CySER > Certificate Offerings

Certificate Offerings

Overview

The CySER training program is formalized under three certificate offerings at WSU.  These certificates have been approved by the WSU Faculty Senate and included in the WSU catalog.

  • CySER CAE-CO Fundamentals Certificate
    • Targeted for BS in Computer Science (or Software Engineering) students interested in specializing in cybersecurity OR students in the new BS in Cybersecurity program
    • Led by the School of EECS
  • CySER Basic Certificate 
    • Targeted for non-CS majors interested in cybersecurity
    • Led by the Department of MISE 
  • CySER Advanced Certificate
    • Targeted for MS and PhD students (in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or any other science or engineering disciplines) whose research has significant focus on cybersecurity
    • Led by the School of EECS

CySER CAE-CO Fundamentals Certificate

Alongside the usual requirements for the Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or Software Engineering, students  in these programs aspiring to attain this certificate will complete the following coursework and additional requirements.  Students in the new Cybersecurity program will automatically satisfy the listed coursework as part of their curriculum but must still complete the additional requirements.

Coursework Requirements (CS and SE students):  

  • Taking 3 mandatory cybersecurity courses
    • CptS 327 Fundamentals of Cybersecurity and Cryptography 
    • CptS 427 Cybersecurity of Wireless and Distributed Systems 
    • CptS 428 Software Security and Reverse Engineering
  • Taking at least 4 elective courses from the following
    • CptS 415 Big Data
    • CptS 425 Cyber Forensics and Anti-forensics
    • Cpts 426 Hardware, Firmware Security and Reverse Engineering
    • Cpts 429 Virtualization and Offensive Cyber Operations
    • CptS 431 Security Analytics and DevSecOps
    • CptS 439 Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure Systems
    • CptS 455 Introduction to Computer Architecture
    • CptS 460 Operating Systems and Computer Architecture
    • CptS 464 Distributed Systems Concepts and Programming
    • CptS 475 Data Science
    • CptS 478 Software Process and Management
    • CptS 489 Web Development
    • EE 334 Computer Architecture
    • EE 434 ASIC & Digital Systems Design
    • EE 489 Introduction to Control Systems
    • MIS 374 IT Infrastructure & Security
  • Taking the CptS 421 and 423 Senior Design course sequence with a project focused on cybersecurity

Additional Requirements (all students):

  • Engaging in cybersecurity related internship experience 
  • Involvement in CySER research
  • Attending the CySER summer workshop 
  • Attending CySER seminars 
  • Taking 1-2 semesters or equivalent of foreign language coursework is recommended (Russian, Chinese, Korean, Arabic or Persian)

Here is a link to the WSU catalog entry for this certificate and a helpful tracker of all courses for BS in Computer Science students at EECS aiming to get this certificate.

CySER Basic Certificate 

This certificate is targeted for students from any major. The requirements for this certificate (link to the WSU catalog entry for this certificate can be found here) include: 

  • CptS 111 Intro to Computer programming (Python-based) or CptS 121 Program Design and Development C/C++
  • Taking MIS 372 Data Management (or UI’s CYB 110 Cybersecurity and Privacy) 
  • Taking MIS 374 IT Infrastructure and Security (or UI’s CYB 310 Cybersecurity Technical Foundations)
  • Taking MIS 499 Capstone or CptS 421 and 423 Senior Design focused on cybersecurity project 
  • Participate in three internship credits (MIS 498, CPT S 488, or ENGR 489) with a cybersecurity-related experience; or complete at least four credits of foreign language or demonstrate equivalent proficiency in Russian, Chinese, Korean, Arabic, or Persian.
  • Involvement in CySER research
  • Attending CySER workshop 
  • Attending CySER seminars      

CySER Advanced Certificate 

This certificate is primarily targeted for graduate students from Computer Science or Electrical Engineering.  Students may choose between two options, one with a Computer Science emphasis, the other with an Electrical Engineering emphasis.  The requirements for this certificate include:

  • Option 1
    • CptS 427 or CptS 575
    • CptS 515 or CptS 516
    • CptS 528
  • Option 2
    • CptS 528
    • Two courses from: CptS 427, EE 501, EE 503, EE 507, EE 521, EE 524, EE 586, EE 596
  • Both options
    • Thesis work with cybersecurity focus
    • Mentor CySER undergraduates in research
    • Cybersecurity related internship or active participation/leadership in CySER Summer Workshop