Program Overview
Optimize your career with a master's in security management online
Combine data security and business leadership expertise when you earn a Master of Science in Business Informatics – Security Management online from Northern Kentucky University. Benefit from the flexibility of an online program while gaining practical experience with hands-on labs and an optional co-op or internship.
Protect information systems from cyberattacks with cutting-edge technology skills and tools. Improve your understanding of cryptography, confidentiality and authentication protocols, web security botnets, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, logging and auditing systems, virtualization, and communication privacy. Plus, prepare for management roles with advanced business proficiency in communication, leadership, finance, data analysis, and project management.
In this online MBI program, you will learn how to:
- Understand and apply current information technologies
- Evaluate and adapt new technologies to meet business needs
- Comprehend the organizational settings where these technologies will be implemented
- Manage information systems as an organizational resource by making critical, IS-related decisions and by recruiting and retaining qualified IS personnel
- Expand your proficiency in Oracle®, SQL, Tableau®, Power BI, KNIME, and R
As a graduate of this MBI program, you will be prepared for advancement into roles such as:
- Data Scientist
- Data Analyst
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Security Architect
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers a variety of informatics programs online. Learn more about our online informatics programs.
"Informatics is all about seeking human meaning in a world of data. It is how we find, process, protect, and share information."
– Kevin Kirby, Dean of the College of Informatics
Tuition
Invest in your future with a security management master's degree online
The MBI online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition for in-state and out-of-state students. Financial aid may be available to eligible students.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour | Per 3-Credit Hour Course | Required Fees | Total With Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Business Informatics – Security Management | $520 | $1,560 | $480 | $16,080 |
Recognized among the "Top Public Schools" in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2023)
Ranked among the "Best Colleges for Information Technology in America" by Niche (2023)
Calendar
View key dates and deadlines
The MBI online program is delivered in a convenient online format, with 7-week courses that start six times a year. View the calendar to find the best start date for you and be sure to note corresponding deadlines.
Now Enrolling:
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 1 | 05/08/2023 | 04/26/2023 | 05/01/2023 | 05/04/2023 | 05/08/2023 | 06/23/2023 |
| Summer 2 | 06/26/2023 | 06/14/2023 | 06/19/2023 | 06/22/2023 | 06/26/2023 | 08/11/2023 |
| Fall 1 | 08/21/2023 | 08/09/2023 | 08/14/2023 | 08/18/2023 | 08/21/2023 | 10/06/2023 |
| Fall 2 | 10/18/2023 | 10/05/2023 | 10/10/2023 | 10/13/2023 | 10/18/2023 | 12/08/2023 |
| Spring 1 | 01/08/2024 | 01/02/2024 | 01/04/2024 | 01/05/2024 | 01/08/2024 | 02/23/202$ |
| Spring 2 | 03/11/2024 | 02/29/2024 | 03/04/2024 | 03/08/2024 | 03/11/2024 | 04/26/2024 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Northern Kentucky University?
Admissions
Start your journey by checking our admission requirements
The admission process for the MBI online is streamlined to help you get started sooner. Requirements include:
View full admission requirements
MBI Online Admission Requirements
- Complete online application and pay $40 non-refundable application fee
- If you are an NKU alumni or active/veteran military member, your application fee will be waived
- Submit official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) coursework from accredited institutions with a minimum undergraduate overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.8 or higher
- Applicants with an overall undergraduate GPA between 2.5 and 2.8 must submit a current resume with evidence of three years of professional work experience
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Courses
Find out what you will study in our online security management master's degree
For the Master of Science in Business Informatics – Security Management online program, you must complete a total of 30 credit hours, including 21 credit hours of core courses and nine credit hours of electives. Students without a programming background may be required to take an additional programming course as advised by the program director.
Students must take the following courses:
MBI 625: Information Systems in Organizations
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introduction to the core concepts and fundamental principles of information systems in the context of business decision making. This will include a survey of the information systems discipline and an explanation of its importance in modern organizations. The key objective of the course is to give the student a good understanding of how managers can manage and exploit the potential of information technology for their own career and for the organization.
MBI 630: Systems Analysis and Design
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Develops an understanding of tools, techniques and methods for analysis, design and implementation of information systems. Uses theory and applied projects to build effective interpersonal and communication skills that are essential to interact with clients, users and other team members involved with development, operation and maintenance of information systems. Approaches to systems development such as Rapid application Development (RAD), Joint Application Development (JAD) and other techniques to create quality systems are explored.
MBI 635: Database Management Systems
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
In depth investigation of intelligent database management systems in support of business decision making. This course includes an investigation of all aspects of data modeling, database design and implementation of relation-al, object-oriented and semantic databases.
MBI 650: Information Technology Project Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course is an overview of software development project management practices, context and processes of software development projects, project risks and failures, managing technical personnel, and issues relating to project outsourcing.
MBI 682: Information Security and Governance
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
The course provides an overview of the field of Information Security and Assurance in various technical and administrative aspects including audit and controls. Students will be exposed to a spectrum of security activities, methods, methodologies, and procedures.
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Business decisions require the basic skills of analyzing data to understand the problem more completely and to produce better answers. Information systems automate these tools and techniques allowing decision makers to get better information quicker. Through hands-on labs and a group project, this course will introduce students to the business analytics process, including problem modeling, tools, and techniques for analysis, and effectively communicating insights.
MBI 685: Corporate IS Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An overview of contemporary information technology (IT) computer, telecommunications, and office systems-management issues and principles with specific emphasis on setting the direction of IT resources and managing IT policy and strategy.
Students must take the following courses:
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Introduces students to network security; students learn about network attacks and vulnerabilities as well as current defenses; topics include cryptography, confidentiality and authentication protocols, web security botnets, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and communication privacy and anonymity.
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Students will learn technologies behind web applications and servers, how applications and servers are exploited, and the defense mechanisms that can be used for server and application hardening. Hands-on labs on vulnerability detection and exploitation will be used to provide practical experience.
MCY 680: Operating Systems Security
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Students will learn about the fundamentals of administering and protecting both desktop and server systems, including access control, identify and access management, configuring and installing services, logging and auditing systems, virtualization and containerization, and how to harden OS images.
