Cyber Security and Information Assurance Graduate Certificate

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Graduate Certificate (GCIA)

This certificate program highlights important aspects of information security and assurance technologies. The University of Memphis is designated by DHS and NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance, and its IA courses are accredited by the Committee for National Security Systems for Computer Security standards 4011, 4012, and 4013. These security standards specify the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required to fulfill the duties, respectively, of an Information Systems Security Professional, Senior System Manager, and System Administrator. The IA certificate program is administered by the Computer Science Department, the courses are taught by different departments and colleges, and any graduate student meeting admission requirements will be eligible to join the certificate program. Click here to view corresponding gainful employment data.

The objectives of the certificate program are as follows:

Provide knowledge of contemporary and historical trusted computing systems from an operational, theoretical, and design standpoint.
Detailed discussion on security-specific hardware, software, and methodologies.
A certificate program meeting national standards that will prepare students to serve the state and the country in a critical area of vulnerability in information infrastructure.
Educate students on ethical, management, policies and legal issues, and requirements in the field of information assurance

Admission Requirements

The certificate program in Cyber Security and Information Assurance may be pursued concurrently with other graduate programs at the university. In particular, students currently admitted to a graduate program at the U of M may join this certificate program. To apply, students must submit the application form (http://www.memphis.edu/cs/pdfs/application_info_assurance.docx) and transcripts of prior graduate study.

Non-degree graduate students may also pursue this certificate program of study. For example, professionals who have a BS in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related field, or who have a bachelor’s degree in another field and have been working in the Information Technology (IT) field for at least three years, can apply to the program. These applicants are required to submit a brief (one- to two-page) statement of educational and work experience in the computing field, including their background in computer security, in addition to the requirements above. Students must apply both to the program and to the University.

GRE scores are not required for non-degree students’ admission into the Cyber Security and Information Assurance certificate program. Acceptance to the certificate program is not an implied acceptance into the MS program in Computer Science.

Program Requirements

The certificate program requires completion of 12 semester credit hours: 6 from the list of major Cyber Security and Information Assurance courses and 6 from the list of electives.

Major Cyber Security and Information Assurance Courses

COMP 6410 - Computer Security
COMP 7120 -COMP 8120 (Same as MIS 7670 ). Cryptography and Data Security
COMP 7327 -COMP 8327 . Network and Internet Security

Note:

Non-computer science students must take the prerequisite COMP 3825 (Networking and Information Assurance) or equivalent before taking any of the above COMP courses.

Cyber Security and Information Assurance Electives

Retention

In order to continue in the program, students must maintain a GPA of at least 3.0.

Graduation

To obtain the certificate, a student must complete four of the above-mentioned courses (2 core courses and 2 electives), with an average grade of 3.0 (B) or higher, for a total of 12 credits, at least six of which must be from the 7000 level or higher.

Note:

A maximum of 15 credits may be transferred from certificate programs to non-related graduate degrees, subject to approval by the graduate program. Moreover, all credits from a certificate program may be transferred to a relevant graduate degree where the entire content of the given certificate could satisfy some of the requirements of a graduate degree. See specific department requirements for additional information and the Graduate School policy.