Cybersecurity Certificate

10 hours

The University of North Georgia (UNG) offers a 10 credit hour Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity. UNG has been designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education.

The Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity is designed to provide participants with a deep understanding of the technical aspects of cybersecurity, as well as the strategic thinking necessary to implement effective security policies and practices within organizations. The cybersecurity graduate certificate blends theoretical foundations with practical, real-world applications, enabling participants to tackle current and emerging cybersecurity challenges with expertise and strategic insight. This program covers a broad spectrum of cybersecurity domains, including network security, forensics, reverse engineering, secure application development, information assurance, incident response, and cybersecurity governance.

Certificate Requirements

*All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher

• CSCI 6010 - Cybersecurity Foundations  
• CSCI 6250 - Advanced Computer Security  
• CSCI 6650 - Advanced Network Security  

Select one:

• CSCI 6350 - Advanced Computer Forensics  
• CSCI 6450 - Software Development Security  

• Another 3-credit hour Graduate-level CSCI course with prior Department Head approval

Overall Program Goals

• Equips students with various skills, including threat detection and analysis, network security, cryptography, ethical hacking, secure software development, and digital forensics.
• Design and implement robust cybersecurity strategies to protect organizations from cyber threats.
• Respond to and recover from cybersecurity incidents and breaches effectively.
• Lead and manage cybersecurity initiatives within organizations, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets. 

Admission Eligibility

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution (as defined in the Graduate Catalog) is required. Students with an existing bachelor’s or master’s degree in CS/IS/IT or a closely related field will be deemed to meet the technical proficiency requirement.

Students with non-IT related fields may be required to demonstrate knowledge and skills in at least two of the following areas to gain admission:

• Programming
• Systems
• Networking
• Forensics
• Cryptography 

Technology

Students are expected to:

• Engage in electronic collaboration using email and the basic functions of software for online meetings (e.g., Zoom, Teams). 
• Develop proficiency with the learning management system(s) used to administer courses.  
• Be competent using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).   
• Have access to a personal computer (and not rely on cell phones, tablets, or Chromebooks) to run required software.  
• Follow additional IT guidance found here: https://ung.edu/information-technology/FAQ.php. 

While the program is primarily asynchronous, online synchronous meetings may be required for program orientation and occasionally throughout the program.