Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Programs in South Dakota - Cybersecurity Majors

Two universities in the state of South Dakota currently offer online bachelor’s degree programs in the field of cybersecurity: Dakota State University, a public institution in Madison, and National American University, a private school in Rapid City. Together, these two universities offer a total of six online bachelor’s in cybersecurity programs. Students can explore programs with specializations or majors in cyber and network security, cyber operations, or cyber leadership and intelligence. These schools also offer degree programs in business administration or information technology with specializations in cybersecurity and related fields, such as digital forensics.

Both universities are institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Dakota State University also holds two designations from the National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program (NCAE-C), one in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) and one in Cyber Research (CAE-CR). NCAE designations signify that a school has aligned its curricula with federal standards established by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in collaboration with the National Security Agency (NSA).

Bachelor’s degree programs typically include general education requirements, major and/or specialization courses, and electives. The information on this page focuses on courses that are part of a program’s cybersecurity curriculum. To learn more about online bachelor’s programs in cybersecurity in South Dakota, continue reading below.

• Dakota State University (Public)
• National American University (Private)

Schools in South Dakota with Online Bachelor’s in Cybersecurity Programs

Dakota State University (DSU) offers four different undergraduate programs for students interested in cybersecurity. The school’s Beacom College of Computer and Cyber Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Cyber Operations and a BS in Cyber and Network Security. The College of Arts and Sciences grants a BS in Cyber Leadership and Intelligence and DSU’s College of Business and Information Systems offers a Bachelors of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management. All four of these programs are available fully online and require 120 credits to graduate, which includes general education requirements, major requirements, and elective courses.

The BS in Cyber Operations degree program requires 78 credits of major courses. These include programming and computing courses like Introduction to Computers, Computer Science I and II, Assembly Language, Networking I and II, Operating Environments,Operating Systems, Introduction to Discrete Mathematics, and more. Cybersecurity-specific courses include Cyber Law and Policy, Introduction to Cyber (the intro to cyber operations course for the program), Defensive Network Security, Offensive Network Security, Malware Analysis, and Threat Hunting and Incident Response.

DSU’s BS in Cyber and Network Security requires 74 credits of major courses which includes courses focused on networking and cybersecurity. Networking courses include Introduction to Computers, Computer Science I and II, Networking I and II, Routing and Switching, Advanced Routing and Switching, UNIX/Linux Administration, Windows Administration, and more. Cybersecurity focused courses include Introduction to Cyber, Software Security, Cyber Law and Policy, Computer Forensics Fundamentals, Offensive Network Security, Defensive Network Security, and Threat Hunting and Incident Response. As their culminating experience, students complete either an Internship to gain fieldwork experience or they take a Research course where they develop an independent project working with a faculty member.

The BS in Cyber Leadership and Intelligence requires 72 credits of major courses (54 credits of required courses plus 18 credits of specialization courses). Students select from one of two specialization options: Digital Forensics or World Affairs and Human Behavior. Required courses include foundational courses in computer science like Introduction to Computers, Computer Science I, and Problem Solving and Programming. The cybersecurity curriculum features courses such as Introduction to Cyber, Introduction to Cyber Leadership, The US Intelligence Community, Cyber Social Science Methods and Analysis, Cyber-Ethics, and Cyber Law and Policy. Students also take courses in Intelligence Failures, Modern World Literature, International Relations, and People and their Cultures.

The Digital Forensics specialization requires courses in Operating Environments, Networking I and II, Computer Forensics Fundamentals, Advanced Computer Forensics, and Advanced Windows Forensics. The World Affairs and Human Behavior specialization requires courses in National Security Law, Cybercrime, Online Radicalization, Comparative Government, Social Deviance, and either Digital Media Communications or Intercultural Communication. As part of the program’s curriculum, students also take either an Internship course, where students work on special projects with an instructor, or a Research course, where the student pursues a project developed in conjunction with faculty.

DSU’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Business offers a specialization in Cybersecurity Management that requires 81 credits of major courses (60 credits of required courses plus 21 credits of specialization courses). Required business courses include fundamental courses in business and management like Principles of Accounting I and II, Business Statistics I and II, Business Ethics, Business Finance, International Trade & Finance, Managerial Communications, Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, and more. Students are also required to complete three application courses from the following list: Advanced Applications; Advanced Applications: Spreadsheets; Advanced Applications: Database; Advanced Applications: SAS; QuickBooks I; and QuickBooks II.

In addition to the business and application courses, students select one of the following three computer science courses: Computer Science I, Problem Solving and Programming, or Visual Basic Programming. The Cybersecurity Management specialization then requires seven additional courses that include Introduction to Cyber, Cyber Leadership, Cyber Law and Policy, Defensive Network Security, and Networking I and II. Students then choose one course from three options: Organizational Behavior; Project Management; or Hardware, Visualization, and Data Communication.

National American University offers two different undergraduate degree options for students interested in cybersecurity: a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) with an emphasis in Cybersecurity and Forensics, and a BSIT with a Specialization in Information and Network Security. Both programs required 180 quarter credit hours that are made up of major and core courses, electives, and general education requirements. It is important to note that 180 quarter credits is similar to bachelor’s degree programs that require 120 semester credit hours.

Both degree programs require the same Information Technology Major Core made up of 60 credits. This includes the courses Computer Concepts, Principles of Programming, Introduction to Database, Linux, Introduction to Computer Security, Systems Architecture, Website and Web Application Design, and more. Students in both programs also complete an Introduction to Business course. The core technology courses are designed to prepare students to pursue professional certifications offered by CompTIA, such as A+ and Network+. Students may also be able to pursue additional certifications through elective courses.

The Cybersecurity and Forensics emphasis is made up of seven courses. Students take Java Programming, Internet Security, Cybercrime and Information Systems, Network Security, Computer Forensics, Forensic Methods, and an upper-division information technology elective. The Information and Network Security specialization is made up of four courses. Students take Information Security and then select three classes from the following four options: Internet Security, Cybercrime and Information Systems, Network Security, and Computer Forensics. Students pursuing this specialization complete additional electives as part of their degree program.