Program Director

Haodong Wang, Graduate Certificate Program Director

Introduction

This graduate cybersecurity certificate program is designed to those trying to expand the knowledge and skills in cybersecurity, either from academia or industry. The certificate can give the future cybersecurity pros early jump-starts on their careers, or provide a deeper insight into the information security. Housed in Washkewicz College of Engineering at Cleveland State University, the certificate program offers a rigorous curriculum that not only covers the cybersecurity fundamentals, threats and approaches, but also provides the practical security skills from legal and business perspectives.

Admission Information

Admission to the certificate program requires a bachelor’s degree of Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field. Applicants with their bachelor’s degrees in other engineering or science fields will also be considered for admission, but they may be required to take some pre-requisite courses:

• CIS 260 Introduction to Programming
• CIS 265 Data Structures and Algorithms (pre-requisite: CIS 260)
• CIS 340 System Programming (pre-requisite: CIS 265)

Credits earned in the pre-requisite courses cannot be used to meet the certificate program requirements. Pre-requisite courses can be waived based on the applicants’ skill sets and knowledge gained through employment and experience. 

Admission to the certificate program requires a minimum undergraduate cumulative grade-point average of 2.75. If an English language proficiency examination is required, then a TOEFL score of at least 550 on the paper-based exam, 78 on the internet exam (including at least 20 in reading, 21 in listening, 17 in writing, and 20 in speaking), 6.0 on the IELTS exam, 3.8 on the iTEP exam, or 213 on the computer-based exam, is required.

While students are encouraged to apply to the Cybersecurity certificate program prior to beginning the certificate coursework, students who have completed partial coursework (typically existing graduate students) can also be admitted to the certificate program.  In every case, students must apply and be admitted to the certificate program prior to completing 9 credits of coursework. 

Submit application materials to the Graduate Admissions Office.

Contact Information

Computer Science Department
Washkewicz College of Engineering
Fenn Hall 332
Cleveland State University
2121 Euclid Avenue Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2425
Phone: (216) 687-2589
Fax: (216) 687-5403