Foundations of Cybersecurity Certificate

Cybersecurity stands as one of today's most rapidly expanding fields. Michigan Tech offers an on-campus and online Foundations of Cybersecurity certificate program designed for students and professionals in computer science and related disciplines.

Michigan Tech is an ideal starting point for advancing your studies in cybersecurity. Recognized by the National Security Agency, Michigan Tech holds dual designations as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) and Cyber Research (CAE-R)—a distinction unmatched in Michigan. The ICC Center for Cybersecurity at Michigan Tech boasts 13 faculty members renowned for their expertise in cybersecurity. Students benefit from numerous opportunities to participate in hands-on projects sponsored by prestigious entities such as the National Science Foundation, the US Department of Defense, and US Department of Energy.

Enhance Your Skill Set

As businesses of all sizes rush to shield themselves from mounting threats, the demand for cybersecurity experts is skyrocketing. Currently, there are more cybersecurity job openings than qualified candidates available to fill them. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, positions for information security analysts are projected to grow by 33 percent by 2030—twice as fast as the average for other computer-related jobs and four times faster than the overall job market in the United States.

Globally, there's a shortage of approximately 2.72 million cybersecurity professionals, highlighting the urgent need for skilled individuals in this field.

In today's modern enterprises, the number of users, devices, and software programs is rapidly increasing. Alongside this growth, there's an overwhelming influx of data—much of it sensitive or confidential—which heightens the importance of cybersecurity measures. Compounding this challenge are increasingly sophisticated cyber attackers and their evolving techniques, posing a significant threat to organizations worldwide.

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How to Apply

Certificate Overview
Item	Details
Department	Computer Science
Admissions requirement	BS in Computer Science or a related field.
Contact	Jean Mayo
Length	3 courses in 2-3 semesters
Effort	3 hours per credit per week
Each Course	3 credits
Total Credits	9 credits
Course type	Online or on campus
Modality	Watch class recordings on demand
Cost	Based on credits and course type
Already enrolled?	Speak with your advisor.

Compact Curriculum

Progress quickly with a compact curriculum. Work with the program advisor to select courses that fit your interests and prerequisite skills. All courses will initially be offered in a standard semester length.

Prerequisits

Check your preparation. CS 5471 is a prerequisite for CS 5740. CS 4723 can be taken concurrently or sequentially with the other two courses.

Courses

Take 9 credits of required courses.

CS 5471 - Computer Security

This covers fundamentals of computer security. Topics include practical cryptography, access control, security design principles, physical protections, malicious logic, program security, intrusion detection, administration, legal and ethical issues.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (0-3-0)
Semesters Offered: Fall, Spring
Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s): Graduate
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 3411 or CS 4411

CS 4723 - Network Security

Learn fundamental of cryptography and its application to network security. Understand network security threats, security services, and countermeasures. Acquire background knowledge on well known network security protocols. Address open research issues in network security.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): EE 4272 or CS 4461 or SAT 4812

CS 5740 - Development of Trusted Software

This course exposes students to the concepts of secure software development. Students will learn how to develop high-quality software that is resistant against cyber- attacks, by minimizing the number of vulnerabilities that can be exploited by an attacker. Topics include: access control, race conditions, buffer overflows, code injection, fuzzing techniques, cryptographic software, web application and Java security.

Credits: 3.0
Lec-Rec-Lab: (3-0-0)
Semesters Offered: Spring
Pre-Requisite(s): CS 4471

Typical Start Schedules

Here are typical schedules with fall, spring, and summer starts. These schedules focus on online students.

Fall Start: Shortest Timeline

Fall	Spring
CS 5471	CS 4723 and CS 5740

Fall Start: One Course Per Semester

Fall	Spring	Summer
CS 5471	CS 4723	CS 5740
CS 5471	CS 5740	CS 4723

Spring Start: Shortest Timeline

Spring	Summer	Fall	Spring
CS 4723	CS 5471	*CS 5741	CS 5740
*If CS 5471 not offered in summer, can take in the fall.

Summer Start: Shortest Timeline

Summer	Fall	Spring
CS 5471		CS 4723 and CS 5740
CS 4723	CS 5471	CS 5740

Application Process and Admissions Requirements

Applications are reviewed on an individual basis using a holistic approach. Fill out our free graduate application online to apply to any of our programs. Official transcripts and scores are not required for the initial application, although you will need to upload them later.

Graduate School Admissions Process

Applying to the Graduate School is free (no application fees) and fast (no official transcripts, test scores, or letters needed to start). The application process involves three easy steps.

See Admissions Steps

Graduate School Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Graduate School as a degree- or certificate-seeking student, you need to:

have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution, and
be prepared for advanced study in your chosen field, as demonstrated by your previous degree and your scholastic record.

See additional application requirements, including required materials:

Official Transcripts

Program Specific Requirements

Program Specific

Résumé / Curriculum vitae
Admitted applicants typically have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better on a 4.0 scale
GMAT/GRE: Not required
Prerequisites: none

International Students

TOEFL: Recommended Score of 79 iBT
IELTS: Recommended Overall Band Score of 6.5

Michigan Tech requires a minimum 79 overall TOEFL or 6.5 overall IELTS score.

Admissions Decisions

Made on a rolling basis.

To enroll in this certificate program, students must have a bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or software engineering.

Certificate Admissions

Prospective Students

Prospective students and non-degree seeking students interested in obtaining a graduate certificate must apply to the certificate program using the online application.
Accelerated certificate options exist for current Michigan Tech undergraduate students in good standing and have achieved at least junior-level standing or recent bachelor’s graduates of Michigan Tech (less than two years).
The number of credits earned prior to admission that can be counted are restricted.

Current Graduate Students

Current Michigan Tech graduate students who are in a degree program do not need to formally apply. Current students must still submit the appropriate degree schedule in order to complete the certificate.

International Student Requirements

International Students must apply and be accepted into a degree-granting program in order to earn a graduate certificate. A non-refundable $10 processing fee per application is required.

See International Applicants

Upon completion of the certificate, students will be able to:

Master fundamental principles of computer and network security
Gain a deep understanding of software vulnerabilities
Acquire skills in developing secure applications
Learn to use cryptography tools effectively
Explore practical applications in real-world scenarios