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Dakota State University · The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences

Cyber Defense, Ph.D.

PhDPhDDoctor of Philosophy in Cyber Defense

Overview

A 72-credit research doctorate in cyber defense with data privacy, management and technical specializations. Coursework is online; the annual residency requirement includes three on-site research seminars in Madison, South Dakota.

Official program name
Cyber Defense, Ph.D.
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Cyber Defense
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Degree level
Doctoral — research doctorate
University
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Administering location
Madison, SDWhere the university or its administering campus is located. Study is online; this is not a residency requirement and does not decide whether you may enroll from your state.
Subject
Specializations
Data privacy · Management · Technical fields
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Required credits
72 credits
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Duration
three years, or a part-time path of up to seven years
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Start terms
Fall, Spring
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Teaching language
English (not separately stated)
Why this program is listed

PhD with coursework entirely online and an annual residency of three on-site research seminars in Madison, SD.

Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

We list online bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from institutionally accredited US universities. Eligibility rules

Online format and attendance

“Online” is not one format. Delivery, campus visits, practical placements and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the university states it.
Academic delivery
Online coursework + campus visitsCoursework is online, with required visits, residencies or immersions on campus or at another set location.Coursework is online, with required visits, residencies or immersions on campus or at another set location.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Campus visits
Campus visits required
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Practical placement
Placement requirement: not verified
Class schedule
Not verified
Study intensity
Full-time, Part-time
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

In-person and practical requirements as published

  • Residency Required

    Annual residency requirement including three on-site research seminars on the Madison, SD campus.

    annual · Madison, South Dakota campus

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Curriculum

Curriculum details: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Specializations, concentrations and tracks

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the university states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.
Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's and master's degree from an accredited institution in cyber, data privacy, computer science or a technology-oriented field.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Minimum GPA
RequiredMinimum 3 — Minimum 3.0 GPA.
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
Not required
Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the university printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

  • Application deadline

    April 1 · for Fall

    The university does not print a year with this date.

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
    Year not printed

  • Application deadline

    September 15 · for Spring

    The university does not print a year with this date.

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
    Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.
CategoryAmountBasis and year
All online students — Online PhD, per credit hourFrom the university's online tuition table$548.75per credit · 2026-2027Estimated tuition$39,510 = 72 credits × $548.75 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026
Non-resident students, PhD CSC courses (per credit hour)From the university's online tuition table$666.45per credit · 2026-2027Estimated tuition$47,984.40 = 72 credits × $666.45 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required visits or placements, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Scholarships and financial aid

Awards published by the university for this program or for online students at this level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; financial aid availability does not make a program “fully funded”. Scholarships & funding guide

  • South Dakota State Employee Tuition Benefit Tuition discount

    Reduction equal to 50% of the resident undergraduate on-campus rate, up to six credits a semester

    Eligibility: Eligible employees of the state of South Dakota

    How to apply: Contact Admissions

    Source: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

Institution-wide awards are listed because they cover online students at this level; eligibility conditions apply.

Accreditation, authorization and licensure

Three separate questions: is the university accredited, can it enroll students from your state online, and does the program meet licensure requirements where you live?

Institutional accreditation

  • Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

No programmatic accreditation verified for this program. Institutional accreditation does not imply it.

State authorization

  • Dakota State University is an approved SARA institution and has participated in NC-SARA since February 2015. Official pageSource: dsu.edu · verified October 10, 2026

International applicants

Not verified for this online program.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 10, 2026.
  1. dsu.edu/academics/online/sara.html — Official disclosure page, verified October 10, 2026
  2. dsu.edu/admissions/online/cost-aid/index.html — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 10, 2026
  3. dsu.edu/programs/phdcd/index.html — Official program page, verified October 10, 2026
  4. DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026

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