Next Start Date: Online Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity
Advance your knowledge of network threats, data encryption, wireless network security, data authentication, data recovery and forensics, network architecture and emerging network technologies with UMass Lowell's online Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity. Offered through UMass Lowell's Richard A. Miner School of Computer & Information Sciences, this program is ideal for systems administrators, network managers and other IT professionals who already possess a bachelor's in Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems or related degrees. Applicants should be familiar with C programming and have knowledge of pre-calculus, statistics and discrete structures.
This program differs from traditional graduate computer science courses because of its focus on application-specific details, case studies and the operational framework required by today's IT professionals. Credits earned can be applied toward the Master of Science in Information Technology and the Master of Science in Security Studies: Cybersecurity Concentration.
Complete in 9 Months
One of the Most Affordable Tuitions in the Nation
No GRE Required
Career Outlook
One Success Leads to Another
Apply credits from lower credentials to higher ones. Our programs are designed to build upon themselves:
Curriculum Outline
Choose 4 Courses
- MSIT.5600 Network Infrastructures - Available Spring 2024!
- MSIT.5610 Computer Network Security
- MSIT.5620 Digital Forensics
- MSIT.5630 Secure Mobile Networks
- MSIT.5650 Cloud Computing
You do not have to be enrolled in the program to take a course. Try a course before applying into the program if you would like, by enrolling now as a "non-degree" graduate student, you can begin taking graduate courses this semester. Complete the Non-Degree Registration Form, and fax it to the Registrar's Office at 978-934-4076.
Note: These courses cannot be used towards the M.S. or D.Sc. in Computer Science.
Course Descriptions
MSIT.5600 Network Infrastructures (3cr)
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts in the design and implementation of computer communication networks, their protocols, and applications. Topics to be covered include: an overview of network architectures, applications, network programming interfaces (e.g. sockets) , transport, congestion, routing, and data link protocols, addressing, local area networks, network management, and emerging network technologies. Cannot be used toward MS or D.Sc. in Computer Science.
Requirements:
MSIT, IT Certificate Program
MSIT.5610 Computer Network Security (3cr)
This course is aimed to provide students with a solid understanding of key concepts of computer network security and practical solutions to network security threats. Topics to be covered include common network security attacks, basic security models, data encryption algorithms, public-key cryptography and key management, data authentication, network security protocols in practice, wireless network security, network perimeter security and firewall technology, the art of anti-malicious software, and the art of intrusion detection. Pre-Req: BS in IT or Equivalent. Cannot be used toward MS or D.Sc. in Computer Science.
Requirements:
MSIT, IT Certificate Program
MSIT.5620 Digital Forensics (3cr)
Identifying, preserving and extracting electronic evidence. Students learn how to examine and recover data from operating systems, core forensic procedures for any operating or file system, understanding technical issues in acquiring computer evidence and how to conduct forensically sound examinations to preserve evidence for admission and use in legal proceedings.
Requirements:
MSIT, IT Certificate Program
MSIT.5630 Secure Mobile Networks (3cr)
This course covers principles and practices of wireless networks, including cellular networks, wireless LANs, ad hoc mesh networks, and sensor networks. The potential attacks against these wireless networks and the security mechanisms to defend these networks will be discussed. Topics to be covered include cellular network architecture, wide-area mobile services, wireless LANs and MACs, introduction to emerging wireless networks, survey of malicious behaviors in wireless networks, securing wireless WANs and LANs, securing wireless routing, securing mobile applications, wireless intrusion detection and prevention, challenges in securing next-generation wireless networks, and privacy issues in wireless networks.
Requirements:
MSIT, IT Certificate Program
MSIT.5650 Cloud Computing (3cr)
This course starts with an overview of modern distributed models, exposing the design principles, systems architecture, and innovative applications of parallel, distributed, and cloud computing systems. The course will focus on the creation and maintenance of high-performance, scalable, reliable systems, providing comprehensive coverage of distributed and cloud computing, including: Facilitating management, debugging, migration, and disaster recovery through virtualization. Clustered systems for research or ecommerce applications. Designing systems as web services. Principles of cloud computing using examples from open-source and commercial applications.
Requirements:
MSIT, IT Certificate Program
Graduate Certificate Requirements
Students enrolled in graduate certificate programs through UMass Lowell must complete all courses indicated in the curriculum outline. Students may complete the certificate program at their own pace by registering for and successfully completing one or more courses each semester, depending upon his/her personal time constraints. Students are required to maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.000 with no more than one course grade below B to receive the certificate.
Online courses meet throughout the year during the Fall, Spring and Summer semesters (see Calendar for details). Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend 6 to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course. For more information on online courses, visit our online program home page .
Completing a Graduate Certificate Program
Graduate certificate courses must be completed within a five-year period with a minimum 3.000 grade point average and no more than one course with a grade below B. Once all courses for a graduate certificate have been completed, students must complete and submit the Graduate Certificate Clearance Form. Students must submit their clearance form to their coordinator. The coordinator will apply them in SIS, Graduation Tracking.
Tuition & Fees
Tuition at UMass Lowell is typically half the cost of private colleges, and our online tuition is among the lowest in the nation. Tuition for online programs offered through the Division of Graduate, Online & Professional Studies is the same whether you live in-state, out-of-state or outside of the U.S.
Spring 2024 Tuition |
Cost Per Credit | Cost Per 3-Credit Course* |
|---|---|---|
Graduate |
||
| Online | $585 | $1,755 |
| Online Business** | $655 | $1,965 |
| Online IT and Engineering*** | $600 | $1,800 |
| Online Education | $470 | $1,410 |
| Online Education for Ed.D. and Ph.D. | $500 | $1,500 |
| On Campus | View Here | View Here |
Additional Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Term Registration Fee | $30 |
| Late Fee | $50 |
| Graduate Degree and Certificate Application | $50 |
Please note: Tuition and fees are subject to change.
Estimate the cost of this program with our online tuition calculator
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Admission Requirements
While the certificate program is designed to be readily accessible to students who have completed a bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology or Information Systems, we understand that the IT community includes many individuals who have completed degrees in other majors and have made career adjustments to the field.
To accommodate the community at large, our specific certificate program admission requirements are:
- Mathematical experience to include a minimum of one semester of Precalculus, one semester of Discrete Mathematics and one semester of Statistics, or the equivalent experience
- C Programming proficiency, to include a minimum of one class of C Programming and one class of data structures, or the equivalent experience
For Graduate Certificate Programs, Please Submit:
- An application
- An application fee*
- An official transcript indicating a completed bachelor's degree. If your bachelor's degree is from outside the United States, you may be required to take the TOEFL examination.
- No Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for graduate certificate programs
F1 student visas are not issued for this program. Applications can be completed and submitted at any time during the year. Your application will be processed as soon as all admission materials have been received. You may apply to more than one certificate program but can only take 12 credits maximum before enrolling in an advanced degree. Learn more about specific application requirements for your program of interest.
Count Your Graduate Certificate Toward a Master's Degree
Credits earned from a graduate certificate may be used toward a related graduate degree.
Graduate Program Admissions Requirements
Admission to all graduate programs at UMass Lowell is contingent upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree. In many cases, applicants may register for a course before formally applying to the program; however, students requiring financial aid may want to wait until they have been formally accepted into the program to ensure that their course(s) will be covered. Contact UMass Lowell's Office of Graduate Admissions if you have questions about the application process.
Questions Regarding Your Graduate Application?
Email Graduate_Admissions@uml.edu or call 800-656-4723 (for U.S. students) or 978-934-2390 (for international students).
For General Assistance:
For general questions about registering for courses or to find out who the advisor is for your graduate program, call 800-480-3190. Our admissions and advising teams are here to help!
