Cybersecurity Certificate
The Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate is designed to prepare students for computing industry careers that require broad and deep advanced knowledge of cybersecurity principles and practices. The program requires 21 total hours of graduate classes. There are two core classes for a total of 6 hours. In addition, five elective classes must be taken for the needed additional 15 credit hours. The certificate may be pursued either as a standalone program or in parallel with an M.S. or Ph.D. degree in Computer Science. In the latter case, obtaining the Certificate is a way to establish a visible transcript credential in the field of study.
Course Requirements
Required Core Courses (6)
- CS 591 Introduction to Computer Security (3)
- CS 595 Web and Cloud Security (3)
Five of the following courses or approved substitute courses (15)
- CS 530 Internet, Web, and Cloud Systems (3)
- CS 575 Generative Security Application Engineering 3)
- CS 576 Computer Security Seminar (3)
- CS 585 Cryptography (3)
- CS 589 Introduction to Privacy Aware Computing (3)
- CS 592 Malware Reverse Engineering (3)
- CS 593 Digital Forensics (3)
- CS 594 Internetworking Protocols (3)
- CS 596 Network Security (3)
- Any approved CS 510 course in Security (3)
Prerequisites
Proficiency in Python programming (equivalent to our CS 161 Intro to Programming & Problem Solving undergraduate-level course, and system programming and architecture (equivalent to our CS 205 System Programming and Architecture course).
Admissions Procedures
Current CS graduate students (M.S. or Ph.D.) can add the certificate to their existing degree program or transfer to the certificate program (effectively withdrawing from their current program) by filling out the GO-19 form . Within the form, the student should select “Add” to include the certificate with their current graduate degree program, or “Transfer” to pursue the certificate on its own. Requests to add or transfer to the certificate program are reviewed and approved by the department.
Prospective new students who are interested in pursuing the certificate on its own, and not in parallel with the M.S. or Ph.D., must apply via the Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate application .
The applicant must meet the prerequisites outlined in the Certificate-specific sections above. If the applicant lacks any of the required skills, they can enroll in the relevant PSU undergraduate courses ahead of applying for the certificate.
These CS courses can be completed at PSU with postbaccalaureate admission status or at one of the community colleges listed in this transfer guide .
Returning students who already hold a CS M.S. or Ph.D. degree and wish to obtain the certificate as an additional credential must apply using the Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate application . Courses applied to the existing degree can also be re-used to fulfill the certificate course requirements.