Certificate Overview

The Cybersecurity Engineering (CSEC) Graduate Certificate focuses on developing advanced knowledge and skills in key areas of cybersecurity, including information security, network security, software security, and hardware security.  The certificate targets both non-degree students interested in deepening their understanding, in addition to graduate students within computer science, computer engineering, and electrical engineering who seek to concentrate their coursework in cybersecurity.  The certificate will be available in both Blacksburg and Northern Virginia, but there is expected to be significant growth in the Northern Virginia enrollment as part of university investment in cybersecurity.

The Cybersecurity Engineering (CSEC) Graduate Certificate seeks to help address the major cybersecurity workforce skills gap within the Commonwealth of Virginia and more broadly the Washington DC region.  This certificate focuses on Virginia Tech’s contribution to this ecosystem in developing deeply technical engineering and computer science skills in security.  Virginia has among the densest cybersecurity workforces in the world, but also has among the highest percentage of cyber jobs unfilled.  This certificate will help partially address those challenges by packaging together a range of graduate engineering and computer science courses that can be offered both as part of a graduate degree or to non-degree post-baccalaureate students.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Graduate School and completing a Graduate Certificate Application are required for all students.

The Graduate School requires completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 3.0 or better for admission to Certificate Status. Applicants with an undergraduate GPA < 3.0 may qualify for Commonwealth Campus admission. Students pursuing a degree and a certificate simultaneously are classified within their degree program.  Certificate credits may be used to meet degree requirements if they are appropriate for inclusion on the degree Plan of Study. The faculty administering the Certificate will assist students with determining course selection.

Course Requirements

A student can earn a graduate certificate in Cybersecurity Engineering when he/she completes the following 4 courses:

Required
• CS/ECE 5560 Fundamentals of Information Security
Restricted Electives (pick 2)
• ECE/CS 5580, Cryptographic Engineering
• ECE/CS 5584, Network Security
• ECE/CS 5590, System and Software Security
Electives (pick 1)
• CS 5204, Operating Systems
• ECE/CS 5504, Computer Architecture
• ECE 5520, Secure Hardware Design
• CS/ECE 5565 Network Architecture and Protocols I
• CS 5704 Software Engineering

*A 5000- or 6000-level special topics or advanced topics course may be approved as a substitute given prior approval by the CS/ECE department.