Why Study Cybersecurity Management
Taught by faculty from across the Darla Moore School of Business, the Cybersecurity Management Certificate employs a multidisciplinary approach designed to meet the growing demand for leaders who understand and manage cybersecurity and information assurance professionals. The curriculum draws from programming in both international business and risk management, which provides students with a global approach to cybersecurity management.
Students will learn key terminology, frameworks and management practices associated with information assurance as well as management techniques and best practices for Chief Information Officers (CIOs), Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), and managers at any level of an organization. Students will also learn how to create and manage cybersecurity policy and how to quantify risks associated with cybersecurity. The coursework can be applied to a variety of enterprises including small businesses, multinational corporations, nonprofit organizations or military units, among others.
Academic Requirements
To be awarded this certificate, participants must complete 12 credit hours (six hours in a core course and six hours in elective courses) with a GPA of 3.0 or better across the four courses.
Core Course (6 Hours)
- MGSC 798: Introduction to Cybersecurity Management
- IBUS 744: Managing Cyber Risk in Global Organizations
Elective Courses (6 Hours)
- FINA 746: Risk Management
- MGSC 796: Information Systems
Major subjects covered in the listed courses include:
- Security architecture and design
- Business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning
- Tools for assessing risk
- Risk identification and assessment
- Database, data warehouse, data mining and business intelligence
- Frameworks for making cybersecurity managerial decisions
- Threat modeling
- Governance and the NIST framework
Admission Requirements
Candidates who possess the following credentials may generally consider themselves competitive for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Management.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all coursework completed beyond high school.
- A basic understanding of business concepts and probability and statistics.
- A professional background in business or information security/technology is beneficial but not required.
- For international applicants, a TOEFL score of 95 or higher, or an IELTS score of 7.0 or higher.
Each application is evaluated by the admissions committee, which makes an official recommendation to the Graduate School. The Graduate School makes the final decision and notifies the applicant of the decision.
Who Should Apply
The program is open to current graduate students at the Darla Moore School of Business as well as to interested members of the public who are not involved in degree programs. Those interested in advancing their knowledge of cybersecurity for management purposes are encouraged to apply.
Note: This certificate is not intended to be a computer science or technical certificate.
How to Apply
Current Moore School Graduate Students
Current graduate students need to complete a concurrent enrollment form. Contact your program director with any questions.
Non-Moore School Students / Non-Degree Seeking Students
Students who are not currently enrolled in a graduate program at the Darla Moore School of Business need to apply through the Graduate School at USC.
Want to combine this certificate with an MBA?
Students in our top-ranked, MBA programs have the option to earn a Cybersecurity Management Certificate in conjunction with their MBA.