Masters of Athletic Training
The Master of Athletic Training at Southern Utah University is a full-time, intensive p...
Master of Business Administration - Cybersecurity
Cedar City, Utah
INTAKE: Mar, May, Jul, Aug & Oct
Program Overview
The MBA with a Cybersecurity emphasis at Southern Utah University is available entirely online, offering considerable flexibility for working professionals seeking to advance their careers without interrupting their current responsibilities. The program utilizes a fast-paced 7-week class structure, allowing students to complete their degree efficiently, often in as little as 12 months. It focuses on integrating core business administration principles with advanced cybersecurity concepts, covering areas like risk management, incident response, cyber law, and policy. The program's objective is to prepare graduates for management positions within technology-focused organizations, enabling them to design, plan, and manage secure cyber systems and protect critical infrastructures from external threats.
AACSB Accredited: The Dixie L. Leavitt School of Business at Southern Utah University, which houses the MBA program and all its specializations, holds the prestigious accreditation from AACSB International – The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. This accreditation represents the highest standard of achievement for business schools worldwide, attained by only a small percentage of business programs globally. AACSB accreditation signifies that SUU's business programs, including the MBA with a Cybersecurity emphasis, meet rigorous standards for quality in curriculum, faculty qualifications, research, and student outcomes. This ensures that graduates receive a globally recognized and highly respected degree, enhancing their credibility and competitiveness in the cybersecurity and business sectors.
Curriculum: The 33-credit hour MBA curriculum for the Cybersecurity emphasis includes 24 credit hours of core MBA courses and 9 credit hours of specialized cybersecurity emphasis courses. Core MBA courses cover essential business principles such as Managing People & Organizations, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Leadership, Advanced Managerial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Managerial Finance, Marketing, and Strategy. The Cybersecurity emphasis courses delve into critical areas such as "Foundations of Cybersecurity with Information Assurance," "Research and Critical Thinking in Cybersecurity," and a selection from electives like "Cybersecurity Project Management" or "Cybersecurity Risk Management." This blended curriculum ensures students develop a solid foundation in general business management while gaining specialized knowledge in cyber system design, threat assessment, incident response, and compliance.
Research Focus: While the MBA in Cybersecurity is a professional master's degree aimed at practical application, Southern Utah University's curriculum incorporates a strong research and critical thinking component. Courses like "Research and Critical Thinking in Cybersecurity" equip students with the ability to proactively analyze information, critically evaluate cybersecurity risks, and make informed decisions to protect systems and data. The program emphasizes the use of frameworks and case studies to identify vulnerabilities, assess real business risks, and review security compliance mechanisms and governance programs. Faculty members often bring real-world experience and current insights from the cybersecurity field into the classroom, fostering an evidence-based approach to solving complex cybersecurity management challenges.
Industry Engagement: Southern Utah University's School of Business, including the MBA with a Cybersecurity emphasis, is dedicated to ensuring its programs are highly relevant to industry needs. The curriculum is designed to provide "experiential projects and practical curriculum" that focuses on cybersecurity theory, practical application, and leadership. While specific industry partnerships for the Cybersecurity MBA are not always detailed in every source, the broader School of Business maintains strong connections with the business community, facilitating networking events and career services. The program's emphasis on project management, incident response preparedness, and disaster recovery directly aligns with critical skills demanded by employers in the cybersecurity sector.
Global Perspective: Southern Utah University's MBA program, including the Cybersecurity emphasis, inherently fosters a global perspective through its core business curriculum, which aims for graduates to "understand the global, ethical and sociopolitical context of business." Cybersecurity threats are inherently global, with cybercrime and cyber warfare transcending national borders. Therefore, the cybersecurity emphasis courses, especially those covering "Cyber Law and Investigations" and "Cybersecurity Policies and Compliance," likely incorporate discussions of international legal frameworks and global cybersecurity challenges. The program's focus on developing comprehensive cybersecurity risk management strategies also prepares graduates to cope with global issues that impact the industry, ensuring they can protect organizations operating in an interconnected world.
Location
Cedar City, Utah
Score
IELTS 6.5
Tuition Fee
USD 16836
Postgraduate Entry Requirements
Academic Qualifications: Applicants for postgraduate programs typically require a minimum academic achievement of 70% or above in their bachelor's degree.
English Language Proficiency:
- IELTS: Overall band score of 6.5 or 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component.
- TOEFL: Overall score of 79 or higher.
- DET (Duolingo English Test): Minimum score of 110.
Southern Utah University (SUU) offers a range of scholarships designed to support international students in achieving their academic goals while making education in the United States more affordable. These scholarships recognize academic excellence, leadership, and unique talents, helping to reduce the financial burden for students from around the world.
Merit-Based Scholarships: International students who demonstrate strong academic performance are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships during the admission process. These awards are based on high school GPA, standardized test scores, and other academic achievements. Merit scholarships can significantly reduce tuition costs and are often renewable each year as long as students maintain the required GPA.
International Student Scholarships: SUU provides dedicated scholarships specifically for international students, including the International Student Achievement Award and other competitive scholarships that encourage diversity and academic excellence. These awards aim to attract talented students globally and foster a vibrant international community on campus.
Departmental and Program-Specific Scholarships: Many academic departments at SUU offer scholarships tailored to students pursuing particular fields of study. These scholarships reward outstanding performance, research potential, or involvement in departmental activities and can supplement other financial aid.
Athletic Scholarships: For international students who excel in sports, Southern Utah University offers athletic scholarships across various NCAA Division I sports programs. These scholarships are awarded based on athletic ability and academic standing.
Graduates of Southern Utah University's MBA with a Cybersecurity emphasis are uniquely positioned to bridge the critical gap between business strategy and robust cybersecurity defense. The program's AACSB accreditation guarantees a high-quality business education, while its specialized curriculum in areas like information assurance, risk management, cyber law, and incident response equips alumni with the essential skills to protect organizational assets in an increasingly digital and threat-laden world. The demand for cybersecurity professionals, particularly those with management and leadership capabilities, is soaring, driven by rising cybercrime and the need for comprehensive digital protection across all industries.
Director of Information Security (CISO-track): These senior leaders are responsible for establishing and maintaining the enterprise vision, strategy, and program to ensure information assets and technologies are adequately protected. An MBA provides the crucial business context for this high-level role.
Cybersecurity Manager: Overseeing a team of security analysts and engineers, these managers develop, implement, and manage an organization's security systems and procedures, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations.
Cybersecurity Consultant: Working for consulting firms or independently, graduates advise various organizations on their cybersecurity strategies, risk management, incident response plans, and compliance frameworks, offering specialized expertise.
Information Security Analyst: These professionals monitor security access, conduct internal and external security audits, perform vulnerability and penetration tests, and respond to security breaches, acting as frontline defenders.
Risk Management Analyst (Cybersecurity Focus): Specializing in identifying, assessing, and mitigating cyber risks, these analysts develop risk management frameworks, evaluate potential threats, and recommend controls to reduce organizational exposure.
Compliance Officer (Cybersecurity/IT): These roles involve ensuring an organization adheres to relevant cybersecurity laws, regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS), and industry standards, often conducting audits and developing compliance programs.
Cybersecurity Project Manager: Combining project management skills with cybersecurity expertise, these professionals lead and oversee the implementation of new security technologies, systems, and initiatives from conception to completion.
Business Continuity/Disaster Recovery Manager: Focused on organizational resilience, these managers develop and implement plans to ensure critical business operations can continue during and after a significant cyber incident or other disaster.
Security Operations Center (SOC) Manager: Leading a team within a SOC, this role involves overseeing the continuous monitoring of security systems, incident detection, analysis, and response to cyber threats in real-time.
IT Director/Manager with Security Oversight: In smaller to medium-sized organizations, an IT director or manager might also be responsible for the overall cybersecurity posture, leveraging their MBA to manage both general IT infrastructure and specific security initiatives.
