No, you do not technically need an undergraduate degree in information technology to be accepted into the graduate certificate in cybersecurity program. However, having a background in information technology or cybersecurity, whether it be from professional work experience or from an undergraduate degree in a technical field is helpful in determining the success of an applicant in the certificate program. If a student does not have the technical, professional, or academic background, they may be required to complete prerequisite course(s) to be admitted. Prerequisite courses for the Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity at UofL include CSE 130 (Introduction to C and C++ Programming Languages), CSE 310 (Discrete Structures) and CSE 503 (Survey of Computer Science and Engineering), or equivalent.
Online Cybersecurity Certificate
The online graduate certificate in Cybersecurity is designed for advanced computer professionals who wish to strengthen their knowledge and skills in the fast-changing field of cybersecurity.
Offered by the J.B. Speed School of Engineering at the University of Louisville, this certificate prepares you to monitor and identify instances of cybercrime, and respond to increasingly more sophisticated attacks against the nation's information infrastructure. The 4 course (12 credit hour) program was developed as part of the University of Louisville’s Cyber Security Initiative, which strives to deliver more educated and informed computer science and engineering professionals to the industry.
How Much Will I Pay?
Highlights
- Enrich your expertise in relevant and timely cybersecurity areas like information security, data mining, mobile computing and more.
- Gain the skills needed to grow or start your career as a cybersecurity professional.
- Take advantage of the flexibility and convenience of 100% online classes.
- Skip the GRE – not required for admission into the certificate program.
- Roll your certificate credits (12 hours) into UofL’s online Master of Science in Computer Science.
- The University of Louisville is recognized with the Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD) designation as an institution committed to promoting higher education and research in cyber defense to reduce threats to our national infrastructure and prepared effective cybersecurity professionals to protect our nation’s infrastructure (caecommunity.org).
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Complete this certificate on your own time through fully online classes.
Learn MoreTake only 4 courses to expand your expertise and earn your certificate.
Learn MoreEarn a valuable credential in less than 12 months!
The University of Louisville is an NSA/DHS National CAE-CDE in Cyber Defense Designated Institution, providing specialized education and academic excellence in cyber defense.
Learn more at NSA/CSS National Centers of Academic Excellence.
Outcomes
Big data is definitely here, and in a world continuously plagued by threats to our expanding databases, cybersecurity professionals are more essential to keeping our information secure than ever before—with jobs expected to grow 28% over the next decade (bls.gov). Graduates of this program can apply their knowledge to various careers in areas like network security, risk auditing or management, software security engineering, penetration testing, information security analysis, information forensics, cyber threat intelligence and more.
| Preferred Application Deadline | Term | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| August 1 | Fall | August |
| November 15 | Spring | January |
| April 1 | Summer | May |
Note: We admit students on a rolling basis. The preferred deadlines help you complete the application process on time, be notified of acceptance and enroll before the term begins. We review applications as they become complete, and admit students for a specific term up to the day classes start. We recommend you work on and submit your complete application well in advance of the preferred deadline, as obtaining transcripts and other materials may take more time.
For more information on the admission and application process, please contact our Online Learning Enrollment Counselor at 800.871.8635 or by email at online@louisville.edu.
Steps to Apply
- Complete graduate application
- Submit $40 non-refundable application free
- Request official transcripts certifying an undergraduate degree earned from an accredited institution.*
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Electronic (recommended):
gradadm@louisville.edu -
Physical Mail:
University of Louisville,
Graduate School
2211 S Brook St, Houchens Bldg, Rm 105
Louisville, KY 40292
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Electronic (recommended):
- Check for Scholarships
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Admission Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university. See prerequisite section below for more details.
- Minimum GPA of 2.75
- Completion of required prerequisites (credits equivalent to CSE 130, CSE 310, and CSE 503 courses) or documentation demonstrating sufficient and relevant practical knowledge
*See the Graduate School Transfer of Credit Policy for more information.
International Students – Additional Notes/Requirements
- Bachelor's degrees earned internationally must be assessed to ensure that entrance requirements are met. Bachelor's degrees earned internationally must be assessed to ensure that entrance requirements are met. All transcripts not in English must be certified as authentic and translated verbatim into English.
- If you live outside of the United States and intend to complete an online academic program from your home country, be sure to view special requirements for international students.
- A minimum total TOEFL score of 79 or an overall IELTS minimum score of 6.5 or Duolingo English Test minimum score of 105 for all foreign students from counties in which English is not the native language.
- International students will not be issued a U.S. visa if admitted to the online structural transportation certificate program, since there are no campus attendance requirements.
Don’t have a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering/computer science?
You are not alone! More than ever before, professionals with non-computer science educational background are seeking to earn computer science credentials at the graduate level for career change or advancement opportunities. The online Master of Science in Computer Science at UofL is available to applicants with a technical degree or relevant experience.
Non-computer science candidates often need to complete undergraduate prerequisites before applying to the master’s program. These requirements can be completed online at UofL.
| Prerequisite Courses | Hours |
|---|---|
| CSE 130 Introduction to Programming Languages (C/C++ Programing) | 3 |
| CSE 310 Discrete Structures | 3 |
| CSE 503 Survey of Computer Engineering and Computer Science (Data Structure & Design of Operating Systems) | 3 |
The online graduate Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity is a 12 credit hour program that requires 2 core courses and 2 courses of approved electives. All courses are delivered asynchronously, in standard term length.
Core Courses
| Course [required] | Hours |
|---|---|
|
CSE 564 Introduction to Cryptography or CSE 568 Computer Forensics |
3 |
| CSE 566 Information Security | 3 |
| Total Required Hours | 6 |
Electives Courses
| Course [choose 2] | Hours |
|---|---|
| CSE 546 Introduction to Machine Learning | 3 |
| CSE 565 Software Security | 3 |
| CSE 590 Computer & Cyber Security | 3 |
| CSE 613 Network Security | 3 |
| CSE 617 Mobile Computing | 3 |
| CSE 631 Database Security | 3 |
| CSE 632 Data Mining | 3 |
| CSE 694 Special Topics Course: XXXXX | 3 |
| CSE 694 Advanced Cryptography | 3 |
| CSE 694 Special Topics Course: Department Approval Required | 3 |
| Total Required Hours | 6 |
Students starting in this program will need to have sufficient background to be successful. Therefore, you must have completed the required course prerequisites, or have equivalent knowledge from courses taken at other universities, or from work experience. Prerequisites include CSE 130, CSE 310 and CSE 503, or equivalent.
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Course Descriptions
Learn from the best!
The faculty at the University of Louisville are leaders in the field of Data Science, Data Warehousing and Data Analysis. Their expertise spans the use of text, web, numerical and image data bases. They have worked in application areas such as medical, e-commerce, security, military, institutional and financial research. Our faculty have authored or contributed to textbooks and professional publications and have received research awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Department of Defense (DoD).
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Do I need to have an IT background to qualify for this program?
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Can I complete the prerequisite courses within the program?
Yes, a student can complete the prerequisites in CSE 130 (Introduction to C and C++ Programming Languages), CSE 310 (Discrete Structures) and CSE 503 (Survey of Computer Science and Engineering), or equivalent, if they do not have the technical background prior to starting the graduate certificate in cybersecurity. It is recommended that all interested students work with an enrollment counselor or an advisor to understand if their previous coursework or employment qualifications warrant them taking prerequisite courses prior to being accepted into the program.
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Are the prerequisite courses required for all applicants? Will I have to take additional courses if I don’t have a degree in Computer Engineering/Computer Science?
Applicants must be academically prepared for the graduate cybersecurity courses to be successful in this program. The admission committee looks for previous course work in math, statistics, CSE 130 (C/C++), CSE 310 (Discrete Structure), and CSE 503 (Survey of Computer Science and Engineering). If a student does not have a background in cybersecurity or the required coursework, they may be required to take a basic CS class or JAVA. It is recommended that all interested students work with an enrollment counselor or an advisor to understand if their previous coursework or employment qualifications warrant them taking prerequisite courses prior to being accepted into the program
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Can I take more than the required 2 elective courses?
Yes, a student can take as many electives as they wish, however they must meet the prerequisites required. Only 2 electives from the approved elective course list along with 2 core courses from the approved course list are required to graduate with your certificate in cybersecurity. For more information on the core and elective courses, visit the courses tab on this site.