Executive Doctor of Business Administration, EDBA

EDBA Cybersecurity Management

The College of Business offers the Doctor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management (EDBA-Cyber) in an executive format. EDBA-Cyber is a unique terminal degree designed to develop scholar-practitioners skilled in practice-focused research in cybersecurity. The 3.5-year, part-time program is designed for the working executives, specifically, Senior Executives with Information Security, Information Technology, Compliance, or Auditing experience. The focus of the program is on addressing complex security problems in organizations through understanding and application of the latest research in information security.

The interdisciplinary EDBA-Cyber program aims to develop ethical security leaders who can improve security practice globally through applied, evidence-based analysis and rigorous evaluation of complex issues in play. This degree will enable students to successfully employ skills learned to tackle security problems in organizations. The program’s instruction will follow a blended learning approach involving a combination of traditional face-to-face lectures through limited residency cohorts, online learning, discussions, and seminars.

The program is delivered in an executive format involving limited residencies (three weekends per semester). Students are expected to attend all residencies (for exceptions, refer to the DBA Student Handbook). The program is not designed to train students to pursue an academic career as tenure-track faculty.

Students interested in the EDBA-Cyber should contact the Graduate School of Business Administration at 719-255-3408 or email GSBA@uccs.edu.  For further information on the EDBA-Cyber program, please see the program website at www.uccs.edu/edba.

1. Develop skills for cybersecurity scholarship and research competency.
2. Analyze and communicate issues impacting cybersecurity.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of information security research.
4. Apply current research to address complex problems of cybersecurity practice.

The learning outcomes will be assessed through successful completion of coursework, proposal defense, successful oral defense, and the completion of the dissertation.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the EDBA program is competitive. Selections will be based on several factors including graduate GPA, academic background, professional experience, goals statement, writing skills, optional test scores, and letters of recommendation (optional). Additionally, selected applicants should:

• Demonstrate familiarity with the information technology or cybersecurity profession.
• Show evidence of the potential success in doctoral education.
• Show evidence of potential success as a professional in the field of cybersecurity management.

Formal admission to the EDBA-Cyber program includes a screening process, evaluation of credentials, and interview upon request with the admissions committee. The program cohort begins every fall semester.  Applications are reviewed on a rolling admission basis.

1. A student must hold a bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in information security, information systems, information technology, computer science, or a related area with a minimum 3.0 GPA.  A student who is admitted without a master’s degree may earn an MBA degree as a part of the EDBA studies.   Extra coursework will be required to earn both degrees.
2. A minimum of five years of managerial or consultative experience in cybersecurity, information systems, information technology, compliance, audit, or a related field.

Application Checklist

1. Complete and submit the Graduate School online application.
2. Pay a $60 non-refundable application fee.
3. Personal Goals Statement (Maximum 1200 words). This essay should include the following:
   • Discuss your reasons for pursuing this degree.
   • Information on your strengths and weaknesses.
   • Describe how you plan to balance the time commitment required for the program (about 20 hours per week) with your personal and professional responsibilities.
   • Elaborate on any obstacles or anticipated impediments to completing the program successfully.
4. Submit a Resume or Curricular Vitae.
5. Submit two letters of recommendation (optional).
6. Submit official GMAT or GRE test scores (optional).
7. Request official transcripts from every institution of higher education attended to be sent to UCCS.
8. International applicants:

• Applicants with any foreign college coursework are required to submit a course-by-course evaluation completed by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). 
• Applicants whose native language is not English must meet a minimum standard of English Proficiency for the College of Business.
• Applicants must reside in the United States to be eligible to apply to the EDBA program.  Currently, UCCS cannot offer student visas for this program.

• Students may transfer a maximum of fifteen (15) hours of graduate-level coursework completed at another accredited school to the EDBA-Cyber program.
• Students may transfer no more than fifteen (15) credits forward from one UCCS Master’s degree to EDBA-Cyber.

Students admitted early may complete the cybersecurity foundation courses (CYSM 6100, 6200, and 6300) in the Cybersecurity Management Graduate Certificate at UCCS before the start of the EDBA program. Admission to the Graduate Certificate does not guarantee admissions to the EDBA-Cyber program. All courses must meet the UCCS transfer credit policy as described in Section E of the Graduate School Policies and Procedures manual.

Academic Policies

The EDBA-Cyber program adheres to policies set not only by the College of Business but also by the UCCS Graduate School. For additional details, please visit https://graduateschool.uccs.edu/current-students/policies-and-procedures.

• Student Ethics
• Academic Probation
• Not satisfactorily completing program requirements (pass coursework, examinations, make progress on thesis/dissertation projects, adhere to professional standards, etc.)

A dismissed student is eligible to reapply for admission after one year. Approval or rejection of this application rests with the EDBA Faculty Director. Validation of previous coursework may be required for students to complete matriculation in the degree.

• Dissertation Proposal. An examination to determine the student’s preparedness and appropriateness of the topic, prior to commencing work on the dissertation.

• Dissertation Defense. After the dissertation has been accepted by the student’s dissertation advisor, a final examination of the dissertation and related topics will be conducted by the Dissertation Advisory Committee. The examination is open to anyone who wishes to attend. A successful candidate must receive the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the dissertation committee. In case of failure, the examination may be attempted once more after a period of time determined by the committee. A student must be registered for at least 1 dissertation credit or candidate for degree status during the semester (or summer session) in which the dissertation defense is held. The Graduate School must be notified of the dissertation defense at least two weeks in advance of the scheduled date of the defense, which must be no later than 18 days before the final day of the semester of graduation.