*Math and reading only on a 1600 point scale (test date after 3/1/2016). SAT score of 1380 required for 2400 point scale (test date before 3/1/2016).

Why GCU

Strengthen Your Understanding of Network Defense

This cybersecurity bachelor’s degree emphasizes critical thinking, field-based application and practical project management experience. You will be taught valuable workplace skills, such as collaboration, adaptability, initiative, effective communication and ethical decision making — all within a project-based environment.

Rooted in GCU’s Christian worldview, the program also emphasizes integrity and responsible practice in the face of complex cybersecurity challenges.

This on-campus and online cybersecurity degree responds to industry needs by teaching:

Practical Knowledge

Exposing you to curriculum designed to help prepare you for emerging threats, incident response and risk management scenarios

Protective Measures

Instructing you to prevent data breaches, protect against various types of cybercrime and address vulnerabilities

Adaptability

Revealing the importance of adapting quickly to evolving cybersecurity tools, risks and industry compliance standards

Continual Education

Instilling a mindset of continuous upskilling and lifelong learning to stay ahead in the fast-evolving digital field

Flexible Learning Options To Fit Your Lifestyle

At GCU, we recognize the demands of a busy lifestyle, which is why we offer flexible learning options to support your academic journey. Whether you're balancing work, family or other commitments, our online and in-person classes are structured to provide the convenience and adaptability necessary to achieve your academic goals.

Online Experience

Experience the flexibility and convenience of earning your cybersecurity bachelor’s degree online. Our comprehensive program is focused on teaching you industry-related skills and knowledge, all accessible through our robust online learning platform.

Online Learning

Campus Experience

Engage in hands-on learning and direct lab interaction with knowledgeable faculty in simulated cybersecurity scenarios. Refine technical skills, collaborate with peers and receive immediate instructor feedback for cybersecurity career readiness.

Campus Life

Hear From Our Students and Faculty

"The thing that excites me the most about this cybersecurity program is that there is no shortage of information and skills to learn."

Caitlin Secrist

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

"The thing that excites me the most about this cybersecurity program is that there is no shortage of information and skills to learn."

Caitlin Secrist

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity Degree Requirements

Learn about the general requirements for a cybersecurity degree, including typical coursework, admission criteria and any recommended technology or software tools.

Software Requirements

Admission Requirements

Coursework

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Coursework

Step into the front lines of digital defense with a cybersecurity bachelor’s degree that can equip you with the skills to protect computer systems, networks and sensitive data from hackers and malicious software. This cybersecurity bachelor’s degree builds and measures your competency across key areas, including defensive cybersecurity, cyberlaw and cyberethics.

Cybersecurity degree areas of study include:

Digital forensic investigations

Malware reverse engineering

Wireless security

Security architecture design

Security frameworks

Secure system administration

Information assurance foundations

Critical Skills for Identifying and Managing Threats

You will have the opportunity to implement and present a field-based applied research and design project as part of your capstone in this cybersecurity degree.

Throughout the program, you will be taught skills in:

Platform and network technologies
Cyberlaw and privacy in a digital age
Cybersecurity and ethical hacking
IT business case planning for global enterprise
Analysis, design and management of secure corporate networks

Careers

Career Paths for Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Graduates

Working in cyber intelligence can be a rewarding career with room to position yourself for potential advancement.

A few occupations in the cybersecurity field may include:

Computer and information systems manager

Information security analyst

Computer network support specialist and architect

Network and computer systems administrator

Computer systems analyst

Computer and information research scientist

$124,910

Median annual wage for information security analysts as of May 2024^{(See disclaimer 2)}

33%

Estimated job growth for information security analysts from 2023 to 2033^{(See disclaimer 3)}

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

This section answers common questions about our bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity online and in person, including details about the field and other key details to help you make an informed decision.

Is a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity worth it?

Is a cybersecurity degree hard?

A cybersecurity bachelor’s degree can be challenging, but it's manageable for students who are motivated, analytical and open to learning. If you’re curious, think like a problem-solver and enjoy exploring how systems work, you may find it no harder than other tech degrees. Approach challenges like a hacker — with creativity and healthy skepticism — and you can be prepared to pursue opportunities in the field.

Are cybersecurity jobs needed?

Does cybersecurity pay well?

Courses

Program Curriculum

Credit Summary

General Education Requirements34-40 credits

Major80 credits

Open Elective Credits0-6 credits

Degree Requirements120 credits

General Education Requirements

General Education coursework prepares Grand Canyon University graduates to think critically, communicate clearly, live responsibly in a diverse world, and thoughtfully integrate their faith and ethical convictions into all dimensions of life. These competencies, essential to an effective and satisfying life, are outlined in the General Education Learner Outcomes. General Education courses embody the breadth of human understanding and creativity contained in the liberal arts and sciences tradition. Students take an array of foundational knowledge courses that promote expanded knowledge, insight, and the outcomes identified in the University's General Education Competencies. The knowledge and skills students acquire through these courses serve as a foundation for successful careers and lifelong journeys of growing understanding and wisdom.

Competency

4 Total Credits

Course Description

Upon completion of the Grand Canyon University's University Foundation experience, students will be able to demonstrate competency in the areas of academic skills and self-leadership. They will be able to articulate the range of resources available to assist them, explore career options related to their area of study, and have knowledge of Grand Canyon's community. Students will be able to demonstrate foundational academic success skills, explore GCU resources (CLA, Library, Career Center, ADA office, etc), articulate strategies of self-leadership and management and recognize opportunities to engage in the GCU community.

Competency

9-12 Total Credits

Competency

4 Total Credits

Competency

11-12 Total Credits

Course Description

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to use various analytic and problem-solving skills to examine, evaluate, and/or challenge ideas and arguments (mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, geology, astronomy, physical geography, ecology, economics, theology, logic, philosophy, technology, statistics, accounting, etc.). Students are required to take 3 credits of intermediate algebra or higher.

Competency

6-8 Total Credits

Course Description

Graduates of Grand Canyon University will be able to demonstrate awareness and appreciation of and empathy for differences in arts and culture, values, experiences, historical perspectives, and other aspects of life (psychology, sociology, government, Christian studies, Bible, geography, anthropology, economics, political science, child and family studies, law, ethics, cross-cultural studies, history, art, music, dance, theater, applied arts, literature, health, etc.). If the predefined course is a part of the major, students need to take an additional course.

Required General Education Courses

CYB-420

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers an analysis of Cyber warfare in the 21st Century and beyond. Cyberspace is a complex environment that controls every aspect of a country’s Economy, Communication, and Infrastructure. This course will examine cyber warfare from a case-study perspective, applying the battlespace doctrine developed by military cyber operations teams. At the conclusion of this course students will have a fundamental understanding of the cyberspace threatscape, ethical challenges, and be able to strategize and implement cyber warfare operations. Prerequisite: ITT-340 or SWE-310.

Core Courses

CST-111

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course provides a foundation for programming and problem solving using computer programming, as well as an introduction to the academic discipline of IT. Topics include variables, expressions, functions, control structures, and pervasive IT themes: IT history, organizational issues, and relationship of IT to other computing disciplines. The course prepares students for advanced concepts and techniques in programming and information technology, including object-oriented design, data structures, computer systems, and networks. The laboratory reinforces and expands learning of principles introduced in the lecture. Hands-on activities focus on writing code that implements concepts discussed in lecture and on gaining initial exposure to common operating systems, enterprise architectures, and tools commonly used by IT professionals. Prerequisite: MAT-154 or MAT-261.

ITT-116

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course exposes students to the fundamentals of networks and networking in IT. It then builds deeper understanding of how networks work, including the topics of LANs, WANs, service providers, packets, hubs, routers, switches, and internet protocols. The laboratory reinforces and expands learning of principles introduced in the lecture. Hands-on activities focus on setting up and configuring local and enterprise networks, experimenting with various topologies, and scalability planning with switches and routers.

CYB-201

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This in an introductory course in algorithm analysis with applications in discrete mathematics. Topics covered include complexity analysis, finite logic, Boolean algebra, sets, functions, counting, finite state machines, automata, regular expressions, and cryptography. Learners will determine how variability affects outcomes and assess the suitability of an algorithm to solve a given problem. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Algorithms and Discrete Mathematics for Cybersecurity. Prerequisites: MAT-154 and CST-111 or ITT-111.

ITT-270

4 Total Credits

ITT-310

4 Total Credits

CYB-220

4 Total Credits

Course Description

The Internet Age has introduced myriad legal challenges on a global level. Students will explore the emerging specialty within law that is cyber law. Topics will expose the reality that our legal system has evolved in a physical and visual world, but cyber space is largely invisible and virtual. Students will learn that past legal decisions or legal precedence has been important in our system and reasoning by analogy has been used extensively. In many cases the laws applied in the physical realm do not translate equally well into cyber space. This course will discuss the importance of this area introduce legal issues that need to be addressed.

ITT-121

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces students to system administration and maintenance as well as platform technologies. The course surveys operating systems, applications, administrative activities and domains, computer architecture and organization, and computing infrastructures. The laboratory reinforces and expands learning of principles introduced in the lecture. Hands-on activities focus on developing practical skills in configuring computer systems, deploying enterprise applications, managing user permissions, and remote administration. Prerequisite: ITT-116.

ITT-307

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course builds upon knowledge already acquired in the areas of system architecture and operating systems and focuses on the core issues of information security. Students learn fundamental concepts of information security including data encryption, security awareness, legal and ethical issues, operational issues, security policies, and attack types; while expanding on the coverage to include security domains, forensics, security services, threat analysis, and vulnerabilities assessments. Prerequisite: ITT-120, or ITT-121 or CST-125 or CST-126 or CST-220 or CST-221.

ITT-210

4 Total Credits

ITT-370

4 Total Credits

STG-390

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This writing intensive course provides an insight into professional communications and conduct associated with careers in science, engineering and technology. Students learn about the changing modes of communication in these disciplines recognizing the advances in digital communications. They gain practical experience developing and supporting a thesis or position through written, oral, and visual presentations prepared and delivered individually and in groups. Students will explore concepts and issues in professional ethics and conduct such as privacy, discrimination, workplace etiquette, cyber-ethics, network and data security, identity theft, ownership rights and intellectual property.

CYB-320

4 Total Credits

Course Description

In this course students will explore the world of malware through meticulous analysis and binary reverse engineering techniques. This is a skill-based course with hands on labs that focus on both static and dynamic malicious code analysis. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to apply the tools and methodologies to safely perform analysis on common malware samples in a control environment. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Malware Analysis. Prerequisite: ITT-310 & ITT-307.

ITT-340

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers mathematical models for computer security. It analyzes and compares the properties of various models for hardware, software, and database security. The course examines how system designs, network protocols, and software engineering practices can result in vulnerabilities. Students learn to design, evaluate, ethically hack, and implement adequate security measures that can safeguard sensitive information. Prerequisite: ITT-307.

ITT-380

4 Total Credits

Course Description

Information Assurance is explored from the perspective of frameworks and technical compliance. Students will be exposed to the idea that proper understanding of, and implementation of frameworks and compliance has recently become a requirement for many security careers. Students will perform in-depth analysis of the needs of the system juxtaposed against the requirement to comply with a mandated framework. Practicum/field experience hours: None. Information Assurance. Prerequisite: ITT-307.

CYB-350

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course explores how end users can pose a threat to the security of an organization by falling victim to even simple traps. Students will learn that human manipulation creates a whole school of cybercrime opportunities such as phishing, “watering hole attacks” and other social engineering tactics. These threats are directed to the human psyche - not sophisticated malware or technical vulnerabilities, but rather the psychology and behavior of people. Students will see that a malicious actor – or “hacker” - need not be involved; an uneducated or careless employee or an unwieldly procedure can result in sensitive information leaking and potentially falling into the hands of an attacker. Prerequisite: ITT-307.

ITT-375

4 Total Credits

ITT-430

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course covers the design, management, and maintenance of virtual enterprise and datacenter infrastructure. Students learn to use appropriate tools such as request tracking, monitoring, configuration management, virtualization, and scripting to administer and defend systems using documented, repeatable processes. Emphasis will be placed on volume management, directory services, and network-based authentication and file systems. Students develop automatic procedures for installations and file distribution. Prerequisites: MAT-154 and ITT-307.

ITT-415

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course prepares students to plan and implement IT systems that take into account business realities, objectives, and constraints associated with domestic and international business activities. The course exposes the key computational, analytical, and decision-making tools used by businesses. Students also develop an understanding of the social, cultural drivers of successful IT investments, and their effect on business strategy and models. A special emphasis is placed on the symbiotic relationship between information technology and business and on international case studies, as manifested in information pricing, technological lock-in and network effects. Prerequisite: CST-326 or BIT-415 or CYB-220.

ITT-455

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course provides students the opportunity to work in teams to tackle real world applied research and design projects in their chosen area of interest. Students develop a project proposal, conduct a feasibility study, learn to protect intellectual property, develop teamwork skills, budgets, and a schedule for completing the project. Students conduct extensive research, integrate information from multiple sources, and work with a mentor through multiple cycles of feedback and revisions. Students implement and present the applied research project. Students use this course to further develop technical writing and business presentation skills. This is a writing intensive course. Prerequisite: ITT-415 or ITT-430.

ITT-425

4 Total Credits

GCU cannot and will not promise job placement, a job, graduate school placement, transfer of GCU program credits to another institution, promotion, salary, or salary increase. Please see the Career Services Policy in the University Policy Handbook.
Please note that this list may contain programs and courses not presently offered, as availability may vary depending on class size, enrollment and other contributing factors. If you are interested in a program or course listed herein please first contact your University Counselor for the most current information regarding availability.
Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Programs or courses subject to change

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Take the First Step Toward Network Security

If you’re passionate about protecting digital systems and ready to build valuable skills in cybersecurity, this degree could be the right fit for your future.

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Field Effect. (2025, Feb. 3). What Is the Future of Cybersecurity? Retrieved July 7, 2025.
The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Information Security Analysts, as of May 2024, retrieved July 7, 2025. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as information security analysts, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 and 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Information Security Analysts, retrieved July 7, 2025.
Market.us. (2024, October). Cyber Security Market. Retrieved July 7, 2025.

Online Bachelor’s Degree in Cybersecurity

Develop Skills To Defend Against Cybersecurity Threats

Strengthen Your Understanding of Network Defense

Flexible Learning Options To Fit Your Lifestyle

Cybersecurity Degree Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Coursework

Critical Skills for Identifying and Managing Threats

Career Paths for Cybersecurity Bachelor’s Degree Graduates

NCAE-CD Designation

Frequently Asked Questions

Program Curriculum

General Education Requirements

Required General Education Courses

Core Courses