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CybersecurityDegrees
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Boise State University · School of Computing

PhD in Computing — Cybersecurity Emphasis

Research doctoratePhDConcentrationOn campus

Overview

A 60-credit PhD in Computing with a Cybersecurity emphasis from the School of Computing, combining cybersecurity coursework in cryptography, software and network security, cyber-physical systems and forensics with electives, a comprehensive exam and a 30-credit dissertation. Fall admission only.

Official program name
Ph.D. in Computing — Cybersecurity Emphasis
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy · major: Computing
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Degree level
Doctoral — research doctorate
Cybersecurity focus
Cybersecurity concentration — Cybersecurity EmphasisA formal cybersecurity concentration, track or specialization inside a broader degree such as computer science or information technology. The awarded degree is the broader one.
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
School
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Location
Boise, ID
Specializations
Digital Forensics — formal concentration / track (“Group 5: Forensics”)Critical Infrastructure Security — formal concentration / track (“Group 4: Cyber-Physical Systems”)
Required credits
60 credits including a 30-credit dissertation
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Duration
Not verified
Start terms
Fall
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Why this program is listed

Research PhD in Computing with a formally documented Cybersecurity emphasis and a dissertation.

Formal emphasis requiring CYBER 500 Introduction to Cybersecurity plus courses from cryptography, software security, network security, cyber-physical systems and digital forensics groups, with a 30-credit dissertation.

Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026

We list cybersecurity bachelor's, master's and research doctorates at institutionally accredited US schools — dedicated degrees and formal concentrations, never certificates or electives-only degrees. Eligibility rules

Format and attendance

Formats, online delivery, campus visits, internships and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the school states it.
Formats offered
On campus
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Internship
Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity
Not verified

Curriculum

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

Research and doctoral requirements

Research areas, supervision, examinations and residency as the school publishes them.

Qualifying examinations

Dissertation

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Technical preparation

Prerequisite courses
RequiredUpper-division coursework in data structures and introductory systems programming (CS 253, CS 321 equivalents)
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Minimum GPA
RequiredMinimum 3 — 3.0 in last 40 undergraduate hours (3.3 in a master's program)
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Statement / essay
RequiredStatement of purpose and Computing PhD admission questionnaire
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required3 letters — Three letters of recommendation
Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Tests

Entrance and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

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

    January 5 (priority, and consideration for program funding) · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
    Year not printed
  • Application deadline

    April 15 (final) · for Fall

    The school does not print a year with this date.

    Source: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 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
In-state — Graduate, resident, tuition and fees (9-16 credits) per semesterFrom the school-wide rate table for this level$5,855.50per semester · 2026-2027Includes feesSource: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Out-of-state — Graduate, non-resident, tuition and fees (9-16 credits) per semesterFrom the school-wide rate table for this level$15,699.50per semester · 2026-2027Includes feesSource: boisestate.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Scholarships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for its level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; service scholarships require government service after graduation. Scholarships & funding guide

School-wide awards are listed because they apply at this degree level; eligibility conditions apply.

Accreditation, ABET and CAE

Three different things: the school's institutional accreditation, ABET accreditation of this exact program, and the school's NSA CAE designation.

Institutional accreditation

  • Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

ABET program accreditation

This program does not appear in ABET's accredited-program database. ABET accreditation is program-specific and optional; the school's other programs or its institutional accreditation do not imply it.

NSA CAE designation (school)

  • CAE in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) · 2022 - 2027Validated program(s) of study: Cybersecurity Emphasis in BS of Computer Science (POS-CD)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026
  • CAE in Cyber Research (CAE-R) · 2025 - 2030Validated program(s) of study: Cybersecurity Emphasis in BS of Computer Science (POS-CD)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026

A CAE designation belongs to the institution and its validated program of study; it is not accreditation and does not certify every degree. Accreditation & CAE explained

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 11, 2026.
  1. NCAE-C institution directory (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) — Source, verified October 11, 2026
  2. DAPIP — NWCCU institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
  3. boisestate.edu/computing/academics/doctoral-program/application-requirements-ph-d/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  4. boisestate.edu/computing/academics/doctoral-program/bronco-shield-scholarship/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  5. boisestate.edu/computing/academics/doctoral-program/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-ph-d/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  6. boisestate.edu/computing/programs/doctoral-program/deadlines/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  7. boisestate.edu/computing/programs/doctoral-program/funding/ — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  8. boisestate.edu/sfs/boise-state-university-fees/graduate-tuition-fees/ — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 11, 2026

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Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

Format: Campus
Location: Fairfax, VA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 72 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation and designation: School designated CAE-CD, CAE-RNSA CAE designation of the institution, not accreditation
Specializations: Digital Forensics
View program

Cybersecurity Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Boise State University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.