Moorhead launches new Bachelor of Arts in Cybercrime

Moorhead launches new Bachelor of Arts in Cybercrime

Professor Karen Branden talks about the program with WDAY TV

Minnesota State Moorhead will launch a new undergraduate Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Cybercrime beginning Fall 2026. The innovative degree is one of the first in the region to merge cybersecurity, criminal justice, and sociology into a unified, career-focused curriculum.

Designed for students interested in cybersecurity and criminal justice, the program equips future investigators with the advanced technical and behavioral science skills needed to solve modern crimes.

Students enrolled in the program will apply their learning directly to real cases, including opportunities to conduct online investigations using methods used by security experts, such as OSINT (open-source intelligence), a method of gathering information from public or other open sources.

"We use criminology and cybersecurity to find people and catch criminals," Program Coordinator and Professor Karen Branden said. "Nearly all crimes have a digital footprint today. Finding criminals, gathering evidence for prosecution, and creating justice for victims all rely on criminal justice professionals knowing how to pursue crime in the digital and physical spaces. We put our methodology into action."

The cybercrime program prepares students for rapidly growing careers, such as information security analysts, which are projected to grow 29 percent from 2024 to 2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Students will learn to uncover digital evidence, track online activity ethically and legally, understand criminal behavior patterns, and apply technical tools used by modern investigative agencies. The new program reflects Moorhead's commitment to providing career-ready offerings that respond to emerging workforce needs in public safety, national security, and technology. People can learn more about the new cybercrime offering at mnstate.edu/cybercrime.