Online Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Programs

Cybersecurity is an expanding field in which teams of professionals with training in a broad spectrum of proficiencies work together to protect digital systems and data assets against attacks, incursions, and larceny. Businesses, government agencies, and other organizations large and small depend on specialists in IT systems security, computer networking, database management, access controls and penetration testing, risk management and governance, digital forensics, information assurance, cybersecurity laws and policies, and other areas of cybersecurity engineering, response, and administration. Moreover, the cybersecurity industry intersects with a wide range of sectors, such as healthcare and finance, which are subject to additional data security regulations and industry-specific cybersecurity challenges. The diversity within the cybersecurity industry means there are a wide range of roles and opportunities in the field for individuals who have received the requisite training.

Cybersecurity graduate certificate programs are non-degree-granting academic programs that provide eligible students with focused training in specific areas. These programs are offered by accredited colleges and universities that typically offer master’s degree programs in cybersecurity or related fields such as information technology or computer science. While graduate certificate programs do not confer a degree, students gain advanced knowledge and skills they can immediately use in their current positions, while also earning graduate credits that can be applied to a future master’s degree.

Most graduate certificate programs are designed for recent college graduates and/or mid-career professionals who have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, although there are post-graduate or post-master’s certificate programs that require a master’s degree as well. One of the main advantages of graduate certificate programs is they allow students to complete courses without having to commit to a full master’s degree program. This is especially important for professionals who have been out of school for some time who are unsure if they will be able to pursue a graduate degree while working full or part-time. As mentioned previously, if students elect to continue their studies after receiving their graduate certificate, the credits they earn are often transferable to a full master’s degree, pending approval from their desired master’s program.

More than 150 accredited colleges and universities offer graduate certificate programs in cybersecurity that can be completed fully or mostly online. These programs deliver their instruction via online learning platforms that students can access at any time. Students in an online graduate certificate in cybersecurity program are thus able to complete their course requirements without having to commute to a campus location to attend in-person classes. Online programs are a great option for working professionals who need additional flexibility because they are on-call during the evening hours or often have to travel for work, which makes attending regularly scheduled, on-campus classes challenging.

Note: It is important to note that graduate certificate programs in cybersecurity are different from professional certification programs which do not confer graduate credits. There are also certificate programs consisting of undergraduate-level courses that are designed for students who are pursuing their bachelor’s degree. Finally, while most graduate certificate programs are standalone programs that directly accept applications from prospective students, some programs are designed for students who are already enrolled at their university, and who wish to add a graduate certificate to a master’s degree program. Therefore, prospective students should carefully review a program’s curriculum and admissions requirements before applying.

Elements of a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Program

The areas of study that are available through cybersecurity graduate certificate programs mirrors the breadth of the profession. There are generalist certificates that focus on common cyber threats, defense protocols, and best practices for managing day-to-day security operations, as well as certificate programs that are more specialized and dive deeper into specific areas of cybersecurity. For example, three common graduate certificate specializations are: digital forensics, which encompasses the tools and techniques used to investigate cybercrimes; cyber engineering, which highlights security application development; and network security, which focuses on the hardware and software systems used to secure data and prevent incursions.

Some graduate certificate programs in cybersecurity focus on highly technical aspects the field, such as coding in Python, secure systems design methodologies, and software vulnerability analysis and application security frameworks, including but not limited to zero-trust architectures, the Open Worldwide Application Security Project (OWASP) model, and the Open Authorization (OAuth) access standards. There are also programs that are less technical that delve into cybersecurity management, cyber governance, and/or compliance associated with state, federal, and international cybersecurity laws and regulations. For example, students of policy-oriented cybersecurity graduate certificates might take courses on laws pertaining to cyber event disclosures and data protection standards, including the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) in the U.S, and the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

The list below provides a representative overview of the types of cybersecurity graduate certificate programs offered by colleges and universities:

• Cybersecurity Analytics
• Cybersecurity Engineering
• Cybersecurity Law and Policy
• Cybersecurity Management
• Cybersecurity Risk and Governance
• Cybersecurity Offense/Defense/Penetration Testing
• Cybersecurity Operations
• Cybersecurity Policy
• Digital/Computer Forensics
• Health Information Security
• Information Assurance
• Information Systems Security
• Information Technology Security
• Network Security

Graduate certificate programs typically consist of a limited number of courses, often between three and six, that confer nine or more graduate credits. Students can generally complete a cybersecurity graduate certificate program in one, two, or three semesters, depending on the number of credits they earn each term. While some programs have a fixed curriculum where all students take the same set of courses, others have a combination of required and elective courses, allowing students to customize their graduate certificate coursework. As noted above, many certificate programs consist of courses that overlap with existing master’s degree programs, and some schools offer “stackable” graduate certificates that enable students to work incrementally toward completing a master’s degree by completing two or more certificate programs in cybersecurity or related fields.

Note: The majority of students pursuing graduate certificate programs are not eligible for financial aid. Therefore, these programs may or may not have full-time versus part-time enrollment options. Professionals who plan to continue working while taking graduate courses should evaluate how much time they have to dedicate to school work and then speak with a program representative about their enrollment options. (Some schools offer a limited number of graduate certificate programs for which students can apply for financial aid. While this is rare, students can always speak with financial aid advisors at their programs of interest for more information on financial aid eligibility requirements.)

Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Courses

Many graduate certificate programs are designed to provide students with knowledge and skills directly related to pursuing a career in a particular cybersecurity specialization. Thus, a program focused on cybersecurity engineering would offer different courses from a program focused on cybersecurity law or digital forensics. This list below, however, provides a select overview of courses found across numerous online graduate certificate programs that fall under the cybersecurity umbrella.

• Foundations of Cybersecurity: An overview course that provides students with an introduction to core information security concepts, digital networks, software systems, and common cyber threats. Students learn about various attack vectors as well as vulnerabilities in operating systems, networks, databases, web interfaces, and IoT devices.
• Cyber Programming: Students learn how to use Python and other programming languages to support cybersecurity and digital forensic efforts through application design, development, debugging, and deployment.
• Cyber Threats: An examination of various cyberattack methods and vectors. Students learn to identify and defend against malware, distributed denial of service attacks, phishing attacks, SQL injections, and zero-day exploits, and examine case studies to understand the motivations and processes behind cyberattacks.
• Systems Security Management: An exploration of common models for assessing, planning, implementing and monitoring cyber defense strategies. Students learn about the tools and policies used to protect digital systems and network devices, operating systems and critical applications, and related components. They also become familiar with anomaly detection tools, firewalls, encryption, and access controls.
• Information Security Compliance: Students review various regulatory regimes pertaining to digitally secure business practices, including the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, the E.U.’s General Data Protection Regulation, U.S. state regulatory regimes, and internally focused legislation such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention. The cyber governance issues raised by these laws are examined through the lens of organizational compliance and cyber risk management.
• Computer Forensics: The legal and technical challenges inherent in cyber investigations are explored. Students learn how to identify, capture, and preserve evidence of digital incursions and other cybercriminal activities within the structure of state and federal laws.
• Access Control: Students learn about the core cybersecurity principles inherent to identity and access management, and cultivate the skills needed to design and implement safeguards that control access to digital networks, including zero-trust, federated identity, and role-based access frameworks.
• Cyber Analytics: An exploration of the methods and tools used to identify and deter cyber threats through data analysis. Students learn how to collect and interpret large volumes of data from network logs, intrusion detection software, and intranet traffic reports in order to spot patterns of malicious activity.
• Applied Cryptography: Students learn the mathematical foundations and practical applications of cryptography to secure digital communications and protect sensitive data, with a focus on cryptographical algorithms, hashing, digital signatures, key exchange protocols, and public key infrastructures.
• Health Information Security: Drawing on general cybersecurity protocols and regulatory imperatives defined in HIPAA, students learn to safeguard electronic health records, clinical information systems, medical IoT devices, and critical healthcare infrastructure from cyber threats and data breaches.

Earning a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Online

Programs incorporate an array of instructional strategies and structural elements that can influence the learning experience for students earning a cybersecurity graduate certificate online. While online programs typically use the same curriculum as traditional campus-based programs, online learning has variations that potential applicants may want to consider prior to choosing a program. Cybersecuritydegree.com recommends prospective students to contact a program representative during the application process to learn more about a school’s online instruction methods if the information is not provided on a school’s website.

A key innovation in online instruction is the use of digital platforms to deliver coursework. Online programs use learning management systems (LMSs) to connect students with instructors in a virtual learning environment. An LMS can be used to deliver live and/or pre-recorded content, including lectures and virtual seminars. It also serves as a resource for syllabi, readings, learning modules, assignments, and exams. All or most of an online program’s coursework is generally accessible via a program’s LMS, and students can interact with instructors and classmates through these platforms, engaging in discussions, working on group projects, and attending virtual study sessions. Some professors even host live virtual office hours that students can attend using video conferencing software.

Online instruction can be delivered using two different modes, which are often referred to as synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Live lectures and virtual class meetings are two primary examples of synchronous instruction, which takes place in real-time and thus requires students to log on to a program’s LMS when lectures and classes are scheduled. Asynchronous instruction encompasses online class assignments and activities that do not have a real-time component, including pre-recorded lectures and presentations that can be accessed 24-7 through a program’s LMS. Papers, reports, unproctored exams, and class discussion boards are other common examples of asynchronous online instruction. All online graduate certificate programs use asynchronous instruction; however, not all programs utilize or incorporate synchronous instruction.

While both synchronous and asynchronous instruction are effective modes of online course delivery, they can greatly impact the overall online learning experience. Students who prefer online classes that resemble traditional, campus-based classes may prefer a program that incorporates synchronous instruction. Synchronous instruction also provides structure that some students may find helpful. Depending on the program, live sessions are often scheduled in the evenings or on weekends so that students across time zones can attend. These sessions are usually recorded as well in case a student needs to miss a session due to a personal or work obligation. Asynchronous instruction, by contrast, offers more flexibility and may be a more convenient option for students who have conflicts that prevent them from routinely attending live class meetings. Students who enroll in a program that mainly uses asynchronous instruction are responsible for keeping up with coursework in the absence of scheduled classes, which requires both self-motivation and self-dedication.

Most online graduate certificates in cybersecurity are fully online and do not require any campus visits. However, there are some online programs that require students to attend a limited number of campus-based sessions or “residencies” for activities and instruction that are enhanced with hands-on learning and face-to-face interactions, such as orientations, workshops, networking events, and labs. Programs that require campus visits typically try to schedule campus-based sessions over long weekends or at times of the year that are less likely to cause scheduling conflicts for students (e.g., during the summer or over holiday breaks). Residencies are also typically short, often lasting between three and five days. Graduate certificate programs that require three or fewer campus visits per year are classified as online programs on this site.

Online Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Admissions Requirements

Admissions to a graduate certificate program is often similar to the admissions process for master’s programs in the field. The baseline requirement for a post-baccalaureate certificate program is at least a bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university. (Applicants with a master’s degree can also apply to graduate certificate programs.) Some programs are designed for students who have majored in cybersecurity, computer science or a related technical field; these programs require either a degree in one of those disciplines or equivalent undergraduate coursework plus related professional experience. However, there are also programs that accept students with a bachelor’s degree in any field, assuming they can demonstrate why they wish to pursue a graduate certificate in cybersecurity.

As part of the application process, programs generally request that applicants provide academic transcripts and fill out a formal application that may include one or more required essay prompts or a personal goals statement. In addition, some programs ask students to provide two or three letters of recommendation and a resumé that includes recent job history. While GRE scores are typically not required as part of the admissions process for online cybersecurity graduate certificate programs, schools may prioritize admitting students who have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher on a four-point scale.

Reviewing application timelines and processes can be an important step in the admissions process. Some programs have rolling admissions and may stop admitting students once they have accepted a requisite number of students to fill a cohort for their next start date. Other programs have set admissions deadlines where they wait for all students to submit applications before they start reviewing them. While many schools still adhere to the traditional 15-week semester system, with one to three start dates per year (e.g., fall, spring, and/or summer), or a 10-week quarter system, with four start dates per year (e.g., fall, winter, spring, and/or summer), more schools are using alternative academic calendars with three to six (or more) start dates per year.

Students should note that many programs are selective in their admission process, which means that no one is guaranteed admission, even if they meet all of the program’s requirements. Applicants may want to consider contacting a program administrator as part of the application process to indicate their interest in the program and to secure additional program details that may not be available on a school’s website.