Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate

Program Overview

The Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate at UMBC equips students with the skills to address real-world cybersecurity challenges, focusing on information protection and analysis in organizational settings. Through coursework, an internship or project, and a final project, graduates gain practical experience and the ability to synthesize knowledge into practical solutions. The program prepares students for careers in cybersecurity, including security analyst, engineer, and consultant.

Program Outline

Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate

Graduates will be able to synthesize new knowledge and translate them into practical solutions through a final cybersecurity informatics experience.

Educational Objectives:

The program aims to achieve the following educational objectives:

• Equip students with the ability to solve cybersecurity-related problems in real-world scenarios.
• Focus on the protection and analysis of information in organizational contexts.
• Enable students to synthesize new concepts and skills acquired in the courses into a final cybersecurity informatics experience.

Program Description:

The Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate program consists of 15 credits of coursework across various areas of cybersecurity, including data analytics, software security, mobile computing, and information systems and security. Students gain practical experience through an internship or project, allowing them to apply their learnings to real-world challenges.

Outline

Course Requirements:

• Core Courses (6 credits):
• IS 471 - Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (3 credits)
• IS 472 - Software Security (3 credits)
• Experience (3 credits):
• Choose one of the following:
• IS 478 - Cybersecurity Internship (3 credits)
• IS 479 - Cybersecurity Project (3 credits)
• Electives (6 credits):
• Choose two of the following:
• IS 427 - Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Concepts and Applications (3 credits)
• IS 428 - Data Mining Techniques and Applications (3 credits)
• IS 430 - Information Systems and Security (3 credits)
• IS 451M - LAN Management Using Microsoft (3 credits) or IS 451U - LAN Management Using Unix (3 credits)
• IS 452 - Internetworking (3 credits)

Assessment

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:

• Coursework: Assignments, projects, and exams assess students' understanding of key concepts and their ability to apply them to real-world scenarios.
• Internship or Project: The culminating experience allows students to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply their knowledge and skills to address a specific cybersecurity challenge.
• Final Project: Students will be assigned or propose a final project related to cybersecurity informatics.
The project will showcase their ability to synthesize their learnings and apply them to a real-world problem.

Teaching

The program features a combination of teaching methods, including:

• Discussions: Active classroom discussions encourage students to engage with the material, exchange ideas, and develop critical thinking skills.
• Case Studies: Through real-world examples and scenarios, students gain practical insights into how cybersecurity principles are applied in different contexts.
• Hands-on Activities: Students participate in practical exercises and projects, allowing them to apply their knowledge and skills to solve real-world problems.

Careers

The Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate program prepares graduates for a variety of careers in the growing field of cybersecurity, including:

• Security Analyst
• Security Engineer
• Cybersecurity Consultant
• Network Security Specialist
• Data Security Specialist
• Digital Forensics Investigator
Graduates are well-equipped to address the increasing demand for skilled professionals in the cybersecurity workforce.

Other

• Completion of a UMBC major is required for the certificate.
• Students must achieve a minimum grade of 'C' in courses applied to the certificate.