Online MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis

Q: Is cybersecurity a good career?

Cybersecurity may be the right choice for you if you’re passionate about protecting the security of information and computer systems within organizations.

Overview

Explore Relationships Between IT and Business Industries

Cybersecurity is a significant concern in every industry and sector that relies on information technology.^{(See disclaimer 1)} Businesses need to protect their own proprietary information, as well as their customers’ sensitive data. The program is a way to bridge the gap between the boardroom and the IT department. Grand Canyon University’s Colangelo College of Business is pleased to offer the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an Emphasis in Cybersecurity degree to professionals who wish to focus their careers on protecting computer systems and digital information.

3.9 Million

Number of estimated cybersecurity jobs needed globally^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Master of Business Administration with an Emphasis in Cybersecurity

Offered By

Colangelo College of Business

Class Settings

Evening

Online

Tuition Rate

Online: $665 per credit [More Info]

Evening: $665 per credit [More Info]

Cost of Attendance

Course Information

Credits: 54

Online: 8 weeks

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Transfer Credits

Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the total program requirements in transfer (whichever is less)

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

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements (Master's)

Undergraduate Degree*
2.8+ GPA

OR 2.5+ Unweighted GPA and

GMAT: 500
GRE: 300 combined**

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.
* Degree must be from an accredited college or program that has been approved by GCU.
** Combined verbal/quantitative, after August 2011 (1,000 combined verbal and quantitative, prior to August 2011).

Why GCU

Earn Your MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis From GCU

This MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis blends topics in modern business management with a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum. By earning your degree, you can prepare to meet the diverse challenges of the modern workplace. The skills taught in this MBA program are transferrable across a broad range of cybersecurity jobs and industries.

As a graduate, you’ll be expected to understand how to design effective cybersecurity programs to prevent and correct security weaknesses.

An MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis may be beneficial in these areas:

Business growth planning

Best practices in industry cybersecurity research

Critical application analysis

Ethical decision-making

Complex problem-solving

Secure business strategizing

Earn an Online MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis

The online MBA: cybersecurity emphasis allows you to work through course materials when and where it is convenient for you. GCU’s interactive e-learning platform is designed to foster collaboration and communication amongst learners, providing pathways for professional networking and exposure to diverse perspectives.

Online Learning

Coursework

Topics Covered in This Cybersecurity Emphasis

GCU’s MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis provides a comprehensive survey of modern business issues and cybersecurity concerns. There is an emphasis on examining the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. In addition to cybersecurity courses, this MBA program includes coursework in business analytics and management.

Some of the core topics you will study include:

Organizations and leadership

Cyber warfare prevention and countermeasures

Design of enterprise security and infrastructure

Operational and strategic management

Security solutions that align with business plans

Financial forecasting

Management of working capital

Cost behavior and budgeting

View All MBA Programs

In addition to cybersecurity, GCU offers a variety of emphases within our MBA program. Explore your options below.

Explore MBA Degrees

Careers

Cybersecurity Career Paths for Graduates

The Colangelo College of Business seeks to graduate fully capable business leaders and future executives. When you graduate with your MBA with a cybersecurity emphasis, you may position yourself to pursue a decision-making role in any organization that understands the importance of cyberdefense.

It is expected that cybercrime will result in a loss of $8 trillion globally in 2023, with estimates of $10.5 trillion in losses annually by 2025.^{(See disclaimer 2)} With the growth of cybercrimes, there is a critical need for business executives who understand the dynamics of cyberattacks and threat intelligence to mitigate the risk.

$10.5 Trillion

Estimated losses globally by 2025 due to cybercrime.^{(See disclaimer 2)}

FAQ

MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis FAQs

As you reflect upon your choice of degree programs and your potential career outcomes, it can be helpful to conduct some background research on the field. GCU has compiled the following frequently asked questions and answers for your consideration.

Is an MBA: Cybersecurity emphasis worth it?

A cybersecurity emphasis MBA may provide opportunities to develop a strong foundation of competencies from which to position yourself to potentially further your career. The need for cybersecurity professionals creates the opportunity for growth in the field. Due to the shortage of cybersecurity professionals, there is a need for nearly 3.9 million cybersecurity jobs globally.^{(See disclaimer 1)} Earning your master’s in cybersecurity may also help you position yourself for possible advancement in your current career.

Does cybersecurity require coding?

Many cybersecurity positions do not require knowledge of coding. There are opportunities for professionals with either technical or non-technical backgrounds. Indeed, soft skills are considered as important as hard skills in this field. These essential soft skills include:^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
Eagerness to learn and adapt
Communication skills
Attention to detail
Teamwork and collaboration

What are other degrees involving cybersecurity?

There are various degrees that focus on cybersecurity preventive techniques and countermeasures, such as Master of Science in Cybersecurity and Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management. In these degree programs, you’ll have the opportunity to take a deep dive into the cybersecurity field by exploring advanced security-specific techniques and evaluative methods, as well as completing a capstone course where you’ll demonstrate the competencies you’ve been taught.

Is cybersecurity better than computer science?

Whether a degree in cybersecurity or computer science is better for you depends on your career goals and skill set. A career in computer science focuses on various programming languages and coding. It is a technical discipline that will teach design, software and data-related computer processes. In contrast, a cybersecurity career focuses on learning how to protect data from hackers and how to defend against cybercriminals, data breaches and attacks.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Is cybersecurity a good career?

Why is cybersecurity important?

Cybersecurity is critically important, both for organizations and individuals. Individuals often have a great deal of personal data stored in organizational computer systems — ranging from healthcare facilities to governmental entities. This creates the potential for identity theft and financial loss. A data breach may compromise sensitive data. For organizations, a breach of computer systems by black hat hackers can also lead to the potential for damage and theft. Cybersecurity professionals work to protect organizations and the individuals they serve.^{(See disclaimer 5)}

Courses

Program Curriculum

Credit Summary

Major54 credits

Degree Requirements54 credits

Fundamental Courses

Fundamental courses prepare students for the curricular content they will encounter within the program. Upon evaluation of their transcripts, students with the appropriate undergraduate degree(s) may wave fundamental course(s). All students will undergo transcript evaluations upon receipt of their undergraduate degree bearing official transcript. For college specific information regarding fundamental coursework, students should refer to the University Policy Handbook.

ACC-502

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course is designed for students who are preparing for more advanced coursework in business but who have not had accounting in undergraduate work. Topics covered include the principles and practices of financial accounting, including the fundamentals of revenue recognition, the components of the balance sheet, and financial statement analysis. ?The course explores accounting theories using publicly traded companies and case studies.

FIN-504

4 Total Credits

SYM-506

4 Total Credits

Core Courses

UNV-504

2 Total Credits

MGT-605

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course examines modern leadership and organizational dynamics, focusing on how contemporary issues reshape traditional paradigms. Key concepts include servant leadership, ethical decision-making, and global leadership. Through case studies and exercises, students develop strategies for organizational effectiveness. The course emphasizes critical skills for modern leaders, including emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking, in dynamic business environments.

ECN-601

4 Total Credits

BUS-660

4 Total Credits

MKT-607

4 Total Credits

Course Description

Management of the marketing function, market environmental analysis, and marketing planning, strategy, and control are fundamentals of marketing management. The course examines the marketing process, marketing research, product development innovation and diffusion, pricing strategy, distribution value drain, advertising and promotion, and strategic marketing issues. Emphasis is placed on case study analysis and current academic research with a marketing plan as a significant curriculum component.

ACC-650

4 Total Credits

MGT-655

4 Total Credits

Course Description

Operations Management examines managerial concepts and strategies relating to the management of operations in both manufacturing and service environments. Emphasis is placed on methods to streamline and drive inefficiencies out of a firm’s internal processes to build a highly efficient organization. The course also focuses on external processes by examining ways to achieve greater supply chain integration with suppliers and customers. Quantitative and qualitative methods and tools are introduced and applied. Prerequisite: SYM-506.

FIN-650

4 Total Credits

MGT-660

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This capstone course focuses on preparing and conducting a strategic analysis of a selected publicly traded firm by assessing a changing business landscape to produce actionable intelligence used to develop a strategy focused on value creation. Students also engage in a product-focused simulation that provides a collaborative experience, providing an opportunity to apply creativity, business knowledge and skills to reflect on lessons learned in real time decision-making. Based on the results of the simulation and their strategic analysis, students are then required to prepare the framework of a strategic plan that creates significant value for all stakeholders. Prerequisites: MGT-605, MKT-607, ACC-650, and FIN-650.

CYB-505

4 Total Credits

Course Description

With a brief introduction to cybercrime and cybersecurity, this course will provide students with an overview of the various attacks and the countermeasures organizations can use to defend themselves. Exploring concepts such as defense-in-depth, layered security, vulnerability assessments, risk management, governance and compliance, and encryption; students will become familiar with prevention and protection theories, best practices, and strategies to securing corporate data (intellectual property). This course will conclude with an exploration of the various hacker psychologies and the differences between black-hat, grey-hat, and white-hat (Hackers with Halos) hackers. Prerequisite: UNV-504 or UNV-507 or enrollment in certificate program.

CYB-515

4 Total Credits

Course Description

This course introduces enterprise infrastructure design; including hardware, software, policies, and business processes. Emphasis is placed on integrating security solutions and theories in alignment with business objectives to achieve sustainability, reliability, and availability while deterring threats from cyber-attacks. This course also introduces students to the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, providing a foundation to formulating a strategy for cybersecurity program design. Prerequisite: CYB-505.

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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Pursue a career in cybersecurity and work to protect organizations and individuals. Apply today to earn online MBA: Cybersecurity emphasis at GCU.

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ISC2. (2024). ISC2 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Retrieved Oct. 6, 2025
Morgan, S. (2022, Oct. 17). Cybercrime to Cost the World 8 Trillion Annually in 2023. Cybercrime Magazine. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
Chin, K. (2023, April 6). Does Cybersecurity Require Coding? Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
Master’s in Data Science. (2021, July). Cyber Security vs. Computer Science. Master’s in Data Science. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.
Tunggal, A. T. (2023, July 18). Why is Cybersecurity Important? UpGuard. Retrieved Nov. 28, 2023.

Online MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis

Explore Relationships Between IT and Business Industries

Earn Your MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis From GCU

Earn an Online MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis

Topics Covered in This Cybersecurity Emphasis

View All MBA Programs

Cybersecurity Career Paths for Graduates

Earn Your MBA From an Accredited University

MBA: Cybersecurity Emphasis FAQs

Program Curriculum

Fundamental Courses

Core Courses