Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity is a groundbreaking 90-credit degree that delivers bachelor’s-level outcomes with greater flexibility and a faster path to the workforce
Northwood University has secured its place in history as one of the first institutions in the nation to receive approval for a reduced-credit bachelor’s degree. Following approval from the Higher Learning Commission, Northwood will offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity — a pioneering 90-credit program designed to provide students with a high-quality, career-ready education in less time and at a lower cost.
“Northwood University is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in higher education,” said Northwood University President Kent MacDonald. “This innovative program underscores our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable education that meets the needs of today’s students and competitive workplace. By offering an accelerated path to a cybersecurity degree, we are ensuring that students can gain the skills they need to enter this high demand market while reducing costs and time to completion.”
The Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity, developed by Northwood’s leading management information systems and cybersecurity experts, Dr. Ann-Marie Horcher and Professor David Sanford, is expected to be a game-changer in preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.
“The reduced-credit cybersecurity program reflects our entrepreneurial spirit as an institution and provides students with choice in baccalaureate degree options,” added Northwood Academics Vice President and Provost Dr. Kristin Stehouwer. “Building on Northwood’s strengths, in particular our emphasis on experiential learning and career preparation, creates pathways for learners to complete their degrees with outcomes equivalent to a traditional 120-credit bachelor’s degree and embark on their careers more quickly.”
The 90-credit degree pathway also reflects Northwood’s commitment to supporting student success. The reduced-credit bachelor’s program has the potential to improve access to higher education, increase student persistence, reduce total student debt, and decrease time to degree completion.
“Moreover, graduates will be positioned to fill the growing demand for prepared cybersecurity professionals across multiple industries,” added Dr. Horcher, who was named Northwood’s cybersecurity program lead following a Fulbright fellowship at Kozminski University. A top-ranked business school in Central and Eastern Europe, Kozminski is a leader in the digital transformation movement.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects information security analyst will be the 5th fastest-growing occupation over the next decade, with an employment growth rate of 33% compared to the 4% average growth rate for all occupations.
“This transformative reduced-credit bachelor’s degree program will provide a highly trained, qualified workforce to meet job demand more quickly to ensure information security protection of data, systems, and, ultimately, people,” Horcher noted.
Northwood’s historic approval from the Higher Learning Commission for an accelerated cybersecurity degree comes after Northwood has been actively involved in the College-in-3 Exchange, a national higher education innovation incubator with over 30 member institutions. Since 2021, members of the exchange have shared ideas and practices that promote innovation around the cost and quality of bachelor’s degrees.
“Northwood has been a pioneer in this national initiative, and the accelerated cybersecurity degree pathway is a testament to our ability to innovate while maintaining the academic quality and workforce preparation that students and employers expect,” noted Academic Dean Dr. Stacey Tetloff. “We are proud to be at the forefront of this movement and a leader in shaping the future of higher education.”
About the Applied Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity
The reduced-credit program — the Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity — will be offered in addition to the current 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Cybersecurity and the Bachelor of Business Administration in Cybersecurity Management.
“Students selecting this program will decrease time-to-completion, with a curriculum focused on application,” explained Professor Sanford, who chairs Northwood’s Management Information Systems program. “The Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Cybersecurity (120 hours) will continue to serve as a traditional pathway to prepare graduates for advanced degrees and to further customize and diversify their skillsets.”
Behind the Creation of this Reduced-Credit Program
Northwood’s faculty designed the Bachelor of Applied Science in Cybersecurity by carefully evaluating existing courses and aligning them with university-wide learning outcomes. Through this process, they identified essential coursework that ensures students gain cybersecurity skills while meeting Northwood’s rigorous academic standards. This streamlined approach maintains the same high-quality instruction, objectives, and contact hours — offering an efficient path to a degree without sacrificing depth or rigor.
A Commitment to Finding the Best Fit
Assistant Provost Mark Lund explained Northwood University is committed to providing prospective and current students with customizable, individualized pathways.
“Students will work closely with Admissions counselors, academic advisors, and faculty to determine which degree path in the cybersecurity programming is best suited for their individual goals, particularly encouraging students to complete the 120-credit hour degree if they plan to attend graduate school,” Lund explained.
Regarding alumni and current and future students:
• Students who graduate with the 90-credit hour degree may return at a later date to complete the requirements for a 120-credit bachelor’s degree.
• Students currently pursuing the 120-credit Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Cybersecurity may change to the 90-credit degree.
• Academic advisors will help individuals in either of the above circumstances determine the pathway that best aligns with the student’s goals and priorities.
Northwood University officials believe the new reduced-credit pathway reflects the institution’s commitment to innovation, affordability, and workforce readiness while ensuring students can pursue their education on their terms while meeting the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals.
For more information, visit https://www.northwood.edu/programs/cybersecurity/.
