Skip to content
CybersecurityDegrees
Old Dominion University logo

Old Dominion University · School of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity (PhD)

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

A research PhD in Cybersecurity from the School of Cybersecurity requiring 48 credit hours beyond a master's degree (78 beyond a bachelor's), a candidacy examination, a dissertation proposal and defense, and a cybersecurity teaching practicum. Graduate teaching and research assistantships are available competitively.

Official program name
Cybersecurity (PhD)
Awarded degree
Doctor of Philosophy · major: Cybersecurity
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Degree level
Doctoral — research doctorate
Cybersecurity focus
Dedicated cybersecurity degreeThe degree itself is in cybersecurity or a closely related security field (information security, information assurance, cyber operations, digital forensics…).
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
School
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Location
Norfolk, VA
Specializations
None mapped from official curriculum evidence
Required credits
48 credit hours beyond the master's degree, or 78 beyond the bachelor's degree
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Duration
Requirements ordinarily completed within eight years after admission (maximum time limit)A minimum under the stated conditions, not a typical length.
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Why this program is listed

Dedicated research PhD in Cybersecurity with dissertation, candidacy exam and dissertation defense.

Research doctorate in cybersecurity with required cybersecurity research methods, seminar, practicum and a minimum of 18 dissertation credits.

Source: catalog.odu.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: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Internship
Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity
Not verified

Curriculum

Other

Research and doctoral requirements

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

Research areas

  • Research areas include AI security, cyber defense and intrusion detection, digital forensics, privacy, critical infrastructure security and supply chain security
    Source: odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Choosing a supervisor

  • A faculty advisor is assigned on admission; the student identifies a dissertation advisor by the end of coursework
    Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Research proposal

Qualifying examinations

Dissertation

  • Minimum 18 credit hours of CYSE 899 Doctoral Dissertation and a dissertation defense
    Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

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
RequiredPreparation in cybersecurity fundamentals, programming, networks, operating systems, information assurance and mathematics
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Prior degree
RequiredBachelor's or master's degree, normally in cybersecurity, computer science, IT, engineering, mathematics or a related field
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Statement / essay
RequiredPersonal statement of purpose
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two letters of recommendation
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026
Résumé / CV
RequiredResume or curriculum vitae
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
RequiredWaivers may be considered
Source: catalog.odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

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.

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

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.

Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

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

  • Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) Assistantship

    Tuition support and competitive stipend

    Eligibility: Awarded competitively; admission does not guarantee support

    Duties: Laboratory instruction, course support, grading and assessment, student mentoring, educational technology support

    Source: odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

  • Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) Assistantship

    Financial support through externally funded research grants

    Eligibility: Based on alignment with funded projects and faculty funding availability

    Source: odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

  • Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships Assistantship

    GTAs eligible for a tuition waiver (MS varies up to 9 credits; PhD 100% up to 9 credits); stipends may be available

    Eligibility: GPA above 3.0, good academic standing, enrolled in 9 graduate credits

    Source: odu.edu · verified October 11, 2026

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

The NCAE-C directory lists Old Dominion University with a CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program; eligibility, service obligation and the programs it covers are set by the school and the federal program. Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026

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

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — 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) · 2023 - 2028Validated program(s) of study: Bachelor of Science (BS) CO with AI (POS-CyberAI); BS in Cybersecurity (POS-CD); BS in Cybersecurity - Cyber Operations Major (POS-CO); Master of Science Cybersecurity with a Concentration in AI Security (POS-CyberAI) (POS-CyberAI)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026
  • CAE in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO) · 2019 - 2030Validated program(s) of study: Bachelor of Science (BS) CO with AI (POS-CyberAI); BS in Cybersecurity (POS-CD); BS in Cybersecurity - Cyber Operations Major (POS-CO); Master of Science Cybersecurity with a Concentration in AI Security (POS-CyberAI) (POS-CyberAI)Source: maps.caecommunity.org · verified October 11, 2026
  • CAE in Cyber Research (CAE-R) · 2024 - 2029Validated program(s) of study: Bachelor of Science (BS) CO with AI (POS-CyberAI); BS in Cybersecurity (POS-CD); BS in Cybersecurity - Cyber Operations Major (POS-CO); Master of Science Cybersecurity with a Concentration in AI Security (POS-CyberAI) (POS-CyberAI)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. catalog.odu.edu/graduate/cybersecurity/cybersecurity-phd/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 11, 2026
  2. NCAE-C institution directory (National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity) — Source, verified October 11, 2026
  3. DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
  4. odu.edu/cyber/academics/graduate/phd — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  5. odu.edu/cyber/academics/graduate/phd/financial-support — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026
  6. odu.edu/cyber/graduate-assistantships — Official program page, verified October 11, 2026

Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this school? Claim the profile

Similar programs at other schools

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

Capitol Technology University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cyber Leadership

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Laurel, MDSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: No mandatory campus visits
Duration: Duration not verified · 60 credits
Tuition: $980 per credit · All students — Doctoral students, per credit · 2026-2027
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation and designation: School designated CAE-CDNSA CAE designation of the institution, not accreditation
Specializations: Cybersecurity Management
View program

Capitol Technology University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Healthcare Cybersecurity

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Laurel, MDSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Duration: Duration not verified · 60 credits
Tuition: $980 per credit · All students — Doctoral students, per credit · 2026-2027
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation and designation: School designated CAE-CDNSA CAE designation of the institution, not accreditation
Specializations: No specialization mapped
View program

Capitol Technology University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Financial Cybersecurity

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeDoctor of Philosophy
Format: Fully online
Location: Laurel, MDSchool location, not a residency requirement
Attendance: Fully online as published (no separate campus-visit statement)
Duration: Duration not verified · 60 credits
Tuition: $980 per credit · All students — Doctoral students, per credit · 2026-2027
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation and designation: School designated CAE-CDNSA CAE designation of the institution, not accreditation
Specializations: No specialization mapped
View program

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