Cybersecurity, Graduate Certificate

I. Contact Information

Shamik Sengupta, Ph.D., Graduate Program Director
University of Nevada, Reno 
Reno, Nevada 89557
(775) 784-6953
ssengupta@unr.edu

II. Brief Introduction

The Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity will use an interdisciplinary approach to provide students the essential domain knowledge to address evolving cybersecurity challenges. Students will learn to identify cybersecurity risks and to work in teams to develop appropriate, user‐friendly protection & response options. While this approach offers utility to existing cybersecurity approaches, it will be especially valuable in the creation of new approaches, especially those targeting small businesses.

Note: Students who are enrolled in this program solely are not eligible for Federal Financial Aid.

III. Program Objectives/Student Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the origins, nature, and current issues in cybersecurity and its related activities using precise terminology.
• Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to design, prototype and test cyberscurity solutions.
• Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to work with local and regional stakeholders to identify cybersecurity  risks.
• Students will be able to compare and contrast international cybersecurity policies, strategies, and capabilities.
• Students will be able to analyze and apply lessons from prominent international cybersecurity case studies.

IV. Admission Requirements

Candidates for this certificate must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited academic institution. The courses offered for this certificate may be taken by current students or new students. A student must first apply to the certificate program and be admitted to be eligible to receive the certificate.

V. Program Requirements

This will be a four-­course certificate. The first three courses will expose students to cybersecurity perspectives through the interdisciplinary lenses of computer science, political science, psychology, information systems, sociology, and criminal justice. The fourth course will be a capstone course; it will teach students to combine these perspectives and produce user-­friendly solutions as they work with community members to brainstorm, build and test prototypes for real-­world cybersecurity needs.

The capstone course is a modification of one produced in collaboration with Stanford University’s legendary “dSchool” and the internationally-­renowned IDEO innovation firm. The course teaches students to identify real-­world problems and stakeholders and to involve the stakeholders in building solutions for their problems. The course also teaches students to overcome the stresses of working with disparate personalities and to maximize the opportunities that come with harnessing diversity.

Required Course(s):

• CS 650 - Fundamentals of Integrated Computer Security (3 units)
• IS 670 - Computer Security, Controls, and Information Assurance (3 units)
• JOUR 703 - Innovation (3 units)
• PSC 603K - Problems in American Public Policy (3 units)

VI. Total Units (12 units)

Note:

Students who are enrolled in or have completed the certificate program may choose to continue their graduate studies and apply to a masters or doctoral program in one of the participating departments. Students accepted to the graduate program may transfer 9 credits earned from the Graduate Certificate  program.