Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate Programs

The Graduate Certificate of Cyber Defense will educate students in the areas most important to securing any organization. It will include an overview of computer security infrastructure, delineating both the existing threats, and those emerging from social media, the Internet of Things, and threats to basic infrastructure. Network security will be covered including firewalls, Virtual Private Networks, and securing wireless networks. Multiple layers of the network will be covered, include deep-packet inspection. Intrusion prevention, detection, analysis, and recovery will also be addressed from both a host and network point of view.

The Graduate Certificate of Cyber Defense is a stackable program. Graduate credits earned in this certificate program may count toward the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree (CYBM) at MSU-Denver.

All courses are online.

Required Courses for the Graduate Certificate of Cyber Defense:

• CYBM 5020: Cybersecurity Infrastructure – 3 credit hours
• CYBM 5021: Network and Internet Security – 3 credit hours
• CYBM 5022: Intrusion Detection and Prevention – 3 credit hours

Total Required Credits: 9

The Graduate Certificate of Cybersecurity Leadership aims to provide technology leaders with a deep understanding of cyber security’s impact on digital life, and to empower cyber security leaders with tools for safer and more productive working environments. Students will acquire a global perspective on cyber security and information security topics. The integrated learning experience will allow students to advance in your professional area, and cooperate with others with diverse backgrounds from technology, business, and law enforcement.

The Graduate Certificate of Cybersecurity Leadership is a stackable program. Graduate credits earned in this certificate program may count toward the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree at MSU-Denver.

Required Courses for the Graduate Certificate of Cybersecurity Leadership:

• CYBM 5205: Information Systems Strategy and Planning  (3 credit hours)
• CYBM 5242: Security Risk Analysis and Risk Management (3 credit hours)
• CYBM 5248: Information Assurance (3 credit hours)

Total Required Credits: 9

The Graduate Certificate of Cybercrime Investigation will prepare students to excel and advance in a field with increasingly complex challenges. This graduate level certificate is an introduction to the fundamental concepts behind the collection and analysis of the digital evidence left behind in a digital crime scene.  The courses will include cybersecurity infrastructure, investigations, cybercriminology and computer and mobile device forensics. MSU-Denver’s Graduate Certificate of Cybercrime Investigation is an interdisciplinary certificate that combines the Departments of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Computer Information Systems and Business Analytics, and Mathematical and Computer Sciences.

The Graduate Certificate of Cybercrime Investigation is a stackable program. Graduate credits earned in this certificate program may count toward the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree at MSU-Denver.

All courses are online.

Required Courses for the Graduate Certificate of Cybercrime Investigation:

• CYBM 5001: Cybercrime Investigation  (3 credit hours)
• CYBM 5002: Theories of Cybercrime  (3 credit hours)
• CYBM 5020: Cybersecurity Infrastructure  (3 credit hours)
• CYBM 5023: Computer and Mobile Device Forensics (3 credit hours)

Total Required Credits: 12

STEMpath Certificate

MSU Denver’s Graduate STEMPath Certificate of Cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary program that combines the knowledge of cyber laws/policies, advanced computer science and information systems solutions for individuals not seeking a MS in cybersecurity but want to teach cybersecurity classes to K-12 level students.

You may review the program requirements HERE.

Applications for this program are open ONLY to K-12 teachers who are applying through MindSpark. You may apply HERE (make sure you select STEMpath program).

You will need to submit the following:

• Completed online application
• Official transcripts of any higher education institutions you’ve attended (unofficial copies are acceptable for the online application but official copies are required before you can begin your studies). Please have official transcripts sent directly from the institution to [email protected]

Deadline to submit your application is April 1st.

Please Note: The Graduate STEMPath Certificate of Cybersecurity does not allow any course to count toward either the B.S. in Cybersecurity or the Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity.

• Our Fall 2023 application is open now.
• Please note that application processing may take up to 6 – 8 weeks after submitting a complete application.
• Priority deadline is April 1, 2023.
  • Applications are accepted until May 1st.
  • After the April 1st deadline, applicants who do not have a background/degree in CS/CIS/Cybersecurity/IT will be accepted until May 1st.
  • For applicants who do have a background/degree in these areas, we will review the applications case-by-case from May 1st until July 15th, as space is available.

The Cybersecurity Graduate Certificate Programs at MSU Denver is Fall-start only.

To be admitted to any graduate certificate programs, candidates must:

• Submit graduate application.
• Non-refundable application fee of $50.00.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university regionally. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (cumulative) on a scale of 4.0 is required.
• Submit official transcripts from all institutions of higher education previously attended (transcripts from MSU-Denver are not required). Institutions may send official electronic transcripts to [email protected].
• Submit a resume.

ONLINE APPLICATION

• Select First-Time Users
  • Create an account to start a new application.
• Returning Users
  • Log in to continue an application.

The graduate certificate programs do not offer any prior learning credits from life and/or work experience.

The graduate certificate programs do not provide an option to test out of any coursework.

Students not enrolled for three (3) consecutive semesters, including summer, must reapply to the University. Students requesting readmission must be in good academic standing and must submit their application for readmission to the certificate programs in which they were enrolled.

The graduate certificates students who are eligible for readmission should submit the following materials:

• Readmission after Leave of Absence Form (located on the Graduate Program Catalog page)
• The MSU-Denver general graduate application and fees.
• Students who are readmitted into the graduate certificate programs will be held to the policies and curriculum of the later term in which they officially restart the graduate certificate programs.
• An approved readmit application is valid for one academic year (including summer) from the readmit semester.
• Students who are not in good academic standing are not eligible for the readmit application process and must fully apply to the graduate certificate programs.

Students must complete the graduate certificate programs within six calendar years from the term they initially enroll. Students should check the Graduate Certificate Programs page and specific program section of the catalog to determine specific certificate requirements.

All MSU-Denver courses in the graduate certificate programs* may count toward the M.S. in Cybersecurity degree program at MSU-Denver.

*The Graduate STEMPath Certificate of Cybersecurity does not allow any course to count toward either the B.S. in Cybersecurity or the Master’s Degree in Cybersecurity.

• Students in any graduate certificate programs must complete the certificate with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• No grade lower than a “C” will count toward the certificate. Students receiving a “D” or below will be required to repeat the course.

• Only students who are formally accepted into the graduate certificate programs may register for any graduate certificate courses.

Please visit MSU-Denver  Graduate Financial Aid for more information.

The graduate certificate programs do not accept any transfer of credits.