Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate

The University of North Georgia (UNG) and the Mike Cottrell College of Business' Department of Computer Science and Information Systems offer a graduate–level 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 program is designed to enable students with a bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, information systems, information technology, or a closely related field, or graduates of other degree programs who can demonstrate sufficient technical proficiency, to enter the field of cybersecurity, cyber operations or cyber defense.

Students will complete a total of 10 credit hours of graduate-level computer science courses to meet the requirements of the certificate program.

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Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate Quick Facts

Summer term
Online program

Program length is 10 credit hours
Technical proficiency requirement

Complete for certificate only or as electives in either the MBA or MAcc program

Program Application Deadlines

If program capacity is met prior to established admission deadlines, we will stop accepting applications for admission and cancel remaining incomplete applicants. Completing your application earlier is better.

Summer Deadline

April 15

How to Apply to the Graduate Cybersecurity Certificate Program

In order to participate in the program, prospective students will need to apply as a non-degree seeking student to Graduate Admissions. 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.

You must be able to demonstrate technical proficiency in at least two of the following areas to gain admission:

Programming
Systems
Networking

Forensics
Cryptography

Certificate Non-Degree
Requirements:

Baccalaureate or a master’s degree from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog).

If a certificate program applicant holds a master’s degree, only the transcript documenting the master’s is required.

Technical proficiency in at least two of the following areas to gain admission: Programming, Systems, Networking, Forensics, or Cryptography. Students with bachelor’s or master’s degrees in CS/IS/IT or a closely related field will be deemed to meet the technical proficiency requirement. Students may also meet the technical proficiency requirement by earning a “C” or higher in coursework related to an area of proficiency (at UNG or elsewhere), through documentation of appropriate work experience and/or industry certifications, or by otherwise demonstrating proficiency at the discretion of the department head or program coordinator. Email the department at cs@ung.edu for more information.

Required supplemental items

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Application Steps

Step 1Application and Application Fee

Step 2Official Transcripts

Step 3Verification of Lawful Presence in the U.S.

Submit the Graduate Admissions online application.

Please allow three business days after submitting your application for processing. You will receive an email from grads@ung.edu after your application has been reviewed for accuracy and updated with submitted documents. Please do not check your application status prior to receiving an email from this office as your online application checklist will not accurately reflect the required items for your program of interest.

Select Graduate Level Certificates-CyberSecurity Certificate.

Non-refundable application fee of $40.

Pay with a credit/debit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) or electronic check (U.S. banks only) when completing the online application.

Include check or money order payable to UNG when submitting a paper application.

Required supplemental documents may be uploaded with your application or emailed to grads@ung.edu.

Submit one set of official transcripts from each institution attended for all course work, undergraduate and graduate level.

Transfer credit posted on records of other institutions is not accepted in lieu of transcripts from original institutions. Please request a transcript from each institution attended.

Transcripts that have been opened, scanned or forwarded by email are not official and will not be accepted.

Official paper transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution and mailed to University of North Georgia Admissions Imaging Center, P.O. Box 1358, Gainesville, GA 30503-1358. Student paper transcripts are accepted only when issued to the student in a sealed envelope and submitted to Graduate Admissions unopened.

Official electronic transcripts are accepted if submitted from the issuing institution to grads@ung.edu. Depending on the transcript service you are using, grads@ung.edu may not be an available option. You may then select any admissions or undergraduate admissions @ung.edu address. Electronic transcripts forwarded via email from the student are not accepted.

International transcripts must have a course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE). Evaluations must be sent directly from the agency to the Admissions office. Refer to the evaluator website for a full list of NACES or AICE members. Official evaluations must include certification that the applicant's course work and degrees earned are equivalent to course work and degrees earned from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) and include a cumulative grade point average. Evaluations should be submitted from the evaluation service to Graduate Admissions. Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from an accredited institution (as defined under Accredited Institutions in the Academic Information section of the Graduate Catalog) with a minimum grade point average of 2.75.

Graduate Admissions will retrieve transcripts of coursework completed in-residence at UNG. You do not need to order official transcripts from UNG.

Board of Regents’ policy requires all applicants accepted for admission or readmission to UNG seeking in-state for tuition classification provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the state of Georgia and the United States.

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Appeal of Graduate Admission

A candidate whose application is denied has the right to appeal the decision. A written letter of appeal must include strong evidence to support the basis for your appeal. The appeal should consist of information beyond what was previously submitted in your admissions file and detail your ability to be successful in graduate studies.

Email your letter of appeal as a pdf attachment to grads@ung.edu.

All International

International applicants who must be issued an F-1 visa by UNG to enter the United States to attend school may not apply for completely part-time (less than nine hours) or online programs. This program is only offered as an online program and therefore does not permit F-1 visa student admission.

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Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate Curriculum

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

Required Courses (7 Credit Courses)

CSCI 6010 - Cybersecurity Foundations

This course is designed to help students understand the critical role of cybersecurity in business and society today. The technical content of the course provides a broad overview of essential concepts and methods for assessing and assuring security in information systems and networks. In addition, the course examines the importance of security policy and management, information security as it relates to business risk and compliance, social issues such as individual privacy, and the role of public policy and international law.

Hours:
1

View Course in Catalog
CSCI 6250 - Advanced Computer Security

This is a graduate-level course in applied computer security and cryptography. Topics include software vulnerability analysis, defense, and exploitation, reverse engineering, and applied cryptography. Students will also learn to develop security policy and design secure critical systems.

Hours:
3

View Course in Catalog
CSCI 6650 - Advanced Network Security

This course will provide a survey and in-depth discussion on selective topics of network security. It will bring together thoroughly updated coverage of all basic concepts, terminology, and issues, along with the practical skills essential to network security. Core topics include up-to-date discussion of encryption fundamentals, digital signature and certificate, network/wireless network/virtual private network security and applications, practical applications of firewalls, security policies and security standards.

Hours:
3

View Course in Catalog

You may also use another 3 credit hour graduate-level CSCI course with prior department head approval for the optional additional courses.

Select One of these Options (3 credit hours)

CSCI 6350 - Advanced Computer Forensics

This course is an advanced computer forensics, focusing on Windows systems. The course focuses on advanced file system analysis, web and email, registry, as well as a comprehensive final case involving a moot court exercise. It will utilize existing open source tools.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: Departmental Approval

Hours:
3

View Course in Catalog
CSCI 6450 - Software Development Security

This course sits the intersection of computer security and software engineering. It provides students with a foundation of secure software development by applying security principles to software engineering lifecycle. Students will learn practical secure software developing and testing skills.

Hours:
3

View Course in Catalog

Questions?

For questions about the program, contact:

Carolyn Pelkey

MCCB Graduate Programs Coordinator
Carolyn.Pelkey@ung.edu

706-867-4410

For questions about the application process, contact:
Graduate Admissions
grads@ung.edu
706-864-1543