Security Certificate

Program Overview

Security Certificate

Program Type

• Certificate

Format

• On Campus

Estimated Time to Complete

• 2-3 semesters

Credit Hours

• 18

Program Description

Create safe, secure networks and databases and protect information from cyber threats with this certificate program. The Department of Computer Science and Engineering offers courses leading to the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) National Standards.

Requirements

• Introduction to Computer Networks (3 hrs)
  • Introduction to data communications; asynchronous, synchronous, networks and current technology.
• Foundations of Cybersecurity (3 hrs)
  • Security goals, threats and vulnerabilities. Cryptography, program security and operating system security issues. Basic network security. Planning, policies and risk analysis.
• Fundamentals of Database Systems (3 hrs)
  • Logical and physical database system organization; logical models; design issues; secondary storage considerations.
• Secure Electronic Commerce (3 hrs)
  • Electronic commerce technology, models and issues, with emphasis on security issues. Supporting technology such as cryptography, digital signatures, certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI). Security-conscious programming for web-based applications. Exposure to interaction between technical issues and business, legal and ethical issues.
• Introduction to Operating Systems (3 hrs)
  • Concepts in operating system analysis and design. General topics of process, resource and file management are presented and analyzed in the context of different system architectures and performance constraints.
• Assembly Language and Computer Organization (3 hrs)
  • Principles of computer systems organization, instruction sets, assembly language programming, computer arithmetic, data and control paths, and introduction to memory hierarchy.

Why Earn a Certificate in Security?

The UNT Center for Information and Cyber Security (CICS) has been designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) and Research (CAE-R).

Security Certificate Highlights

• CICS coordinates and promotes educational, research, and service projects in information and computer security, with an emphasis on cross-disciplinary initiatives.
• CICS works to provide service and expertise in information and computer security to the university and to the North Texas area. This includes organizing workshops and seminars to promote security awareness both on campus and off.
• The Center and its affiliated faculty have world-class abilities in the information and computer security area, with a range of expertise that includes highly technical areas such as cryptography and protocol security, applications of technology, managerial and organizational aspects of enterprise security, computer crime, and investigative matters.
• Our faculty affiliates push the boundaries of knowledge and experience every day and are active in the international community of researchers.
• Having these diverse approaches to the common problems of computer security and computer crime all available through this one cooperative center provides a well-rounded approach to information and computer security with exceptional promise.
• The Center for Information and Cyber Security (CICS) is an interdisciplinary center, bringing together individuals and organizations with an interest in the areas of information security, computer security, information assurance, and cybercrime.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Security Certificate program is a certification program offered on campus. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to create secure networks and databases, and protect information from cyber threats. The program covers the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS) National Standards.

Outline:

The program is estimated to take 2-3 semesters to complete and requires 18 credit hours. The program includes the following courses:

• Foundations of Cybersecurity (3 hrs): Explores security goals, threats, vulnerabilities, cryptography, program security, operating system security issues, basic network security, planning, policies, and risk analysis.
• Fundamentals of Database Systems (3 hrs): Focuses on logical and physical database system organization, logical models, design issues, and secondary storage considerations.
• Secure Electronic Commerce (3 hrs): Covers electronic commerce technology, models, and issues, with emphasis on security issues.
Includes cryptography, digital signatures, certificates, public key infrastructure (PKI), security-conscious programming for web-based applications, and the interaction between technical issues and business, legal, and ethical issues.
• Introduction to Operating Systems (3 hrs): Explores concepts in operating system analysis and design, including process, resource, and file management in different system architectures and performance constraints.

Other:

The program is offered through the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. The UNT Center for Information and Cyber Security (CICS) is designated by the National Security Agency (NSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a National Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE) and Research (CAE-R). CICS issues cybersecurity certificates containing the NSA and DHS logos. CICS is an interdisciplinary center that promotes educational, research, and service projects in information and computer security, with a focus on cross-disciplinary initiatives.