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Cybersecurity
Graduate Certificate
Cybersecurity certificate overview
We live in a world where systems are always on—and always at risk. Our cybersecurity graduate certificate teaches you how to protect them.
This five-course program is for people with IT experience who want to learn how cybersecurity really works. You’ll study full-time or part-time, online or on campus, and finish in about a year. The schedule is flexible enough to fit around work or other responsibilities.
You’ll learn from instructors who’ve worked in defense, tech and consulting. They’ve seen the impact of cyber threats up close—and they bring that experience into every class.
Program Snapshot
Why pursue our cybersecurity certificate?
You won’t just learn what cybersecurity is, but how to do the work. That includes:
- Finding weak spots in systems and planning how to protect them.
- Responding to security breaches and understanding how they happen.
- Managing data in the cloud and keeping it private.
- Investigating cybercrime using forensic software.
- Following laws and standards that shape how systems are secured.
This program also prepares you to sit for certification exams like Security+, Network+ and CASP. If you already have IT experience, it can also support your path to CISSP or CCSK.
CMU is proud to be designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education, a distinction awarded by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security.
Cybersecurity certificate highlights
When you work toward your cybersecurity certificate, you'll:
- Train in environments that feel real: Work in virtual labs that let you test defenses, respond to attacks and use forensic tools.
- Learn from professionals who do this every day: Our instructors bring active experience from the U.S. Army, General Motors and more.
- Join cyber simulations and competitions: Practice your skills in capture-the-flag events and team-based scenarios.
- Earn your cybersecurity certificate from a nationally respected program: Our designation as a Center of Academic Excellence reflects our focus on real-world defense skills.

Learn to defend, no degree required
Our Cybersecurity Bootcamp is a non-credit option for professionals who want to build job-ready skills in under six months. It’s fully online, beginner-friendly and designed to help you prepare for certification exams like CompTIA Security+.
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