Committee hears request to allow applied doctorate in cybersecurity at Minnesota State campuses

Metro State University and Minnesota State asked the Senate committee to add cybersecurity to the list of fields authorized for applied doctoral programs, saying the authorization would support workforce demands and doctoral‑level applied research without requiring new state operating funds.

President Ginny Arthur of Metro State described the university’s cybersecurity programs and workforce partnerships, noting designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense and Cyber Operations and as an intelligence community center of academic excellence. Arthur said the university has 29 students in a bachelor’s program, 57 in a master’s program in cyber operations, and 537 undergraduates in pre‑major coursework, and that national estimates show hundreds of thousands of unfilled cybersecurity roles.

“Cybersecurity jobs are well paid, helping to propel graduates into the middle class,” Arthur said. She told the committee that applied doctorates differ from Ph.D. programs by focusing on workplace application and that Metro State has facilities, grants and applied research capacity to support a doctoral program. Senator Koepcke noted the proposal carries no immediate cost to the state.

Committee action: Senate File 2,753 was laid over for further consideration.

Context and rationale: Testimony pointed to a national and state workforce shortage in cybersecurity, student pipelines from certificates to doctoral credentials, and the value of applied doctoral graduates both in industry and postsecondary classrooms. Speakers said the authorization would not require additional state appropriations at this time because the campus anticipates using existing grant and institutional resources to develop the program.

Next steps: The committee will consider the bill further; no appropriation was requested during the hearing.