Cybersecurity Informatics Certificate

phrases indicating the benefits of the program over an image of a building on campus

The educational objectives of this certificate program are to equip students to solve cybersecurity-related problems in the real world, particularly those related to the protection and analysis of information in real organizational contexts. Certificate students are required to synthesize new concepts and skills acquired in the courses (in computer security, data mining, software security, and mobile computing) into a final cybersecurity informatics experience.

Courses required to complete the certificate are below. Course descriptions can be found in the Course Catalog. The printed course catalog contains the official listing of program requirements and takes precedence over information listed on this site. Should you discover a discrepancy between the printed catalog and any information posted on this site, please contact the Department of Information Systems for instructions.

Core (6 Credits)

  • IS 471 – Data Analytics for Cybersecurity (credits: 3)
  • IS 472 – Software Security (credits: 3)

Experience (3 Credits)

  • IS 478 – Cybersecurity Internship (credits: 3) OR IS 479 – Cybersecurity Project (credits: 3)

Electives (choose two – 6 credits)

  • IS 427 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: Concepts and Applications (credits: 3)
  • IS 428 – Data Mining Techniques and Applications (credits: 3)
  • IS 430 – Information Systems and Security (credits: 3)
  • IS 451U or IS 451M or IS 452 – Telecom and Networking Courses (credits: 3 each)

Notes:

  • This upper division certificate is only available to currently enrolled degree-seeking undergraduate students at UMBC. Your major can be from any of those offered at the university. Non-degree seeking students are unable to declare participation in any IS undergraduate certificate program.
  • Certificates do not require departmental permission. Please use the Undergraduate Declaration of Major, Minor, and Certificate Form to add a certificate.
      • Notice of successful completion is placed on the transcript at time of graduation. There is not a separate certificate document.
  • An Important Note: Certificates do not require department permission. Please use the Undergraduate Declaration of Major, Minor, and Certificate Form to add a certificate.

    IS/BTA Majors: Please contact your advisor if you have any questions about any of the certificates. 

    Non IS/BTA Majors: Please contact IS Director of Undergraduate Programs, Richard Sponaugle, rspona1@umbc.edu, for information, questions, and prerequisites.

  • Upper level courses taken to satisfy an IS certificate requirement may not also be used to satisfy the required upper level IS elective course in the IS or BTA majors. All upper level courses count toward the 45 upper level credits required to graduate from UMBC.
  • All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or better.
  • IS 451M and IS 451U are hands-on courses taught in a computer classroom using Microsoft Server (451M), and Unix (451U) to facilitate system management and networking. The design, building, management, security and technical issues involved in a local area network will be covered.