The PhD in Cybersecurity prepares students for advanced careers in research, academia, and technical leadership across government, industry, and critical infrastructure sectors. Students engage in rigorous coursework, interdisciplinary research, and dissertation work under faculty supervision within the School of Cybersecurity.

Degree Requirements

To earn the Doctor of Philosophy in Cybersecurity, students must complete:

  • A minimum of 48 credit hours beyond the master’s degree
  • (or 78 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s degree, including foundational coursework where required)
  • All required core courses and approved electives
  • Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) training
  • A cybersecurity teaching practicum
  • A successful candidacy examination (written and oral)
  • Approval of a dissertation topic and proposal
  • A minimum of 18 credit hours of CYSE 899 Doctoral Dissertation
  • Successful defense of the doctoral dissertation
  • Completion of the Graduate Teaching Assistant Instructors’ Institute (GTAI)
  • Participation in seminars and professional development activities

All requirements must be completed within eight years of admission.

Students must complete the following required coursework:

  • CYSE 801 – Advanced Cybersecurity Techniques and Operations II (3)
  • CYSE/PHIL 803 – Moral Reasoning for Emerging Technologies (3)
  • CYSE 800* – Research Methods in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 802 – Cybersecurity Seminar (3)
  • CYSE 869 – Cybersecurity Practicum (3)
  • Advanced Electives (15)
  • CYSE 899 – Doctoral Dissertation (18)

Total: 48 credit hours

*CYSE 800 should be completed in the first year of study.

The teaching practicum requirement must be completed before scheduling the dissertation defense.

Students are encouraged to publish refereed research papers during the program.

Students entering without a master’s degree in cybersecurity or a closely related field must complete up to 30 additional credit hours of foundational coursework, including:

  • CYSE 600 – Cybersecurity Principles (3)
  • CYSE 601 – Advanced Cybersecurity Techniques and Operations (3)
  • CYSE 603 – Advanced Cybersecurity Law and Policy (3)
  • CYSE 605 – Leadership and Management in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 616 – Cyber Defense Fundamentals (3)
  • Restricted Foundational Electives (15)

Total: 30 credit hours

These courses are selected in consultation with the advisor.

Students will select from a list of courses in consultation with a faculty advisor. Selected coursework must be approved by a faculty advisor.

  • CYSE 519 Cyber Physical System Security (3)
  • CYSE 520 Applied AI in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 525 Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy (3)
  • CYSE 526 Cyber War (3)
  • CYSE 595 Topics in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 607 Advanced Digital Forensics (3)
  • CYSE 610 Advanced Cryptography (3)
  • CYSE 615 Mobile and Wireless Security (3)
  • CYSE 625 Advanced Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing (3)
  • CYSE 635 AI Security and Privacy (3)
  • CYSE 695 Advanced Topics in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 697 Independent Study in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CS 564 Networked Systems Security (3)
  • CS 567 Introduction to Reverse Software Engineering (3)
  • CS 569 Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (3)
  • CS 522 Introduction to Machine Learning (3)
  • CS 580 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
  • CS 624 Data Analytics and Big Data (3)
  • IT 634 Cloud Computing and Security (3)
  • ENMA 625 Introduction to Homeland Security Logistics (3)
  • ENMA 670 Cyber Systems Engineering (3)

Students will work in consultation with a faculty advisor to select elective courses. All elective courses must be approved by a faculty advisor. The following is a non-exhaustive list of advanced elective courses that could be modified based on the suggestion of faculty advisors.

  • CYSE 891 Security and Privacy of Generative AI Systems (3)
  • CYSE 892 Usable Security and Privacy (3)
  • CYSE 898 Doctoral Research (3)
  • CS 822 Machine Learning (3)
  • CS 828 Deep Learning Fundamentals and Applications (3)
  • CS 832 Human Computer Interaction (3)
  • CS 833 Natural Language Processing (3)
  • CS 852 Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (3)
  • CS 861 Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering (3)
  • CS 862 Memory Analysis and Forensics (3)
  • CS 865 Internet of Things Security (3)
  • CS 872 Advanced Computer and Network Security (3)
  • CS 873 Data Mining and Security (3)
  • CS 874 Distributed System Security (3)
  • CS 882 Generative AI (3)
  • ECE 842 Computer Communication Networks (3)
  • ECE 861 Advanced Probabilistic Methods for Electrical and Computer Engineering (3)
  • ECE 880 Machine Learning II (3)
  • ECE 882 Digital Signal Processing II (3)
  • ECE 884 Computer Vision (3)
  • ENMA 801 Digital Systems Engineering (3)
  • ENMA 825 System Risk and Failure Analysis (3)
  • ENMA 850 System of Systems Engineering (3)
  • ENMA 855 Human System Engineering (3)
  • ENMA 871 Risk and Vulnerability Management of Complex Interdependent Systems (3)
  • ENMA 891 Advanced Homeland Security (3)
  • ENMA 897 Independent Study in Engineering Management (3)
  • MSIM 803 Optimization Methods (3)
  • MSIM 815 High Performance Computing Simulation and Data Analytics (3)
  • MSIM 851 Advanced Analysis for Modeling and Simulation (3)
  • PSYC 662 Human-Computer Interface Design (3)
  • PSYC 870 Human Factors Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 872 Methods, Measures, Techniques, and Tools in Human Factors (3)
  • PSYC 876 Human-Computer Interaction (3)
  • PSYC 795 Topics in Psychology (3)
  • CRIM 801 Criminology and Public Policy (3)
  • CRIM 810 Qualitative Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRIM 815 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Criminology & Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRIM 820 Advanced Research Methods in Criminology & Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRIM 832 Advanced Cybercriminology (3)
  • CRIM 880 Advanced Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Gathering and Analysis (3)
  • CRIM 891 Special Topics in Cybercriminology (3)

Students must complete the following required coursework:

  • CYSE 801 – Advanced Cybersecurity Techniques and Operations II (3)
  • CYSE/PHIL 803 – Moral Reasoning for Emerging Technologies (3)
  • CYSE 800* – Research Methods in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 802 – Cybersecurity Seminar (3)
  • CYSE 869 – Cybersecurity Practicum (3)
  • Advanced Electives (15)
  • CYSE 899 – Doctoral Dissertation (18)

Total: 48 credit hours

*CYSE 800 should be completed in the first year of study.

The teaching practicum requirement must be completed before scheduling the dissertation defense.

Students are encouraged to publish refereed research papers during the program.

Students entering without a master’s degree in cybersecurity or a closely related field must complete up to 30 additional credit hours of foundational coursework, including:

  • CYSE 600 – Cybersecurity Principles (3)
  • CYSE 601 – Advanced Cybersecurity Techniques and Operations (3)
  • CYSE 603 – Advanced Cybersecurity Law and Policy (3)
  • CYSE 605 – Leadership and Management in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 616 – Cyber Defense Fundamentals (3)
  • Restricted Foundational Electives (15)

Total: 30 credit hours

These courses are selected in consultation with the advisor.

Students will select from a list of courses in consultation with a faculty advisor. Selected coursework must be approved by a faculty advisor.

  • CYSE 519 Cyber Physical System Security (3)
  • CYSE 520 Applied AI in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 525 Cybersecurity Strategy and Policy (3)
  • CYSE 526 Cyber War (3)
  • CYSE 595 Topics in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 607 Advanced Digital Forensics (3)
  • CYSE 610 Advanced Cryptography (3)
  • CYSE 615 Mobile and Wireless Security (3)
  • CYSE 625 Advanced Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing (3)
  • CYSE 635 AI Security and Privacy (3)
  • CYSE 695 Advanced Topics in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CYSE 697 Independent Study in Cybersecurity (3)
  • CS 564 Networked Systems Security (3)
  • CS 567 Introduction to Reverse Software Engineering (3)
  • CS 569 Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (3)
  • CS 522 Introduction to Machine Learning (3)
  • CS 580 Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (3)
  • CS 624 Data Analytics and Big Data (3)
  • IT 634 Cloud Computing and Security (3)
  • ENMA 625 Introduction to Homeland Security Logistics (3)
  • ENMA 670 Cyber Systems Engineering (3)

Students will work in consultation with a faculty advisor to select elective courses. All elective courses must be approved by a faculty advisor. The following is a non-exhaustive list of advanced elective courses that could be modified based on the suggestion of faculty advisors.

  • CYSE 891 Security and Privacy of Generative AI Systems (3)
  • CYSE 892 Usable Security and Privacy (3)
  • CYSE 898 Doctoral Research (3)
  • CS 822 Machine Learning (3)
  • CS 828 Deep Learning Fundamentals and Applications (3)
  • CS 832 Human Computer Interaction (3)
  • CS 833 Natural Language Processing (3)
  • CS 852 Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing (3)
  • CS 861 Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering (3)
  • CS 862 Memory Analysis and Forensics (3)
  • CS 865 Internet of Things Security (3)
  • CS 872 Advanced Computer and Network Security (3)
  • CS 873 Data Mining and Security (3)
  • CS 874 Distributed System Security (3)
  • CS 882 Generative AI (3)
  • ECE 842 Computer Communication Networks (3)
  • ECE 861 Advanced Probabilistic Methods for Electrical and Computer Engineering (3)
  • ECE 880 Machine Learning II (3)
  • ECE 882 Digital Signal Processing II (3)
  • ECE 884 Computer Vision (3)
  • ENMA 801 Digital Systems Engineering (3)
  • ENMA 825 System Risk and Failure Analysis (3)
  • ENMA 850 System of Systems Engineering (3)
  • ENMA 855 Human System Engineering (3)
  • ENMA 871 Risk and Vulnerability Management of Complex Interdependent Systems (3)
  • ENMA 891 Advanced Homeland Security (3)
  • ENMA 897 Independent Study in Engineering Management (3)
  • MSIM 803 Optimization Methods (3)
  • MSIM 815 High Performance Computing Simulation and Data Analytics (3)
  • MSIM 851 Advanced Analysis for Modeling and Simulation (3)
  • PSYC 662 Human-Computer Interface Design (3)
  • PSYC 870 Human Factors Psychology (3)
  • PSYC 872 Methods, Measures, Techniques, and Tools in Human Factors (3)
  • PSYC 876 Human-Computer Interaction (3)
  • PSYC 795 Topics in Psychology (3)
  • CRIM 801 Criminology and Public Policy (3)
  • CRIM 810 Qualitative Methods in Criminology and Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRIM 815 Advanced Quantitative Techniques in Criminology & Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRIM 820 Advanced Research Methods in Criminology & Criminal Justice (3)
  • CRIM 832 Advanced Cybercriminology (3)
  • CRIM 880 Advanced Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) Gathering and Analysis (3)
  • CRIM 891 Special Topics in Cybercriminology (3)

School of Cybersecurity

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Norfolk , VA 23529

Advising & Research Progression

Upon admission, each student is assigned a faculty advisor to support academic planning and research alignment. Students are expected to identify a dissertation advisor by the end of formal coursework.

Research areas include:

  • Artificial Intelligence Security
  • Applied Cryptography
  • Cyber Defense
  • Digital Forensics
  • Cyber Policy and Governance
  • Privacy-enhancing Technologies
  • Malware Analysis
  • Trustworthy AI
  • Network Security
  • Human Factors in Cybersecurity
  • Cyber Risk Management
  • Critical Infrastructure Protection

Candidacy Examination

Students must complete the candidacy examination process after completion of formal coursework and before becoming heavily involved in dissertation research.

The candidacy examination includes both written and oral components designed to assess the student’s:

  • Understanding of cybersecurity research literature
  • Ability to critically analyze technical and interdisciplinary problems
  • Research communication skills
  • Readiness to conduct doctoral-level research

Advancement to doctoral candidacy requires successful completion of all required coursework as well as both the written and oral components of the candidacy examination. Upon advancement to candidacy, students become eligible to enroll in doctoral dissertation credit hours.

Dissertation

The dissertation represents the culminating scholarly work of the PhD in Cybersecurity. It demonstrates a student’s ability to conduct independent, original research that makes a significant contribution to the field.

The final dissertation must be submitted to the committee at least two weeks prior to the defense date.

The dissertation process is designed to ensure that each doctoral candidate develops the ability to define a significant research problem, conduct rigorous and ethical investigation, and communicate results that advance the field of cybersecurity.

The dissertation process proceeds through the following stages:

After advancement to candidacy, the student forms a Dissertation Committee in consultation with the Dissertation Advisor and Graduate Program Director. The committee plays a central role in reviewing and approving the dissertation topic and guiding the student through all stages of dissertation research.

The dissertation committee must consist of:

  • At least three graduate-certified faculty members
  • At least two ODU faculty members
  • At least one external member from outside the department or an approved external expert

The dissertation proposal is an oral examination of the written research plan. It evaluates whether the student has identified a significant research problem and developed a viable approach to addressing it.

The proposal must include:

  • Literature review and related work
  • Problem statement and research objectives
  • Proposed methodology
  • Evaluation plan
  • Timeline and expected contributions

The student presents the proposal in a public setting, followed by questioning from the Dissertation Committee.

Following proposal approval, the student conducts independent research under the supervision of the dissertation advisor and committee.

Requirements include:

  • Completion of at least 18 credit hours of CYSE 899 Doctoral Dissertation
  • Development of original research contributing meaningfully to cybersecurity knowledge
  • Active dissemination of research through conferences, publications, and scholarly venues
  • Submission of at least one peer-reviewed publication (accepted or under revision) based on dissertation work

Time Limits

  • Full-time study is required for students entering with a bachelor’s degree (no master’s)
  • All requirements must be completed within eight years
  • Coursework outside this time window must be revalidated per university policy

Program Features

Students benefit from:

  • Graduate assistantship opportunities
  • Access to advanced cybersecurity laboratories
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration across AI, policy, and engineering domains
  • Strong industry and government partnerships
  • Opportunities for publication and conference participation