Graduate Certificates: Cybersecurity

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Featured Certificates in Cybersecurity

Harvard University

Harvard University, Harvard Extension School offers a graduate certificate in cybersecurity which can be completed entirely online. This certificate provides students with an understanding of the threats and weaknesses associated with cybersecurity, as well as how technology can help with them.

There is no application required to pursue a graduate certificate at Harvard. After finding a certificate that interests them, students are free to browse the current certificate course offerings and enroll in a course for graduate credit when registration is open.

​Made up of four courses, the program is designed to teach students the protocols and tools needed for navigating, using, and managing security technology, as well as the political, social, and legal aspects of the cyber world.

Coursework includes the following four courses: 1) cyber world: hardware, software, networks, security, and management, 2) the cyber world: governance, threats, conflict, privacy, identity, and commerce, 3) communication protocols and internet architecture, and 4) cyberspace and international security.

Students learn how to articulate and develop effective policies that address external and internal international and national threats, gain insight into the protocols and strategies needed for securing and monitoring computer networks, and learn about concepts such as data network device and communications technology, management, and architecture. Graduates of the program can pursue several opportunities in a variety of fields.

  • Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
  • Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
  • Expected Time to Completion: 36 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $2,840 per course

Regis University

Regis University offers an online graduate certificate in cybersecurity. This certificate can be completed online, on campus, or a combination of both. The program helps students obtain high-level expertise that they can immediately apply to their career in the information assurance field. ​The program is meant for adults with a bachelor’s degree, those who are already working in the industry, and those who wish to take up managerial positions in cybersecurity.

Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree (from a regionally accredited American program or the international equivalent) within the past two years in a relevant computer information sciences field or three or more years of relevant work experience. Additionally, applicants must have a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, a completed online certificate application, official transcripts, an admissions essay, and a current resume.

​The curriculum is made up of 12​ credit-hours and includes instruction in managing a secure enterprise, offensive cybersecurity, computer forensics, network forensics, advanced forensics, and malware analysis and response.

Through this certificate, students will not only be prepared for this field but will also receive knowledge that can help them pursue professional certifications in information assurance such as those offered by Cisco Electronic Commerce Council, (ISC)2, and ISCA.

At the end of the program, graduates can take up a variety of roles such as database administrators, network and computer systems administrators, computer network architects, computer network support specialists, and information security analysts.

  • Location: Denver, Colorado
  • Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
  • Expected Time to Completion: Less than one year
  • Estimated Tuition: $9,000

University of Maryland Global Campus

University of Maryland Global Campus offers an online graduate certificate in cybersecurity technology. All courses in the program can be completed online. The program provides students with knowledge and skills to protect cyber infrastructure and assets.

The curriculum of the program has been designed with input from industry experts, scholars, and employers. It is taught by world-class faculty members with a wealth of experience in the field. ​The program is ideal for mid-career professionals.

Major admission requirements include having a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university among others.

​The program comprises 18​ credit-hours. Along with theoretical knowledge, students can develop real-world skills they can apply immediately. The curriculum includes courses such as communicating, problem solving, and leading in cybersecurity, cyberspace and cybersecurity foundations, and the prevention of cyber attack methodologies.

The program teaches students how to identify vulnerabilities in the system, detect intrusions and loopholes, prevent cyber attacks, and apply security frameworks.

  • Location: Adelphi, Maryland
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Expected Time to Completion: One year (up to five years)
  • Estimated Tuition: $694 per credit-hour

Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University offers an online graduate certificate in cybersecurity. The program is available fully online and provides students with maximum flexibility. The program provides students already working in the field of computer science with additional skills and knowledge to tackle cyber issues.

Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution with a computer science-related major and a grade point average of at least 3.0, among other requirements.

​Made up of 12​ credit-hours, courses in the program include cybersecurity fundamentals, cryptography for cybersecurity, networked systems security, and information assurance. The coursework can also be applied toward a master of science (MS) in computer science degree at the Old Dominion University.

Students receive an overview of wireless communications, vulnerabilities, and security protocols; an introduction to networking and the internet protocol stack; an understanding of cryptographic protocols, and the authentication in cyber systems, including password-based, address-based, biometrics-based, and SSO systems.

On successful completion of the program, graduates can work in roles such as computer systems analysts, information security analysts, database administrators, network and computer systems administrators, computer network architects, database architects, and business intelligence analysts.

  • Location: Norfolk, Virginia
  • Accreditation: Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $547 per credit-hour (in-state), $595 per credit-hour (out-of-state)

University of Louisville

The University of Louisville offers an online graduate certificate in cybersecurity. This is a 100 percent online program preparing students to identify and monitor cybercrime, and respond to complex attacks that could compromise the nation’s security.

The program is taught by experienced and skilled faculty members who are leaders in the field of data science, data warehousing, and data analysis. ​It is ideal for advanced computer professionals who wish to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the fast-changing field of cybersecurity.

In order to apply, students must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum grade point average of 2.75, a completed graduate application, official transcripts, and proof of completion of required prerequisites (or documentation demonstrating sufficient and relevant practical knowledge). TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of international students. The GRE is not required for admission.

​The 12​-credit-hour program includes courses such as an introduction to cryptography, information security, network security, and mobile computing.

Students develop expertise in areas such as data mining, information security, and mobile computing. They learn how to examine administrative, legal, scientific, and technical issues in network forensics, computer forensics, and information security and trusted systems.

At the end of the program, students can pursue a career in risk auditing, network security, software security engineering, penetration testing, information security analysis, cyber threat intelligence, and information forensics.

  • Location: Louisville, Kentucky
  • Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $764 per credit-hour

Pennsylvania State University

The Penn State University Global Campus offers an online post-baccalaureate certificate in information systems cybersecurity. This fully online program provides students with the knowledge and ability required for detecting and preventing network and cyber attacks. ​The program is ideal for information technology professionals in all industry sectors who want to strengthen their skills in information security and information security management.

Admission requirements for the program include a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution (or a tertiary degree that is deemed comparable to a four-year bachelor’s degree), official transcripts from each institution attended, a grade point average of 2.75 or higher, and a current resume. International students must submit scores for the TOEFL or the IELTS. A minimum of five years relevant work experience is recommended and GRE scores are not required for admission.

​Made up of 15​ credit-hours, the program includes courses such as network management and security, foundations of information security and assurance, computer and cyber forensics, information security management, and web security and privacy.

Students gain an understanding of information cybersecurity and assurance, learn how to build information systems, and conduct penetration testing.

On graduating from the program, students can pursue information security careers such as information assurance engineering, intel analysis, catastrophe risk analysis, information security or digital forensics, and computer systems security analysis.

  • Location: University Park, Pennsylvania
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $924 per credit-hour

California University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania offers an online graduate certificate in cybersecurity. This 100 percent online program provides professionals with ample flexibility to complete the courses at their own pace. Students can look forward to gaining specialized knowledge in cryptography, biometrics, and network security.

Admission requirements for the program include a bachelor’s degree, a grade point average of 3.0 or higher, and official transcripts from an accredited undergraduate institution, among other requirements.

​The certificate consists of 12​ credit-hours. To ensure that the program provides the skills and knowledge required by employers, it has been developed in collaboration with industry experts. Some of the courses include applied cryptography, wireless networks and security, biometrics, and cybersecurity risk management and assessment.

Students learn how to develop cybersecurity and risk management strategies and garner an advanced knowledge of computer networking, wireless networks and security, and applied cryptography for industry.

At the end of the program, graduates are prepared to address complex security challenges in today’s high-tech marketplace.

  • Location: California, Pennsylvania
  • Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
  • Expected Time to Completion: 12 months
  • Estimated Tuition: $647.60 per credit-hour

Professors to Know in Cybersecurity

Benoit Gaucherin Harvard University

Benoit Gaucherin is a campus services chief information officer and a faculty at the Division of Continuing Education at Harvard University. He teaches the two “cyber world” foundation courses for cybersecurity certificate: hardware, software, networks, security, and management, as well as governance, threats, conflict, privacy, identity, and commerce.

Prior to Harvard, Gaucherin served as the services chief technology officer at Endeca, a technology company. He is currently responsible for information technology and information security for Harvard’s Campus Services. Hailing from France, Gaucherin holds a master’s degree in mathematics, with a focus on computational linguistics and artificial intelligence from the Maitrise Universite de Caen Basse-Normandie.

Edward J. Glantz, PhD, MBA Pennsylvania State University

Dr. Edward J. Glantz is a clinical assistant professor of information systems at Pennsylvania State University. He has developed and taught courses in information security, risk management, business information systems, application development, decision theory, intelligence analysis, and enterprise architecture. His current research focuses on creating value for organizations by enhancing risk identification.

Dr. Glantz has received numerous awards such as the James B. Thomas Community Award and the Brand-Paiste Teaching Award. He completed his PhD, BS, and BA at Penn State, and MBA at the University of Pennsylvania.

Loyce Pailen, DM University of Maryland University College (UMUC)

Dr. Loyce Pailen is a professor of cybersecurity management and policy at University of Maryland University College. She has extensive experience in information technology, including work in software development, cybersecurity, project management, risk management, telecommunications, and network and systems security and administration.

Before she joined the University of Maryland University College, she worked at The Washington Post Company for over 20 years in various programming, management, and directorial positions. Her areas of expertise include cybersecurity management and policy, national security, and the need for human factors in cybersecurity education. A member of the Phi Kappa Phi society, she has won the Cybersecurity Association of Maryland, Incorporated (CAMI) People’s Choice Award. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate at UMGC and is a Computer Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).